Are collins any good?

[DocT]

Hi folks,

I was in my local ACE Hardware over here and was looking at axes and hatchets. They carry Collins. Are the new Collins made in Mexico any good?

 

[300Six]

What you do get for a very low price is a brand -spanking new axe! What you don't get is the metal quality that domestic-made versions from 40-50 years ago were known for. If you're an occasional or recreational chopper you're not likely to notice the difference.
Make sure you check a bunch of the handles at the store for decent grain orientation and no runout before you commit! At least that's something you do have control over and what discourages many first time or novice owners when they face having to deal with a broken handle not far down the road.

 

[garry3]

Its an axe shaped object. Just say no. They are not worth the cost of a replacment handle.

 

[300Six]

Its an axe shaped object. Just say no. They are not worth the cost of a replacement handle.

I've lost the youthful enthusiasm for field-testing old vs new tools but this would be a golden opportunity! Put an old and a new Collins to similar use and abuse for a year or two and then report back. Landscaping company owners for instance use gear like this on a regular basis (they're perpetually buying new shovels/rakes/sledges etc.) and they certainly don't get 5 star treatment. Be very interested to hear how the newer 'cheap metallurgy' strikers and choppers hold up! We might actually be quite surprised. Whatever steel and tempering technique is used for making everyday hammers and sledges is likely also being used for axe heads, and word quickly gets out on the street when that sort of stuff goes bad or doesn't hold up worth a hoot.

 

[Steve Tall]

Modern-day "Collins" axes are reportedly made by Truper in Mexico, at least since 2004 when Truper bought Collins Axe.
https://www.truper.com/history.php

From what I've seen, the edges of new axes from the hardware store generally look like they'd require a lot of filing to resemble the recommended profile:

And then the steel quality might be iffy with an unknown maker. Before I knew better, I bought a new "Plumb" broad hatchet that was made in Taiwan or China (revealed in the fine print), and the heat treat was apparently so shallow that the hardened edge broke off while I was filing it.

 

[Tymowens]

Lowes carries Truper axes. I don't know about the heads but the Truper handles at lowes seem to be way better than the True Temper ones at Home Depot both in grain orientation and shape. They also have less lacquer to sand off.

 

[garry3]

I've lost the youthful enthusiasm for field-testing old vs new tools but this would be a golden opportunity! Put an old and a new Collins to similar use and abuse for a year or two and then report back. Landscaping company owners for instance use gear like this on a regular basis (they're perpetually buying new shovels/rakes/sledges etc.) and they certainly don't get 5 star treatment. Be very interested to hear how the newer 'cheap metallurgy' strikers and choppers hold up! We might actually be quite surprised. Whatever steel and tempering technique is used for making everyday hammers and sledges is likely also being used for axe heads, and word quickly gets out on the street when that sort of stuff goes bad or doesn't hold up worth a hoot.

It has been my experience that you can't hardly break a poor quality axe. Your not going to chop much with it either.

I will tell you what, I will use the old collins for a year and you can use the new one and then we can both report back are findings.

 

[Square_peg]

Old Collins = great - up to the 1966 sale to Mann Edge Tool
Mann/Collins = good
Truper Collins = bad

Find an old Collins Legitimus and you have a top shelf axe.

 

[garry3]

Old Collins = great - up to the 1966 sale to Mann Edge Tool
Mann/Collins = good
Truper Collins = bad

Find an old Collins Legitimus and you have a top shelf axe.

It seems they made axes in a wide range of quailty. From not so hot to very good. I wonder about the heat treat back in the day. I have felt like some I have had were on the soft side for my tastes. Some of there brandings were for sure not made with the best steel out there.
Just wonder how much of the heat treat was done by eye? A cloudy day compared to a sunny one? I just don't know.

It does seem like Legitamus means quality. At least in the few that I own.

 

[Bo T]

What you do get for a very low price is a brand -spanking new axe! What you don't get is the metal quality that domestic-made versions from 40-50 years ago were known for. If you're an occasional or recreational chopper you're not likely to notice the difference.
Make sure you check a bunch of the handles at the store for decent grain orientation and no runout before you commit! At least that's something you do have control over and what discourages many first time or novice owners when they face having to deal with a broken handle not far down the road.

I have the vintage axes and a new True Temper USA. I'd choose the True Temper every time for cutting sod or grubbing roots. It did take me some time to find one with a good handle but you can get them with a fiberglass one if you want. I looked at the Mexican Collins and the finish was better at the same price point.

 

[DocT]

The finish was "okay" on these, but not up to the old axes I had to leave behind when we moved. But the handles, while straight grained, were not rounded off as well as the nice pricey axes are, nor as good as the old axes. I wonder about the heat treatment of these Collins axes and hatchets. Will they hold an edge? Will they chip or roll?