Let's see your axes

[Tylermorris]

This was my grandfathers, I have another one somewhere waiting to be handled.

 

[2oolhound]

Nice broad axe. It look like it's seen some use.

Here's a photo showing a couple with proper handles. Note how the handles are steamed and bent outward so you can hew a log without scraping your hands when standing along side of it.

 

[Provincial]

I picked up this Collins "Official Boy Scout Axe" hatchet at a garage sale last weekend. The handle is dried out and loose, with nails used to try to wedge the head back tight, unsuccessfully.

My son (now 20 years old) made Eagle Scout before going off to college. He had a modern hatchet with a composite blade. I was thinking of fixing this one up for his Christmas present this year. Peen the damage back near flush, smooth out the head, and polish. Add a new handle.

Does anyone have suggestions?

 

[Miller72]

I picked up this Collins "Official Boy Scout Axe" hatchet at a garage sale last weekend. The handle is dried out and loose, with nails used to try to wedge the head back tight, unsuccessfully.

My son (now 20 years old) made Eagle Scout before going off to college. He had a modern hatchet with a composite blade. I was thinking of fixing this one up for his Christmas present this year. Peen the damage back near flush, smooth out the head, and polish. Add a new handle.

Does anyone have suggestions?

That's a beauty...might be a little worn, shortened from use, but it's a beauty just the same.
Perhaps taking a brush with WD40 or carefully using a wire cup wheel brush in a drill, clean the head of any noticable rust and rehang back on it's original looking handle it seems to have come with to you.
Is the head loose or tight in the handle? I would love to find a Collins BSA hatchet and yours on that original looking handle is a fantastic example.
It's a real beauty and will make your Eagle Scout son very proud and happy.


I just rehung and filed for work...

28" X 3 7/8lbs.
Hartwell GEM Haft
True Temper Kelly Registered
Connecticut

















Thanks for looking...2 Registered and counting...

 

[Debcrow]

As a interesting AXE side note.
The US and better foreign made I pick up every chance I get at auctions and yard sales. Seems like a lot of people are starting to understand that the older properly manufactured axes last and last without sharpening every 2 minutes. I sell most of the axe and hatchet heads on eBay.
I bought a older Husky double bit axe head which was NOT marked Made in USA. The old Husky brand is presently owned by Home Depot which still sells Husky tools and axes.
It was purchased by someone in China and I shipped it using eBay's Global shipping program. I received a notice from eBay after they received it that Axes are a PROHIBITED item to be shipped to China (kind of ironic since most of them sold in the US in stores come from China). And NO they were not going to return it to me.

 

[Provincial]

Miller72, since I posted that, I have removed the handle. There was one nail and two wood screws, and no wooden wedge. I now think I will try to fill the depressions left by the hardware with wood filler and find a wood wedge that fits. I will treat the handle with boiled linseed oil. The handle fits the head pretty well, so with a good wedge it should tighten up nicely.

I have cleaned the surface rust off the head, and will soak it in Metal Rescue to remove the rust from the pitting. I am open to suggestions about peening the flaring of the head back near flush. I think I can work it back pretty close if I am careful about it.

I saw a nice example exactly like mine last month that was being silent auctioned for charity. I didn't stay for the results, but the starting bid was $35.00.

 

[Miller72]

Miller72, since I posted that, I have removed the handle. There was one nail and two wood screws, and no wooden wedge. I now think I will try to fill the depressions left by the hardware with wood filler and find a wood wedge that fits. I will treat the handle with boiled linseed oil. The handle fits the head pretty well, so with a good wedge it should tighten up nicely.

I have cleaned the surface rust off the head, and will soak it in Metal Rescue to remove the rust from the pitting. I am open to suggestions about peening the flaring of the head back near flush. I think I can work it back pretty close if I am careful about it.

I saw a nice example exactly like mine last month that was being silent auctioned for charity. I didn't stay for the results, but the starting bid was $35.00.

I think from the pictures careful peening should do nicely perhaps a flat and mill ******* files will help clean up the poles also.
I have only used a file on the mushroomed poles and burrs made by use and abuse.

