True Temper True American

Operator1975 said:
Ok got off the phone again with customer service - entire line is made in USA out of Falls City NB like Steve said - they come sharpened and ready to go. No sheath. No RC hardness yet - calling me back with that.

Interesting they own the patent name - I bet all the old patent names fell off and are available now - wonder who is going to bring back LEGITIMUS?
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After speaking to customer service how do you think these axes would compare to Council or Barco ?
 
KSV02 said:
After speaking to customer service how do you think these axes would compare to Council or Barco ?
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No clue. I will have to get my hands on them to really see. I have suspicions about how the head is manufactured, tempering, grind, etc. But I'll find out.
 
Square_peg said:
I didn't know they were making these. Good to see that they're American made. But I have a few questions.
1) What kind of steel and how hard are they?
2) What shape are the cheeks?
3) How far back are they hardened?
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Square_peg said:
I just sent them an email asking those questions.
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KSV02 said:
Any reply from True Temper ?
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Nary a word. I just sent them another email tonight. I imagine the folks who answer emails are pretty far removed from the production.

Here's my prediction of what the answers would be.

1) Recycled rebar and car fenders. Soft as butter.
2) Flat as a pancake.
3) What's 'hardened' mean?
 
Square_peg said:
Missed this before. That's usable. I'd still like to know more. Anyone got one yet?
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Eh, from my experience there's a pretty big difference between high 40s hrc and mid 50s. For practical applications, it tends to mean the difference between being able to perform finer tasks like carving/shaping after doing some chopping or felling. All my GBs and vintage axes can still make fuzzies after heavy work whereas any new axes I've handled can't without at least a few minutes stropping on my leather belt. The only benefit I've found to keeping the steel this soft is that it works better with what passes for a file these days... which seem to be only hardened to 55-57 hrc.
 
I saw some True American boy's axes at the hardware store today. They were made of sand-cast steel with no evidence of any forging work at all. But they do say 'Made in America'. One related note, I also saw some True American shovels. The labels indicated that the steel was 'formed, shaped and tempered in America' or some such wording. It clearly left open the possibility that the country of origin for that steel was other than the U.S. It left me suspicious of the True American axes.
 
Went to a local hardware store the other day. They had some (apparently) cast Collins axes. The level of fit and finish was a notch above the True Temper True American and the prices were pretty much the same - But the Collins were made in Mexico. The True Temper True American were all labeled - Made in the USA.
 
Hi Square_Peg

Today,10/17/2014, I received a reply from TRUE Temper customer serv. dept. on your questions that I also need to know. CARBON CONTENT-1060 OR EQIVALENT CARBON STEEL.
Rc HARDNESS=48-52
HARDNING DISTANCE FROM EDGE=.006 IN. HARDNESS IS DETERMINED AT .006 BACK FROM EDGE.

ALSO----I requested info on what distance from the axe edge I could expect to run out of heat treated metal. The very nice serv. reps. name is Charles. He will be back
with me on Friday this week.

Sincerely

Ripshin Lumberjack
 
I bought a True American hatchet at a local farm supply store just because. They only carried the boy's axes with the synthetic handle so I got the hatchet. It really is a shameful example of an American made axe, but I wanted to spruce it up on the grinder and see how it performs. If it is too soft I'll play around with forging it into a small carving axe and re heat treating it. I'll try and get around to taking some before pics. It currently has what I would describe as no geometry attached to a really fat handle. The current offerings by Council are worlds better as far as quality.
 
Ripshin Lumberjack said:
Hi Square_Peg

Today,10/17/2014, I received a reply from TRUE Temper customer serv. dept. on your questions that I also need to know. CARBON CONTENT-1060 OR EQIVALENT CARBON STEEL.
Rc HARDNESS=48-52
HARDNING DISTANCE FROM EDGE=.006 IN. HARDNESS IS DETERMINED AT .006 BACK FROM EDGE.

ALSO----I requested info on what distance from the axe edge I could expect to run out of heat treated metal. The very nice serv. reps. name is Charles. He will be back
with me on Friday this week.

Sincerely

Ripshin Lumberjack
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Thanks, Ripshin.

"Or Equivalent" bothers me a little. 1060 would be OK. If you happened to get one up around Rc 52 that would be acceptable. Please let us know how far back the temper runs. And if you get one maybe give it a vinegar bath to check the temper distance.
 
Ripshin Lumberjack said:
Hi Square_Peg

Today,10/17/2014, I received a reply from TRUE Temper customer serv. dept. on your questions that I also need to know. CARBON CONTENT-1060 OR EQIVALENT CARBON STEEL.
Rc HARDNESS=48-52
HARDNING DISTANCE FROM EDGE=.006 IN. HARDNESS IS DETERMINED AT .006 BACK FROM EDGE.

ALSO----I requested info on what distance from the axe edge I could expect to run out of heat treated metal. The very nice serv. reps. name is Charles. He will be back
with me on Friday this week.

Sincerely

Ripshin Lumberjack
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I am still in September here so how you got a response in October is pretty damn good.
 
I've seen them(hatchet) at our army surplus,they don't look bad for $17 I will take a chance and see how they work,anything to keep whats left of some USA manufacturing jobs.
 
Gentlemen,

I will try and get you some more information as I get it.

Funny thing is a friend and I were talking about this exact subject not less than two hours ago.

My friend lives not 10 miles from Falls City. On his side True temper has not made an axe in the last 4 years.

True temper axes were originally Kelly axes. They have went through a lot of names. He actually has an axe stamped true temper Falls City Ne on one side and Kelly on the other.

I've been begging him to get on this forum to provide just this kind of info.

Hope this helps

Dave from Diller
 
I found a True Temper True American Boy's Ax in a lumber store today. It was sand cast and left rough. Looked pretty ugly. The handle was cut out of a board and was both ugly and poorly shaped. I'll keep scouring yard sales and flea markets for a 2-1/2 pound ax.
 
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