Vintage Kelly Axe MFG CO. Long Poll? - ???

[Warden311]

Am constantly digging through old stuff out in my parent’s barn to find projects, and among the old tools was this long poll axe head, stamped Kelly Axe Mfg. Co.; Charleston, WV U.S.A. (Based on the stamp appears to be 1904-1930). The head is 10”L bit to poll, and the bit is 3.75”W. There is a grid on the face of the poll and after a vinegar bath, showed nice tempering at both the bit and poll. User “Fmont” posted about a 1930’s Kelly Coal Miner Track Axe a couple days ago in the “followed me home” thread describing a Kelly long poll axe, and hasn’t gotten around to posting pics yet, but I haven’t found a head like this through my searching. Curious what this head could be and thought you might enjoy the pictures? (Handle now is 28”)

Upon arrival:

After:

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

Although that poll is particularly long, I tend to agree with the coal miners track axe.

 

[Warden311]

Thank you sir, that information helped me find an old Belknap Hardware Catalog. This seems like a close “match” and is Kelly to boot! (Perhaps the newly hafted 28” handle is too long?)

 

[junkenstien]

Yes sir thats a pretty skinny hammer for a long handle.Cool head and it would be pretty simple to make a hanle like the one pictured.

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

.... (Perhaps the newly hafted 28” handle is too long?)

I only see them listed as “hatchets”.

 

[Warden311]

Would cutting down and working with the current/new handle to the ~18” mark (pictured) pose any problems? (Shape is the common oval cross section for a typical single bit axe.)

Or, is making a new handle the smarter thing to do?

 

[Yankee Josh]

Would cutting down and working with the current/new handle to the ~18” mark (pictured) pose any problems? (Shape is the common oval cross section for a typical single bit axe.)

Or, is making a new handle the smarter thing to do?

It doesn't look like you'll have enough material to fill out the eye if you cut it down. Probably better to purchase/ make a new one for it. The nice thing about hatchets is that it's fairly easy to find an 14"-18" piece of firewood for a haft. Do you burn wood or know anyone who does? Really nice hatchet by the way... super cool to have a unique one.

 

[Warden311]

Thanks Josh, I’m pretty happy that I found something unique because a lot of the stuff I find is just pure junk!

Instead of picturing cutting down the handle and reusing it, would it make sense to literally shorten (cut off the last 8-10” of what’s on there) and call it a day?

(I do burn and have access to quite a bit of wood, so that’s the route I’d go. Wish I would’ve thought better about the oddness of a long handle with a tiny hammer head.)

 

[Warden311]

After holding and swinging with where the grip would end up on the current handle, there’s no way it could work without fingers of steel, it’s actually quite uncomfortable.

Making a new one is the only choice. (As several of you have so kindly alluded to.). Thanks for the patience guys.

 

[A17]

Someone mentions one and another pops up. Now I'll see 'em everywhere....
2 Old Vintage Wood Hatchet Heads, Axes Carpenter Camping Tools | eBay

 

[Square_peg]

Instead of picturing cutting down the handle and reusing it, would it make sense to literally shorten (cut off the last 8-10” of what’s on there) and call it a day?

I think that's the ticket.

Cool old axe!

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

I think that's the ticket.

Cool old axe!

Totally! And taper the end like in the Flint Edge in the Kelly ad.

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

If you want to keep it true with history, sure, cut the handle. Mining tools had short handles because of lack of swinging space.
However this is 3.5 lbs head with flat cheeks. Outside of mines 28 inch handle is barely right length for that weight. You might like the way it cuts in comparison to high centerline axes. I could imagine it being used for timber mortise and tenon tasks.

 

[Fmont]

I recently got one of these, as well. Look in the 1938(?) True Temper catalog to see how it was originally hung. If I'm remembering correctly it was 19" haft. I've been meaning to put up pics of mine but I haven't been home for awhile now.

 

[rjdankert]

Look in the 1938(?) True Temper catalog to see how it was originally hung. If I'm remembering correctly it was 19" haft.

Bob

 

[Fmont]

Yar, thank ye.

I want to dig up (hahh) how these were used. I have no idea what the original service use was like. Shaping ties and driving spikes I imagine. But I know about as much about mining as I do about space travel.

Ironically I just drove through Charleston, WV but at about 3am. One of these times I'll set aside a couple days to track Kelly history.

 

[Warden311]

Have spent several hours putting the axe to work as-is with the 28” handle and it sure seems I put the worst kind of compromise of a handle on it. (Too long to hammer, too short to use its weight well, lesson learned). Will likely go to the 19” handle once I pick out some wood.

 

[Fmont]

That's good to know.

I'll have to double check, but if I recall correctly mine is 3.5lbs. That weight on 19" is not a tool that's joking around.

Mine came from Orlando. I originally thought it might have been for ship building. Who knows, it may have been used in that capacity. But more likely, in my estimation, is it was used on port engine railway sleepers. Which I would guess were much closer in size and configuration to mining tracks than a full sized railway.

 

[Warden311]

mine is 3.5lbs. That weight on 19" is not a tool that's joking around.

Mine came from Orlando.

...you’ve got that right!

For me, this axe and others I’ve dug out would’ve been used by family in NW Kansas.

The railway through NW Kansas has 1880’s dates on some of the stone arch railway bridges over the creeks, so maybe this axe would’ve been used for later general maintenance of the rails?

 

[Fmont]

I thought people might appreciate how large these are with some comparative objects. Like a 3² KP, one of those Council Wood-craft axes (beater, don't like it), and a 3lb national pattern. It's big!