If you use a poplar wedge most hardware stores should carry a box of varying wedge sizes, it will fill all to most of the gaps left by the previous owners wedge attempts without needing to use any wood filler. That said, i have not seen your handles kerf and tongue as it is.
I have chewed some tongues up, removing wedge materials to save and or rehang a handle.
I have filled nasty gaps and wounds with simple pieces of the wedge I am using...sometimes poplar or dark walnut are my goto's.

Here is one example I used small wedges I carved to full any gaps when I was rehanging after salvaging this oak(I believe) handle. I used dark walnut and a piece of poplar to break it up.













I hope any of this helps

 

[crguy]

I think from the pictures careful peening should do nicely perhaps a flat and mill ******* files will help clean up the poles also.
I have only used a file on the mushroomed poles and burrs made by use and abuse.

If you use a poplar wedge most hardware stores should carry a box of varying wedge sizes, it will fill all to most of the gaps left by the previous owners wedge attempts without needing to use any wood filler.

Personally, that eye looks to be spread open from pounding on the poll. The first thing I would have done is press it back into proper shape.

Then, peen back as much of the mushrooming as possible and finish it off with a file flush with the rest of the head.

Leaving part of the mushrooming makes the head look damaged and unfinished.

 

[Miller72]

Personally, that eye looks to be spread open from pounding on the poll. The first thing I would have done is press it back into proper shape.

Then, peen back as much of the mushrooming as possible and finish it off with a file flush with the rest of the head.

Leaving part of the mushrooming makes the head look damaged and unfinished.

I am not sure if you are refering to my plumb hatchet...if so, yes the eye was certainly spread open but fairly symmetrical.
Personally, I like the character it holds and came to me with.

Now, the BSA Collins Hatchet is a real beauty and I would do very little to that, just because it's so cool as it is.

 

[Provincial]

I went to a sale where the owners were moving from a rural property into town on Friday. Here are a couple of interesting items:

Photo 1 includes a Plumb hatchet.
Photo 2 is a close up of the Plumb marking
Photo 3 is a 3-1/2 lb. falling axe marked
Collins & Co.
Hartford (arm holding a hammer emerging from a crown)
LEGITIMUS
Photo 4 is the axe marking
Photo 5 is the axe head

The Collins is in excellent shape! The Plumb is pretty good.

 

[Junebuggy]

----

 

[va.grouseman]

Nice, real nice.---Did you make the lanyard too?

You know the real value of fine items like those are when they are putting meat on the table.

 

[Junebuggy]

----

 

[Outlawmws]

That came out GREAT JB!

 

[Outwest]

Great work!

 

[Outlawmws]

You KNOW your glasses need cleaning when you see the Email alert for this thread and you read:

Let's see your A$$e$...

 

[Miller72]

This fella was in my last score of axes...









Genuine Norlund Cruiser
��

 

[Outlawmws]

Cool Norland!

 

[bdbecker]

That's sweet! I just saw a Norland hatchet for a great price on CL last week but didn't move on it... still regretting it.

 

[davethorik]

You ever post any of your vises to the big vise thread? You should! I see an Acco, not common.

 

[Miller72]

oak haft
3lb Plumb National Hardened Pole
Dark walnut and poplar wedging

3½lbs / 26½" total

 

[Miller72]

The Norlund Cruiser Trailblazer from a few weeks back...

 

[bdbecker]

Beautiful axe... beautiful pictures... nice job Miller!

 

[Miller72]

Beautiful axe... beautiful pictures... nice job Miller!

Thank you very much. I figure i must be having a good time while working on the axes if my wife is complaining about the time i spend working on "my axes".

 

[Provincial]

It looks like you always have and axe to grind.

 

[Miller72]

A few i have hung since the Norlund and Plumb...

A Welland Vale, Empire Brand
Came to me on this haft, i felt Grippo and the axe were owed to be rehung as well as i could.

Plumb National Boy Scout Hatchet

Collins Hudson Bay
Red oak haft

Collins Legitimus Old Timer Connie Collinsville Conn

1913 Dayton Pattern
Kelly Registered
O.P. Link Replacement Haft

True Temper Western Pattern
Kelly Registered DBL Bit

Plumb National Patent Applied For
Red Oak Lumberman pattern haft
Getting the job done

The Kelly Registered Wall
(Make-shift pallet wall above/behind the bench grinder in the garage)

Thanks for looking and enjoying axes, tools, vises and rusty treasure in general. What a great journey we share!

