Scout Hatchets or Axes

[AJ]

I was thinking that the handle was original too since it had the "Official Scout Axe" still in the handle. I definitely won't use it. I forgot to post a picture of the top of the axe. I think I read that the screw is the way they were done back then. Is that correct?





What do you two mean by cleaning it up? What process would you use?
Larry

I would use nothing more than whatever you would clean the bluing on a gun with, and then oil it well. The wood I would use Formby's wood cleaning solution or maybe some lemon oil. No abrasives for sure.

 

[Bald1]

I'd hit the sheath with a generous amount of Neatsfoot oil so it doesn't crack n tear

 

[boykinlp]

I'd hit the sheath with a generous amount of Neatsfoot oil so it doesn't crack n tear

Unfortunately Bald1, the sheath is already cracked and torn. A large section of stitching has ripped through and can't be fixed, but I still like having it. I would guess the leather wasn't a quality as the vintage holster leather that I am accustomed to.
Larry

 

[AJ]

Unfortunately Bald1, the sheath is already cracked and torn. A large section of stitching has ripped through and can't be fixed, but I still like having it. I would guess the leather wasn't a quality as the vintage holster leather that I am accustomed to.
Larry

Larry,

If you have any good (repeat good) leather shops in your area ask them about a way to salvage what you have. I had a M7 military holster that had torn stitching and it was repaired well enough the you can not tell where it was repaired. It may be able to be conserved/repaired by someone good with working with leather.

AJ

 

[SF VET]

Like no doubt just about every other Scout, I too had a Scout ax. Actually, it was an army surplus ax, back when every town had at least one "army surplus store", where a kid could wander among all the bins of used military gear, with their lawn mowing money in their pocket. I was in first or second grade, and managed to nearly chop off my left index finger, here the scar from that little episode. I do remember the doctor just put some sort of bandage on it. No sutures.

Not long after that, i managed to sharpen my ax, and one early morning, dropped it on my right little toe, and it bled profusely. So much so that my mom was near in shock from the blood, and had to crawl around getting me a towel to wrap around my bleeding toe. Another trip to the doctor, without any special care. I won't post a picture of my scarred little toe here. SF VET

 

[Marshwheeling]

I use a Gransfors Bruk small forest axe.

Who made the Kephart?

 

[boykinlp]

I picked up another Scout Axe, and am very happy with its condition. I believe it is all original.

After reading the "Plumb Scout Axe Timeline", I have gathered the following information on my new to me Scout Axe. It appears to be a 1942 Model, because at this time, they changed the word "Guaranteed" to "Genuine". So now the cheek reads "Genuine Plumb" instead of "Guaranteed Plumb". It still has the jagged line around the circle that is around the BSA stamp near the poll. This Version of the Scout Axe, known as Pattern 7, Variation 1 ran from 1941-50, continued to use the handle that got a drastic make over a few years back. That make over included the words "Official Scout Axe" being kept on the side of the handle, but the font was changed to be a little more fancy. They added paint as well: a red painted knob with a green line between the red stain and the red paint. The knob was painted red but the shape changed as well. This was the first year Plumb went to the rounded end knob. The head was black as usual with gold paint filling the stamps. Plumb continued to use the patented take-up wedge in this model until 1942 when they decided to ditch the screw wedge and just use a wooden wedge like this axe has. This was right in the middle of WWII which might have played a role in this decision. Plumb began advertising a cheaper canvas infantry sheath option alongside the leather sheath as well, and that is the sheath that this axe has.

Since I am a newbie in dealing with these, please let me know if and where I am wrong in my description. Also, is there something else that I should add to it. Thanks.
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

A few more pictures:
Larry

 

[Eric300]

Like no doubt just about every other Scout, I too had a Scout ax. Actually, it was an army surplus ax, back when every town had at least one "army surplus store", where a kid could wander among all the bins of used military gear, with their lawn mowing money in their pocket. I was in first or second grade, and managed to nearly chop off my left index finger, here the scar from that little episode. I do remember the doctor just put some sort of bandage on it. No sutures.

Not long after that, i managed to sharpen my ax, and one early morning, dropped it on my right little toe, and it bled profusely. So much so that my mom was near in shock from the blood, and had to crawl around getting me a towel to wrap around my bleeding toe. Another trip to the doctor, without any special care. I won't post a picture of my scarred little toe here. SF VET

That looks somewhat familier....LOL I go through a lot of hydrogen peroxide, saline solution, super glue, gauze and tape.

 

[AJ]

Kids with sharp objects..........read "Accidents waiting to happen!" Mine all happened from knives, both pocket and fixed blade.

