Help me Id these axe heads.

[creativecars]

I found these two ax heads in a scrap box. They were both rusty and beat. I cleaned up the one using vinegar and it came out pretty nice and looks to be hardly used. It had some red paint on it in places.
The other is soaking now, it has some neat markings, but I can't make them out right now. Have you seen anything that looks close to these before?
I plan on cleaning them up and putting new hickory handles in them for home and farm use.

 

[Youngguns]

It ***** that there's a "Best Made" axe company currently. It looks like the circles say "The - Best - Axe - Made", top to bottom, left to right. If you have a Facebook profile, there's a group called, "Axe Junkies," they'll most likely be able to identify both heads.

 

[notlob]

Second axe head is a "Lee's Best Lightning" by Lee Hardware of Salina, KS:

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/lee-hardware-salina-ks-axe-head

 

[creativecars]

Second axe head is a "Lee's Best Lightning" by Lee Hardware of Salina, KS:

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/lee-hardware-salina-ks-axe-head

Wow, this thing may be worth something... too bad someone beat on it so much.

 

[Youngguns]

Wow, this thing may be worth something... too bad someone beat on it so much.

Generally, axes with a large embossing are valued. Obviously, the better the condition, the more value.

 

[creativecars]

Generally, axes with a large embossing are valued. Obviously, the better the condition, the more value.

I did clean it up some in vinegar, but I will leave it at that. If I had known I would have left it alone. No sense in hurting the value. I was going to use it, but I will just put it up now.

 

[sha]

Lee? Salina, Ks? I wonder if there is a connection with Lee jeans (the most successful copycat of Levi's)

 

[creativecars]

Lee? Salina, Ks? I wonder if there is a connection with Lee jeans (the most successful copycat of Levi's)

Salina, KS is less than 300 miles from where I grew up, but I found the axe head her in Indiana.

 

[creativecars]

So I am kind of restoring the bigger no name axe head. It had some red paint on it , but no handle. For right now I will just leave the "Lee's Best Lightning" until I have a better idea on what I want to do with it.

I am following this guys process for "handling" the axe head.

He seems to have some good thoughts on his handles.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Join "Axe Junkies" on facebook. Before you know it you will own many more axes.

 

[creativecars]

I was just looking for something to use on the farm. Apparently I found one that is collectable and will just sit on it for a while. The other is looking good and will soon be back in action.

 

[kwoswalt99]

The first looks like a Kelly or true temper. It should be a good useable tool.

 

[creativecars]

The first looks like a Kelly or true temper. It should be a good useable tool.

It looks like those brands at least by shape, but I could not find any markings after it was cleaned up.

 

[Ron Swanson]

The unmarked one looks like a Jersey pattern head to me. Any numbers on the underside of the head?

 

[creativecars]

I did not find any numbers or markings anywhere before I painted it.