Vintage axe weight stamps, How did they...

Double Ott

Double Ott

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Vintage axe weight stamps, How did they evolve? I know that USA vintage axe makers often stamped a weight on their axes. The first number stood for pounds. If it was followed by a smaller number, the smaller number equaled 1/4 pound.
Thus an axe marked with a 3 only equaled a 3 pound head. An axe marked with 3 followed by a smaller 2 equaled a 3.5 pound head. So on and so on.

My question is, how did that method of weight stamping begin. It seemed like it was a standard way for almost all vintage USA axe makers, Kelly, Mann, Collins, Sager etc. to use.

I sure would appreciate any history that you guys may have about it. Any links or references to it would also be appreciated.

My regards, Tom aka Double Ott
 
Double Ott said:
Vintage axe weight stamps, How did they evolve? I know that USA vintage axe makers often stamped a weight on their axes. The first number stood for pounds. If it was followed by a smaller number, the smaller number equaled 1/4 pound.
Thus an axe marked with a 3 only equaled a 3 pound head. An axe marked with 3 followed by a smaller 2 equaled a 3.5 pound head. So on and so on.
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This is great info -- I've seen and owned many axes with smaller numbers, but I never knew this is what they meant.
 
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Just a guess but things used to be divided into quarters. i.e. 2 bits, 4 bits, 6 bits, a dollar.
 
I don't know but I've often wondered about this myself. I have a Collins Legitimus DB swamping pattern stamped 3 1/4 so they didn't always use that small second number code. Also the Maine axes mostly seemed to be stamped with the full fraction.
 
It may be related to the way older anvils were marked to indicate their weight. They were marked with three numbers as follows:
the first number was the number of hundredweights , the second number is the number of quarters of a hundredweight and the last number is the remaining number of pounds.
A hundredweight weighs 112 pounds, a quarterhundred weight is 28 pounds.
An anvil marked 1 . 2. 6 weighs weighs (128 times 1) + (28 times 2) + 6 pounds. That would be 174 pounds.
 
Interesting thoughts. I was wondering if this weight marking system was related to an older way that blacksmiths used. You maybe on the right track.

Thanks, Tom
 
That one might be 3.5 pounds. Just a different weigh (pun intended) of noting weights.
 
Not to hijack this thread, but how is the length of an axe handle measured? Is it from the end of the handle to the bottom of the head or is it the full length of the axe from the end of the handle to the very top?
 
Double Ott said:
I've never seen an axe with those numbers on it. Where did you get them from? Just make them up?
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I got the axe my axe closet - Plumb 3 5 Double bit:

plumb35_zps688e4787.jpg
 
I've had axes with strange numbers on them and the weights always worked out ;)
There's a thread around here about it.
 
Just curious,are the stampings generally on the same spot? I guess I mean the manufactures stamp on the axe and weight is above or below it. Perhaps I mean any standardization in postion of marking the weight and or manufacturs stamp?
 
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