Let's see your axes

[Miller72]

Found a nice 3lb Craftsman on it's original 28" handle

 

[Outlawmws]

Tighten that head up a bit! Nice find!

 

[Miller72]

Thank you yes I plan to soon, and post a picture when it's done. It's going to be a great user and one that I can hand to one of my boys.
Just been so busy with cross cut saws lately...once I get that settled, the saw vise built and the saws will have a home and bench separate from the axes.
I keep telling the Mrs we need a bigger garage, she tells me she knows one sure way to make it bigger for her...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Anything but vintage, and probably sacrilegious with the synthetic handle, and the attachments, but I just got this US Army pioneering outfit last week. It was free. Came off of one of our older HMMWV platforms being prepared for surplus. These usually disappear quickly, but I’ve been wanting a set for awhile and I made a point of having this one put aside for me.

If you're not familiar with the concept, it’s basically an axe with a beveled socket forged on the back end for the attachments. The attachments, including a shovel, pick, broad pick, and mattock, all go through the female opening in the socket – secured with safety clips, and the hoe/rake combination slips on over the top of the socket, with the hitch and thumbscrew through the socket to secure it. The Army has been putting pioneer kits on vehicles since 1938 - to clear obstructions, free the vehicle if it gets stuck, support the construction of bivouac sites, etc. You've all probably seen photos of the iconic WWII jeep with an axe and shovel strapped to the driver's side. This is the same function, 70+ years later.

I’ve always admired the simple ingenuity of the design and the execution of these particular kits.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Some close-ups of the axe unit itself.

 

[Outlawmws]

Lugz, can you please post it with the shovel head on? I get the rest of the attachments, but I'm not seeing the Shovel.

This looks cool and one would be a great add for my tiny camp trailer...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This looks cool and one would be a great add for my tiny camp trailer...

Perfect for camping! Very compact. Forrest Tool is still in business, and does sell them direct, although their main customers are government agencies with off-road applications. I will see if I can grab another one for you. Don't get your hopes up though.

Here's all the attachments, just in case someone else is curious.

 

[Outlawmws]

Thanks Lugz! Now it makes sense!

And the offer to try to find another under surplus is appreciated!

And completely understand it it doesn't gel, especially if you had a hard time getting one!

 

[whyNick?]

Some close-ups of the axe unit itself.

Those are great tools but can be pretty pricey. If you troll eBay you can sometimes find the individual pieces fairly cheap and I just recently finished piecing a full set together. Mine lives in the back of my Jeep for "just in case"...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Those are great tools but can be pretty pricey...

Dang! I had no idea. $250 on eBay and this store here.

 

[whyNick?]

Dang! I had no idea. $250 on eBay and this store here.

If you shop around you can do a lot better, I've got about $100 in mine give or take and I've seen them for less on CL. It's well designed and well made, if you go to Forrest Tools' website there are some demonstration videos that are pretty impressive. I remember one that shows a guy going after a boulder with the pick attachment and the tool holds up just fine.

 

[Miller72]

My Craftsman update

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's snug, Miller! And it looks terrific.

 

[Miller72]

This Master Mechanic was fun...

 

[Miller72]

That's snug, Miller! And it looks terrific.

Thank you!

I have found a few axes and heads over the past few months and it happily keeps me distracted when I need it to be LOL

 

[Miller72]

4lbs.
28" original hickory handle
Connecticut
True Temper Kelly Works Flint Edge

Thanks for looking...I hope you enjoyed the journey of my Kelly Works Flint Edge 4lb'er Connie

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Connie

You named it? Nice save, nice work. Dayton pattern. Correct doe's foot handle. If it had a "4" and a "U.S.A." on it, that would make a nice WWII era Pioneer Kit axe for the side of a jeep.

 

[Miller72]

You named it? Nice save, nice work. Dayton pattern. Correct doe's foot handle. If it had a "4" and a "U.S.A." on it, that would make a nice WWII era Pioneer Kit axe for the side of a jeep.

Your thinking it's more Dayton than Connecticut pattern?

I do try to see Connecticut's in every axe but I was feeling certain the true temper is a CT

I am thinking this is more a Dayton Pattern.

The patterns can be close and tricky for sure, I guess you have planted some doubt now LOL!

She really looks like a CT.

Thanks for helping

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Honestly, those are tough to distinguish. And I don't have the best eye. You could be right.

 

[Miller72]

Honestly, those are tough to distinguish. And I don't have the best eye. You could be right.

Lol!
Same here.

The CT is my favorite and I have a tendency to see the CT Pattern in near everything

Thank you and happy Sunday!

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice job(s), and impressed you were able to save the original haft on that last one!

At least they used horseshoe nails with some taper rather than the typical roofing nails...

 

[Miller72]

A couple axes in the last couple days

Older Ludell 31" Hickory - 4lbs

Older Ludell 30&1/4" Hickory - 4&1/4lbs

 

[Miller72]

Nice job(s), and impressed you were able to save the original haft on that last one!

At least they used horseshoe nails with some taper rather than the typical roofing nails...

Thank you sir. I enjoy it most when I am able to save and reside those great old handles!

 

[Miller72]

...or reuse...

