To grind or not to grind

[Craptain]

I picked up this Axe head recently and it is (was) a good one. It is a 4 1/2 pound W C Kelly Perfect. They produced Axes in Charleston from 1904 - 1930.

However as you can see, some ***** beat the **** out of it and peened over the back. So the question. Do I grind it clean or do I leave the "Patina" It will not be used by me. In fact it might (probably) will be sold. Though not immediately. So the question is in terms of value to any future collector/user.

Opinions?

 

[PelicanPines]

IMHO, If you will sell it. Oil it and leave it alone. Let the next guy do what they want to it.

If it was mine to keep. I would grind and seriously clean/polish/sharpen it.

 

[larry_g]

So what kind of a ***** would buy a tool and never use it for it's intended purpose? Me I would dress the rounded edge properly and continue to use it as intended. Do you also consider people who use cold chisels and round the ends morons?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[thebeekeeper1]

I too would leave it alone. It's been used to drive wedges while splitting--its intended purpose. It only adds to the value, IMO. I'd soak it in Evapo-Rust and otherwise leave it alone.

 

[jjjrmx5]

So what kind of a ***** would buy a tool and never use it for it's intended purpose?

TGIFriday's and their unending need for "kitch" on their walls. LOLZ.

Me I would dress the rounded edge properly and continue to use it as intended.

I agree.

I'd grind off the mushrooming, clean, sharpen, shine and sell.
Add a handle and make even more $$$.
It's a tool.

I re-do hammer handles and heads all the time.

I don't see many hammer and axe heads in big $$$ collecting range, like you know, Beenie Babies and The Back Steet Boys lunch box "big ticket" items.

But that's just me.

 

[organ]

You wont get much for that head. Fix it how you want it and keep it.

 

[Craptain]

Thanks guys. I will retract the ***** description if it was being used as designed. But I guess I come from a different background. Axes were for chopping and wedges for beating on. But not with the axe.

I guess I am should grind, and polish and sharpen it then. Most of my pleasure in tools such as this is the renovation and researching, rather than collecting stuff. I rarely make any money but it keeps me occupied. This was part of a larger lot and I don't need to monetize it.

 

[countryroad82]

I take it you never got into a piece of hickory that's all knotted up and while splitting with that type head (around here that's a maul) and then beat the ever loving **** out of the thing to split the wood? Wedges get stuck sometimes and it's nice to have a handle to wiggle the stupid thing around in a piece of wood to get a better bite. Thank God I just got a log splitter as the days of me using one of those are now going tone behind me!!!

 

[Fretters]

IMHO, If you will sell it. Oil it and leave it alone. Let the next guy do what they want to it.

That's what I'd suggest too. Each person has their own preferences, and a lot of people will appreciate an unmolested piece far more than a prettified one.

But I guess I come from a different background. Axes were for chopping and wedges for beating on. But not with the axe.

Same methodology taught to me too. You swing an axe and you beat a wedge.

 

[drivesitfar]

i'm with the theory that a 100 year old axe should be left alone unless you want to sharpen it or use it. if it's a collectable or a wall hanging the patina is what that person is looking for or let them shine it up or pay you to do so.

my Grand dad was a logger for over 70 years from 16 to his early 80's still working in the woods and he never hit the back of an axe into a piece of wood. He usually had a double headed axe head and almost always hit the same spot the second time if he didn't split the piece of wood the first time. He did use wedges and occasionally a splitting maul on his cedar rounds he made roofing shakes out of to put on his house or sell but a cedar round of old growth that he cut usually one block filled up a pick up bed. or in the really rare occasion a piece with a stubborn knot or some madrona or yew wood that was like a rock. rarely did i see him use a wedge to cut firewood.

that said what are these actually worth because my parents might have a basement full of them because my mom never throws anything out? and gramps passed a while ago.

 

[Letsgobowhunting]

I have a axe head my great grandfather hand made during the depression. I inherited it. I already sharpened the cutting edge with a file. I plan to put a handle on it and play with it as a throwing axe.

Use it and let the next guy collect it.