What axe do I have?

Zymologist

Zymologist

Joined
May 21, 2012
Messages
1,058
Below is an axe that I'm contemplating re hanging/fixing up. On one side of the axe theres a 4 which I'm gonna take a guess that it means 4lb head.

On the other side theres a symbol of sorts that I've never seen before and I can't seem to find it located with my googlefuu.

The little info I do have is that this came from a Pioneer Tool kit off of an old Humvee. The research I did on those kids didn't give me much because apparently they used all kinds of different makers over the years that they were produced. It was covered in OD green paint from head to handle.

Is this axe head old enough to be of higher quality steel. I'm down to one single bit handle and if this isn't as good as older vintage axes I'd sooner use it on a different axe head I have at the moment.

Any information is greatly appreciated thanks in advance!

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Doh! All the times I've spent on Council tools website and I've never taken notice to their symbol wow. :grumpy:

Thank you Moose I think my last single bit handle will go on this bad boy.
 
Removed the handle and have the axe head all shined up just off of a bronze whire wheel in my hand drill. Looks nice but I'm tempted to give this one a vinegar bath since I've never done that before and shiner up real nice.
 
Zymologist said:
Removed the handle and have the axe head all shined up just off of a bronze whire wheel in my hand drill. Looks nice but I'm tempted to give this one a vinegar bath since I've never done that before and shiner up real nice.
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Can you post a pic of what it looks like after the wire wheel?
 
Looks like a more modern Council Tools axe. I'd guess maybe 20 years old. I'd be interested to see it after a vinegar soak just to see how deep the heat treat is.
 
Square_peg said:
Looks like a more modern Council Tools axe. I'd guess maybe 20 years old. I'd be interested to see it after a vinegar soak just to see how deep the heat treat is.
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I'll have those up tomorrow most likely. Its soaking right now.
 
moose11872 said:
Looks awesome! Can't wait to see it tomorrow. You can order a haft directly from the CT website.
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I've recently ordered 5 handles including some wheel barrow handles form House Handles and I was pretty impressed with their price and quality.

Odds are I'll most likely go with them for a double bit on my next order but I'll keep CT in mind I do remember their prices being a little high though but I hadn't checked handles.

Just got home time for a beer in celebration of St Pattys day and then down to clean up the soaking CT Dayton muahaha!:D
 
Here she is!

On one of the top views there appears to be more material on one side of the eye and I don't entirely know what to look for but I can't see a temper line.

After the vinegar bath I gave it a rub down with Scotchbrite pad and then a quick wire wheel. I'm not sure how shiny thats supposed to get it but I like the way it looks as of now.

What do you guys think now that you can see it better?

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Also stripped another knife of mine and gave it a 220 grit rub down. I dont want a mirror polish on it but I do want to work my way up in finer grits a bit yet.
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Zymologist said:
....I don't entirely know what to look for but I can't see a temper line.
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No, I don't see one either. Unless that last photo is showing a faint one about 3/4" back from the edge. Have you tried holding it in the light at different angles?


A temper line might look something like this.
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Try soaking it another night and see if something shows up.
 
Even in a different angle theres nothing noticeable like the one you posted. I'll soak it again tonight then and scrub er down and see what happens.
 
You could be scrubbing the temper line right off. Check it out straight out of the vinegar bath before you hit it with anything.
 
After another vinegar bath I'm still having a hard time seeing a temper line. What could this mean? Bad heat treat?
 
Not necessarily. It could be made from an air hardening steel - no quench needed. The whole thing might be uniformly hard. Easy enough to test this with a file. But a little tough if you're not experienced at knowing the difference between a hard axe and a soft axe by filing it.
 
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