West of Seattle, outdoor kindling hatchet saved (and done)

C

CedarEater

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Aug 31, 2012
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My sister and brother in-law have this hatchet thats been sitting outside of his shop in the weather for idk how long. They have been using it to split kindling and its been my sister's camping hatchet for quite a few years. I thought for awhile that it looked too nice of a little hatchet to be left out in the weather.

After I began perusing this forum I began letting them know they had something more than a POS old hatchet out there in the weather. I guess I finally got through to them that they have a really nice 16" hatchet today when I was at the shop cleaning up an old no name axe that my dad gave me.


I finally got the go ahead today to bring this True Temper Flint Edge LC-1 U.S.A hatchet home and see what I could find out about it. I haven't really had a chance to research it but thought I would take a few pics and share this gem with you all.
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Its the LC-1 and U.S.A stamps that really got me curious about this hatchet.
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The bit looks like it has been ground on a little funky but appears to be salvageable.
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Unfortunately, the 16" haft has got to go. Its a bit crooked.
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The cool part about that bent haft is my brother in-law wants to make his own haft for it from scratch. I have finally convinced him its a very nice old hatchet thats worthy of some love. He is a custom cabinet maker and will make a mighty fine handle whenever he gets around to it.

I will be posting the progress as progress is made.
 
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Found a reference to a similar hatchet some guy was selling:

"...a very scarce WW2 Signal Corps LC-1 Hand Axe ...This axe head is identical to the standard M-1910 "Axe, Intrenching" and would fit the G.I. canvas carrier. However, it is marked LC-1 on one side and U.S.A. on the other. Further maker marked True-Temper Flint Edge under the U.S.A. This is considerably scarcer than the standard Hand Axe and most likely a component of the S.C. Lineman's Gear... Finish was likely black based on the scant existing traces."

[To find the listing, google "WW2 Signal Corps LC-1 Hand Axe" with the quotes]
 
Earlier this month, an identical hatchet in very good shape was available, starting bid $9.99 with reasonable shipping.
Auction ended with no bids. What a missed opportunity!

To see the expired listing with lots of photos, google the following line:
vintage true temper lc1 lc-1 hatchet hand axe 16" FLINT EDGE nice one

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It's a great little hatchet. I hope you B-i-L makes a handle very similar to the original. That edge profile could use a little file work. It's kinda thick.
 
After splitting wood this morning I wanted to do a little work on this hatchet. I figured I might as well take the belt sander to the poll and flatten out that mushrooming since I was going to be reprofiling and thinning the bit so much to get it back to something close to being nice again.

After hitting it with the wire wheel, sand paper, belt sanding and file work this is what it looks like.
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I think it looks pretty good but I am not sure if I should thin it out a little more? Thoughts?
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Look hun, I baked a hatchet for dinner. Emm, that looks delicious!
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The oven didn't help loosen the head any. I only broke one drill bit in the eye after drilling many holes. I managed to get the metal wedges out with a screwdriver and hammer.
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Idk what "flint edge" means but its already frigging sharp after filing it. This thing is going to be scary sharp after I spend some time stoning it.
 
CedarEater said:
I think it looks pretty good but I am not sure if I should thin it out a little more? Thoughts?
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Click to expand...

Yeah, you should thin it out a bit more. It should look like this.

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I think files do the best job of re-profiling an edge. A True Temper Flint Edge will be quite hard and require a fresh file that's not too coarse. A 2nd cut mill file 10" or 12" long with a good handle does nicely.
 
Square_peg said:
Yeah, you should thin it out a bit more. It should look like this.

Sharpening_gauge_002.jpg


I think files do the best job of re-profiling an edge. A True Temper Flint Edge will be quite hard and require a fresh file that's not too coarse. A 2nd cut mill file 10" or 12" long with a good handle does nicely.
Click to expand...

"They have been using it to split kindling and its been my sister's camping hatchet for quite a few years."
If it will continue to split kindling for its primary use, the bit should be just fine as you now have it.

Just my thoughts, Double Ott
 
Thanks for the advice. I will be thinning the bit further seeing as how this hatchet might be employed to do more work than just splitting kindling once a new haft is made and hung. That will also get rid of all of the grinding marks which would not make me sad.
 
The old 2 1/4 Wetterlings can't be filed, every one I have tried has skated right off the edge. Luckily it's pretty close to where I want it.
If possible post some pics of the haft being made in progress. :)
 
Liam Ryan said:
If possible post some pics of the haft being made in progress. :)
Click to expand...


Ok. I found this piece of hard rock maple laying under the Porsche 356 resto project in the shop. It was probably used between the floor jack and transaxle when we dropped it or...well thats not really important. Its a good length and I am happy with the grain so thats what I am using since I don't have any hickory.

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I started thinning out the bit. Then my brother-in-law came back to the shop and needed me to help install a kitchen, dammit! Oh well, I made some money today so that is good.
 
Roughed out the block of maple today with the bandsaw and belt sander. That belt is in desperate need of replacement but it did what I needed it to do. This is what the new haft blank looks like now.

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Let the haft shaping begin.
Oh yeah, I finished thinning the bit but forgot to take pics of it.
 
I spent the afternoon and better part of the evening shaping the blank into the new haft. Here is the finished product along with all the tools used to shape it.

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Now, I just need to make the cut for the wedge on the band saw and hang it. I am going to use purple heart maple for the wedge.
 
That looks great! Can you show a picture of the swell you put at the end? (both ends, actually)
 
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