Axes & Hatchets

[Beruisis]

For some nice handles check out Beaver Bill's website. He hand forges tomahawks & axes. Sells nice maple & ash handles.

 

[Greyman50]

I collect Hudson Bay axes, took me many years to find this WWII US version.

 

[Bald1]

Grey man that’s pretty cool. Funnest part is cleaning head to see what marks u can find. Then researching it after u find it.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Thanks! I found the treatment for the curly maple online and is called “aquafortis”. It comes ready to use… it’s a reagent or type of stain. Rub it on and let it soak in and then apply heat with a heat gun… the lines in the curly maple “pop”. The nice thing is that the aquafortis liquid is clear and doesn’t muddy the grain like some standard stains. The main component is a nitric acid that oxidizes (? I don’t remember all the particulars but I like how the grain really pop’s). You can put additional coast to get the right color.

Linda,

Was that a relic find, initially? If so, is there a story?

FWIW, I have been periodically checking auction houses and your brass pattern is definitely with the aesthetic. Did you reference a known example?

To the OP, I generally buy at estate sales. Just have a few because it can get out of hand. I get handles at local hardware stores.

 

[digi-shots]

Greyman… very nice! I would love to find one of those.. unfortunately I live too far south.

And yes, cleaning them up a bit can uncover some interesting marks.
I think the secret is to lightly clean and not be in a hurry. I’ve seen some that folks have taken a grinder to them and removed all the patina and any remaining stamped names or “touch” marks.

Thanks, Hobbyist... the one I have came from someone that found it in the Concord River... (came from an estate sale and the seller had posted a good dozen or so polaroid photos of things the owner collected. So... I'm guessing it could be real or perhaps one that a re-enactor lost in the river?? - I'm leary of new stuff being sold as "old").

 

[digi-shots]

Some before photos..

 

[Bald1]

I’m no expert but I’ve found a fine wire wheel bench grinder cleans off rust and scale without damaging markings or removing metal.

 

[30-30remchester]

I collect Hudson Bay axes, took me many years to find this WWII US version.View attachment 594994

View attachment 594995

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I have one of these in my collection as well. I can't image these were well received. Their handle is a spindly little thing and about as strong as a bendy straw. I worked with many veterans over the decades and can attest to their ability to tear up an anvil in a sand pit. Maybe this is the reason so few of these survived the war. On a side note, I watch most "reality" tv programs about Alaska and almost universally each participant of these shows has a Ruger 10/22 and an Estwing Hudson Bay ax. And both are poorly taken care of and beat up with copious amounts of rust. This reminds me that I need to drag my Estwing Hudson Bay ax out of the cross-bed toolbox of my work truck and scourer off the rust myself.

 

[MRB1]

My Dad used to replace handles on everything from hoes to pitchforks to hammers. he always said that handles had to be fitted to the tool, otherwise they will break without too much use. It would take him hours to form the handle perfectly to the tool, but when it was finished, it fit like it was molded to it. I still use a hoe and spade he fitted in the 50s, and there is still no movement at all.

 

[boykinlp]

......the one I have came from someone that found it in the Concord River... (came from an estate sale and the seller had posted a good dozen or so polaroid photos of things the owner collected. So... I'm guessing it could be real or perhaps one that a re-enactor lost in the river?? - I'm leary of new stuff being sold as "old").

I would love to collect these, but obviously, for this reason, I don't! They are extremely COOL though.
Larry

 

[digi-shots]

I would love to collect these, but obviously, for this reason, I don't! They are extremely COOL though.
Larry

I agree... I would have to know the person that actually found it and trust them. I do know a fellow locally that found one in the Dismal Swamp area.. it's a really nice one.... everytime I see him, I ask if he's ready to part with it! So far, no luck!

Here's the original photo of the one I have.. the estate sale had a ton of polaroid photos of the items that original owner had collected. I had it a long time before finally deciding to do something with the finish and condition.. I used a reverse electrolysis method to clean it up.

 

[Greyman50]

I agree... I would have to know the person that actually found it and trust them. I do know a fellow locally that found one in the Dismal Swamp area.. it's a really nice one.... everytime I see him, I ask if he's ready to part with it! So far, no luck!

Here's the original photo of the one I have.. the estate sale had a ton of polaroid photos of the items that original owner had collected. I had it a long time before finally deciding to do something with the finish and condition.. I used a reverse electrolysis method to clean it up.

I grew up 5 miles from the Great Dismal Swamp.
Found the WWII Collins Hudson Bay axe at the Webster flea market, thats pretty Far South, lol. Most of mine are Collins.BTW, the WWII Hudson Bay axe was part of a tool kit for, I forget what???. Have to dig out one of my WWII reprint manuals of such. In WWII there were many, many tool kits with you name it tools. Impossible to find one complete. Piece here, piece there, may take 20+ years to complete.

 

[digi-shots]

Greyman… I’m familiar with Webster.. I used to live in South Florida and also visited family in Sanford and flea market hunted all points south, west, north and east!

 

[30-30remchester]

I grew up 5 miles from the Great Dismal Swamp.
Found the WWII Collins Hudson Bay axe at the Webster flea market, thats pretty Far South, lol. Most of mine are Collins.BTW, the WWII Hudson Bay axe was part of a tool kit for, I forget what???. Have to dig out one of my WWII reprint manuals of such. In WWII there were many, many tool kits with you name it tools. Impossible to find one complete. Piece here, piece there, may take 20+ years to complete.

Have collected US military items for decades. As you stated there are many toll kits the military had-has. From the belt carried lineman's tool kit with a TL-29 knife and a pair of needle nose plyers in a leather pouch, to gun repair kits, etc. Just about anything for anybody. Some items to keep an eye out for are hand tools as well. From plyers, adjustable wrenches to ratchets. Many are common brands with extra numbers stamped into them. This month I have found a military Snap-On ratchet and a pair of needle nose plyers made by Utica Tool marker TL-126. Pawn shops and flea markets are great sources. My US Hudson Bay ax is also a Collins. I don't know if anyone else ever produced that pattern for them. What quality though, especially compared to a few other hand tools the US produced. Their small belt mounted pick was just a crude casting and easily broken. In my collection also have a mint US hatchet and case made by Plumb. It is just a cheap casting as well. Far from the quality of the Collins tool.

 

[Greyman50]

Guess we’re about the same,lol. Been collecting since late 70’s, sold off, given to son and grandson and getting ready to have rest appraised to donate to a museum. Just keeping a little bit brought home from Vietnam, to much stuff.

 

[Rustyt1953]

This guy is good.

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BoLEPwMwaSI[/ame]

 

[Marshwheeling]

I just refurbished a Stanley camper hatchet I’ve had for years. Came out great.

I have always seen that design called a shingling ax or roofing ax. I didn’t get how an ax could be useful with asphalt shingles, but when you think about cedar shakes, it makes a lot more sense.
Fleet Farm supplied the hickory handle for my old PLumb shingling ax. I keep in next to my refrigerator to make sure the bagged ice cubes in my freezer stay nice and loose.

 

[Greyman50]

Cedar or Cypress shakes are a thing of the past, very few left that know how to do it let alone get the wood. About only place to still use them are restored pre 1900 era historical sites.

 

[Bald1]

Cedar shake siding is still fairly common in the northeast. But it’s pricey. Guess that’s why they reproduce it in vinyl now.

 

[Greyman50]

Next to impossible to find now down here. Was looking to get roof replaced back around 2002. Friend contractor looked around and told me it would be over $30K. Forgot that. Remember going to Williamsburg and Jamestown back in 70s-90s, tradesmen demonstrating making shakes to use.