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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
What to do with this project?
- Thread starter BamaDADx3
- Start date
You've got to ask yourself; what are my plans for this thing? If you're looking to flog it on fleabay then shine up the head and disguise the wood damage with tape or leather wrap. If you're nutty about retaining the handle (there looks to be enough 'meat' on there still) then effect a repair. The laminated patch (if done right) is going to be, at very least, as much work as fitting on an 'altogether new' handle. Or you could take your new-found knowledge about wood grain orientation, runout, octagons and butt swells with you as you tour hardware stores in a quest for a 'befitting' handle and at the same time shop for a rasp and a file.
Resurrecting an old axe via a fresh handle is like installing new tires, shocks, brakes, engine and a battery in a neglected old car.
Resurrecting an old axe via a fresh handle is like installing new tires, shocks, brakes, engine and a battery in a neglected old car.
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2014
- Messages
- 3,741
I know the feeling. I can tell you, cut that handle off and replace it with a new one. You are only delaying the inevitable lol.
Square_peg
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2012
- Messages
- 13,824
It's hard to let go of a slim original handle. It might last a year or two with that amount of overstrike damage. But it's gonna have to be replaced in the not to distant future. Try to mimic the old haft with the new one. Slim it down to get that great feel.
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2015
- Messages
- 281
The old handles make great handles for shortened #4 sledge or other hammers, hatchets etc.
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2014
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- 1,638
The rest of the class might be way ahead of me on this deal (highly likely) but is there any real indication that the handle is original? Was Kelly known for using white ... yellow ... whatever color that is on their handles?
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2011
- Messages
- 1,018
Id be concerned about the chunk of material missing from the handle. One overstrike may spell the end for this one. I've tried to reuse questionable handles before and it doesn't take much - a small tap / hit on the tree ( i was chopping not splitting). I would rehang. It's a lot of work but you can slim down store bought handles using old axe handles as a guide.
Yes Mr. Carlson, You are and enabler! I will never use this. She is to be admired now as a display piece.
Cityofthesouth - Great Question! I just figured it was an original given the paint and profile? Who is the resident Kelly Expert???
From YesterYearsTools Page
In regard to finishes, manufacturers offered to finish their axes in a number of ways, some of which affected the overall price. The means of identification also varied from the early simple stampings to etchings to more detailed stamped markings to paper labels. In the catalogs distributed by the larger manufacturers the options were listed. In some catalogs it was actually indicated which patterns could be ordered with what choices of brands and finishes. Kelly, like many other manufacturers, offered similar purchasing options. Of course such choices were based on purchasing minimum quantities and wholesalers would order a wide variety of axes in different weight groupings.
It appears that in many cases the end result was that the axe or hatchet was painted whatever color was ordered. In some situations the selection involved up to five or six color choices, polished or a combination of paint and polish and possibly chemical or heat coloring. The customer also selected the brand which was then designated by affixing a label indicating the name of that brand. Many labels did not include reference to the actual maker thereby disallowing any type of warrantee by the manufacturer. That reduced costs somewhat. Other labeled axes included the manufacturer's name or a stamping showing the actual manufacturer and where they were located.
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I know it's a Kelly Perfect (which means very little to most people), but it's neither NOS nor pristine. Meaning collector value is probably similar to what it costs these days to buy a brand-spanking new Home Depot axe. And whoever bids highest at auction on something like this is going to tell you to saw off the handle to save on shipping.
You will never be able to appreciate a first class tool by gawking at it while it hangs on the wall.
Get out there and redo it man! Use the old haft as a template for shaping and thinning the new one.
You will never be able to appreciate a first class tool by gawking at it while it hangs on the wall.
Get out there and redo it man! Use the old haft as a template for shaping and thinning the new one.
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2016
- Messages
- 712
+100
Putting some effort into this thing will increase your appreciation tenfold, with the added benefit of having a lifelong quality tool. Thinning down a haft isn't so hard.
another +1 for this