 

[Miller72]

I had this imported from India, Collins head kicking around so...
3&1•4lb Forest Utility Axe 26&1•2'' Hickory Hardware Store Handle by Link...originally 28"boys axe handle.

 

[Miller72]

Connie Taste Test

Collins Legitimus 4lbs. 29" handle (L)

Kelly Works Flint Edge 4lbs. 28" (R)

Results...
Both are great and smooth choppers...the shorter handle on the Kelly is the only difference.

Both within my sweet spot length, each at the extreme of the range but both comfortable and balanced and efficient.

No clear winner when both are tuned and chopping this smooth.
Vintage American Made Steel Axes!

 

[Schmidlapper]

I currently have a Fiskars X15 for day to day use, but I have several vintage axes I received from my father as either a gift or inheritance.
View media item 80964
The first a Plumb USA hatchet I was given in the early 1970s when I joined Boy Scouts.
View media item 80966
Next is a True Temper, by Americanax of Glassport, PA which was a conglomeration trying to corner the ax market at the turn of the 20th century. Seems this is a bit of a controversial axe, as it possibly predates the Kelly axe company usage of the True Temper logo in the 1940s. Apparently Kelly purchased Americanax in 1921 giving them the rights to the trademarks. This particular axe has the usage of True Temper on one side and Americanax, Glassport, PA on the opposite which doesn't fit the currently held usage history. There are several examples of axes online like it and even old articles showing usage of True Temper as a logo pre Kelly purchase, but it is controversial. Mine has it's original patina which I don't intend to change, it makes it hard to see let alone photograph. I didn't even attempt photographing the Americanax logo it is just too buried. The stylized X at end of ax and Glassport, PA are the easiest to discern.

View media item 80968True Temper logo
View media item 80969
Finally the broad axe, the story here is that in my teens I took this without asking and when my father found it in my car he stamped his name into the metal all over it to ensure I understood whose it was.
View media item 80967

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice work again Miller!

SL, that broad ax with the story is my favorite style. those have a hardened inlaid insert that holds an edge well (once you get the edge on there...) the "hammer" face also has an inlaid face that sometimes shows up chipped.

 

[Miller72]

Thank you Outlawmws, I greatly appreciate the kind words.

I totally agree, schmidlapper those are great hatchets and double bit. The broad axe hewing hatchet is great and the story seals the deal for AWESOME!
I happen to like the patina of each and would also keep it too. Fits in with my love of connecting history or lineage to the Axe or Crosscut saw in my collection. Not to many come with that but the ones that do have all remained my keepers.

Here I was out with two Connies, Legitimus & Rogers, and my Charlene 48" Disston, Sunday morning cleaning up a bit after the Nor'Easter winds finally subsided...

 

[frank001]

Reading about all these axes reminded me of an interesting story:

So Joe goes over to see his buddy Bob, and finds Bob in the back yard chopping down a tree.
Joe notices that the ax Bob is using seems well worn and asks Bob about it.
Bob explains that the ax originally belonged to his Great- Great -Grandfather, who passed it down to his Great -Grandfather, who passed it down to his Grandfather, and then to Bob's father, who eventually passed it on to him.
Joe exclaimed that it was fantastic that the ax was that old and that it had been passed down in the family for so long.
Bob agrees that it is really cool to have an old family heirloom like this from his Great-Great-Grandfather, but the really fantastic thing about the ax was that the head had only been replaced twice, and the handle only three times.

 

[va.grouseman]

Miller, you don't mind doing it the old hard way do you.---But that must be satisfying to just take your time and plug along at your own pace.

I've got to ask two things but you don't have t answer.---I'm just curious.


(1)---That looks mighty Grousey in that hill in the back ground.---And I'm referring to Ruffed Grouse.---Am I right?

(2)---Are those Leland Cypress or Thuja Green Giants in the 1st and 4th pics?

 

[Outlawmws]

It's always surprising to me how well an ax can do the work if sharp and used properly. It took me quite a while to catch on when I was young...

Having said that, if you have a LOT of wood to cut, a chain saw is readily needed, unless you like having sore shoulders.

 

[Copymutt]

I found this head in the woods of some property I bought back in 2002.
No distinguishable markings, well weathered. It's my go to for splitting.



The info I'd like to pass on is the finish. It's called One Time Wood. I've several projects with exterior wood that are now over 10 years old and do not show signs of needing retreatment. It cost me $100 a gallon as in ya get what ya pays for. Coverage is maybe triple of any other finish I've used. It's not oil or water base and cures by UV (sunlight). I don't always build with wood outside but, when I do I use this product exclusively.
Jim

 

[bczygan]

Wrong thread?

Bill

 

[snapmom]

some of mine.

 

[twertsy]

Picked up a box of wrenches without even paying attention to the box. I'm open to offers for trade or sale.

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[notlob]

Hey Todd -

I'd like to have that box. I've been piling up a few things for you here.

 

[twertsy]

Hey Todd -

I'd like to have that box. I've been piling up a few things for you here.

Works for me bud. Shoot me an email [email protected]

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Dang. That's a nice box!

 

[nutjob]

What does everyone think of this one? On CL and close by to get a better look.

Thanks

Kevin

EDIT Never mind, I checked Ebay and these things are a dime a dozen!