 

[Shootinok]

After hearing reviews of the cold steel trail boss I decided to buy one. Hard to go too wrong for under $30


I stripped off the super thick black paint. Pretty tough stuff. (I’m thinking this some of the best lead paint you can get) to find the reason they coat it with such a heavy paint.


Started with a flap disk then worked my way down to hand sanding.



Removed the little casting nub.


Then more hand work...
There, that’s better


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Looks like you did right by that axe! I bought a Marbles camp axe three years ago for ~$25 and did nothing to it but put a nice edge on it with a stone. It's performed very well so far. That Cold Steel looks very similar, and tempting too for under $30.

 

[2oolhound]

Agreed, Nice work on that ax Shootinok. Let us know how it holds up under use. It sure looks like nice steel, it will be interesting to hear if it's got a soft edge or if it chips on hard knots.

 

[Miller72]

Vaughan
28½"
4½lbs.
Connecticut pattern

 

[Provincial]

I cleaned up the Collins Boy Scout Axe I found last June and treated the handle with Boiled Linseed Oil. I had to repair the handle where the prior owner used a couple of wood screws as wedges. I did this by removing the handle and drilling out the damage, using epoxy to install pieces of wooden dowel, and then re-cutting the split with my band saw.

I soaked the head in vinegar to get the rust out of the pits, and sanded it lightly. I peened the damage from the PO pounding on steel as best I could, then belt sanded things to blend it in. It came out pretty good, but I'll have to leave the pits showing, otherwise I'll be sanding off the Boy Scout Logo.

This is a Christmas present to my son, who made Eagle Scout, but always had a modern hatchet with a synthetic handle.

I much prefer wood with oil finish!

First three photos are as-found. The rest are after the refurbish. You can barely see the wood-screw repair in the last one.

 

[Outlawmws]

I picked up a Plumb BSA "Official Scout Axe" last Saturday:

I found a .pdf paper that has mfg date ranges for scout axes:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EsJA490PbH_zii5sxPRPINgfkL193ccY/view

Mine appears to be from 1936-37

 

[Shootinok]

Man, that’s a great score on the BSA axe !


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Miller72]

Great Collins Scout resurrection! Your work and progress show thru and your son will be floored. A great sentiment, gift and story.

Thats a great Plumb Scout discovery and score! With sheath none the less...EXCELLENT!

I have been fortunate in the past several months to have stumbled into 3 now official scout hatchets and axe.

These two plumb,





And this arrival from a friend, superb leatherman and craftsman @ithinkverydeeply

Vaughan Senior Scout Axe

 

[Provincial]

Thanks for the compliment! I enjoy salvaging abused tools.

 

[Outlawmws]

It's amaizing how many differnt version sdn compsnies made scout axes!

Prov your son will love that restore! well done!

Miller, that Vaughn is COOL! Never seen one quite like that! I really like the edge protector! those pics are going into my "Make these" Camp gear folder! (I've actually made some of the stuff fin there too!)

I'll get some "after" pics of mine hopefully today ( shopping day...) The Axe didn't take much; the sheath took the neatsfoot oil really well (inside and out), and is now flexible enough that it is not in danger of breaking at the bends!

 

[83VillageRepair]

I bought a junky place with a nice house. I found all of these while cleaning up.

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Wade

 

[Outlawmws]

I'll get some "after" pics of mine hopefully today ( shopping day...) The Axe didn't take much; the sheath took the neatsfoot oil really well (inside and out), and is now flexible enough that it is not in danger of breaking at the bends!

The after pics:

 

[83VillageRepair]

Here is a much more important axe to me. This was owned by my great grandfather Ezekial Vincent Hatch of Ekalaka Montana (notice the initials). He built several log cabins in his lifetime probably with this axe. I need to clean it up and rehaft it. It currently has a short hatchet handle in it and it feels unbalanced. Should it have an axe handle?

View media item 99312View media item 99311View media item 99310

 

[lardy1]

A little over 50 years ago I was at a farm auction with my dad. He liked the jewelry wagons. Although I was intrigued by these seemingly ancient axes, I never understood why he bought them. I guess I do now.






The one with the broken handle is marked. But it was double struck. Between the rot and the double strike, all I can really make out is L. Odin. Maybe some day I'll wire wheel the rust off them and see if I can clean them up.