 

[lihpster]

When I was a kid, I was always throwing tomahawks and hatchets. I would have thrown axes, but if he caught me throwing his axes, my father would have buried one in my skull. To save me breaking his things, he took an old hatchet, rusty, with a full steel handle. The kind with the stacked leather grip. It was rusty and half of the leather was gone, so he got rid of the leather, cleaned up the metal, and gave it a decent edge. Then he took some rubber tubing and forced it over the handle for a grip. Fairly indestructible. I got pretty good with that thing. What I want is a good cruiser axe.

 

[30-30remchester]

Seeing SF VET's finger cut reminds me of my much loved and missed grandfather. No matter what injury I received while out playing, it was never too bad. I could come into the house with my entire arm ripped off and his reply was always the same and I quote "What are you crying for boy? I have had worse scratches on my right eyeball". I would repeat the same to my children, but it once came true when my right eye was impaled by a shard of metal while working in our welding room. My children afterwords would moan "Oh no, he is going to tell it again".

I have collected and used hatchets and axes for 65 years now, since given one when I was 5 years old that was so dull you could ride the blade to Texas and back and never get a cut. I acquired my FIL's half hatchet after his death that had been his father before. Three generations of use now and will be passed down to my grandsons. Skipping a generation since I only had girls.

 

[dwh]

I'm a slow learner for sure. I've had 27 stitches in left index finger over multiple encounters with a blade. The first when I was 8 years old trying to cut the cover off of a baseball. Chicks dig scars right

 

[boykinlp]

Seeing SF VET's finger cut reminds me of my much loved and missed grandfather. No matter what injury I received while out playing, it was never too bad. I could come into the house with my entire arm ripped off and his reply was always the same and I quote "What are you crying for boy? I have had worse scratches on my right eyeball". I would repeat the same to my children, but it once came true when my right eye was impaled by a shard of metal while working in our welding room. My children afterwords would moan "Oh no, he is going to tell it again".

I have collected and used hatchets and axes for 65 years now, since given one when I was 5 years old that was so dull you could ride the blade to Texas and back and never get a cut. I acquired my FIL's half hatchet after his death that had been his father before. Three generations of use now and will be passed down to my grandsons. Skipping a generation since I only had girls.

Got any pictures of your collection for us?
Larry

 

[30-30remchester]

Got any pictures of your collection for us?
Larry

Harder to do than just photograph. I live now and always have in deep forests. Most all my other properties are heavily treed. I have axes and hatchets in every vehicle and scattered in every outbuilding. My rarer older ones like Winchesters and Marbles are stuck in a corner in my den. I use axes a lot. Tomorrow I will be using a Polaski to rut out some old roots and tearing up some wild rose bushes. While some are rare, many are just tools to be used often. My Polaski, aka grub ax, I bought years ago in a used clothing store of all places. I am now on my second handle.

 

[mtgianni]

The closest to BSA my family got was service in the Military.

My second son (USMC) started backpacking for fun in his late 20's. His quest for "Ultra Lite" made him try many cutting tools that I thought ridiculous. He has one of the Gerber hollow plastic handled hatchets, that the handle is about 8" long. While my wandering days are over, I prefer an old Plumb "Topping Axe" my dad used camping as a kid. It has a 2-pound hatchet head (no nail notch) and a 24-26" handle. Still low weight, but plenty of leverage when chopping.

I think many older Scout Hatchets need re-handled because of "Tomahawk" throwing! My 3 sons had about 10 2-pound hatchet heads on California Framer 18" handles with the bottom swell sanded smooth. These were used for throwing. The kids at their prime throwing age (16-17) could stick in a man-sized torso on a passing run at 25 yards and stationary throw at 50 yards. I went through a lot of handles for them to get that proficient. I don't think Scouts didn't do any throwing for both safety and handle protection reasons.

Ivan

My Grandson is now 15. He was involved in cubs and webelo scouts and they always threw tomahawks at their summer events. Most threw at cottonwood rounds at 10-15 feet. This is Montana so kids are not generally so hampered from fun, but the events were well supervised.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

Dear Forum friends, here is a thread that I really like. I have a real passion for quality axes and hatchets with a nice line. One of my favorites is the old Snow & Nealley from Bangor Maine, of which I have some axes and hatchets.
Here at home I only have the Hudson Bay but out in the country I also have the Camp Axe, the Penobscot Bay and a Double Bit axe, as usual when there is something that I really like and that is difficult to find in Italy I always buy two, one to use and one to keep and care for. This is the one to keep.
Basically the Camp Axe has the same head as the Hudson Bay but with a short hickory handle.
I would like to find some other with a different design but of great quality and tradition always USA made. I don't know the brands well, is Collins a good brand?