Liberty Tools Finds.

DarthTaco123

DarthTaco123

Joined
Mar 28, 2013
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Today was my first time at Liberty Tool Co. in Liberty, Maine (as per Hardball's recommendation) and I have to say I'll be going back....soon. The prices were more than fair, as you can see on the tools, I think I spent $30.00 total for the True Temper Kelly Works, the cross pein hammer, and the Collins brush axe. The Collin's head came from the Treasures and Trash Barn, and oh my sweet mother mary above do they have some damn nice axes. They've a Collins rafting pattern I'll becoming back for next week with CASH in hand. So, ladies and axoholics, I present to you, my purchase. Next friday I'll be back with a bit more hard cash in hand, as there's a few stores in Searsport that I'll be visiting.
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First off we have a True Temper Kelly Works (World's Finest if I might add, the axe said so!) for quite a steal of a price. Any idea on when it was approximately made?
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Next is a Collins Brush Axe, for $14.50. A steal!
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And a no-name Cross pein hammer, used but not trashed, and hand forged.
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And my last stop was the Treasure and Trash barn, if I'd brought more cash I'd have bought more axes. Two boxes of rusty Collins' and a few Warren's for $4.00 each. This poor baby has a crack though, about an inch long. Should I weld it, or simply rehang it and ignore it?
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DarthTaco123 said:
First off we have a True Temper Kelly Works (World's Finest if I might add, the axe said so!) for quite a steal of a price. Any idea on when it was approximately made?
Click to expand...

If it says "Kelly Works" it's from no earlier than 1930.
The earliest axe stamped "True Temper" I've seen advertised was from 1938.
Kelly Works shut down on May 28, 1982. (reference)

This narrows it down to:
from somewhere between 1930-1938
to 1982
but I'd guess that it's from the first half of this range.



Steve Tall said:
Some clarifications, and it's complicated.

True Temper Kelly Perfect Axes were being advertised in 1938, as far as I know:
http://books.google.com/books?id=JQNEAAAAIAAJ&q=%22true+temper%22+axe&dq=%22true+temper%22+axe&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rAtrU42OC8n4oAS4_oH4Ag&ved=0CG4Q6AEwCQ
So, if an axe says "True Temper" it could be from as early as 1938 (or perhaps earlier?)

Here are some details of the True Temper puzzle:

Based on info from yesteryearstools.com,
If it says "Kelly Works" it's from 1930 or later.

Acquisition of Kelly Axe Mfg. Co. and Operation as Kelly Works 1930-1949+
Corporation Name Changed to True Temper 1949-1987+
from http://www.yesteryearstools.com/Yesteryears%20Tools/American%20Fork%20%26%20Hoe%20Co..html

1949 is the year that American Fork and Hoe (owner of Kelly Axe since 1930) changed the A.F.&H. name to True Temper, BUT there were some True Temper axes out there before 1949.
Here's an ad from 1941 for True Temper axes:
http://books.google.com/books?id=iycDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA221&dq=%22true%20temper%22%20axe&pg=PA221#v=onepage&q=%22true%20temper%22%20axe&f=false

A reference to "Kelly True Temper axes" from 1939:
http://books.google.com/books?ei=6X-wU5zJPIzfoASX2oLQBA&id=z9NFAAAAYAAJ&dq=true+temper+kelly+perfect+axe&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=true+temper

American Fork & Hoe was using the True Temper brand as early as 1907...
Click to expand...
 
From what I read, the ones marked "Worlds FInest" were meant to be export axes to Australia? I really hope that Collin's Conn. Pattern is savable, it's sitting in vinegar right now, there's no real severe pitting which is great. Would you by chance have any idea on the date of that Collin's Brush Axe? I've read through a bit on yesteryear tools, but haven't found much. I've seen axes in worse condition (mine's is in darn good shape, minimal pitting) selling for 90-100 bucks.
 
Yep, there are a few other places along the way to Treasure and Trash that I'd have loved to check out, but they took cash only and only had a few bucks cash. More cash next friday, and I sure as hell hope that Collins rafting axe is still there. This beauty had no pitting, some of the paper label, and even the original paint left. I was all but drooling over it's $12.00 price tag.
 
Hi Darth,

Ah....cool! I'm glad you checked out "Liberty Tools". Looks like you found some nice goodies! Awesome lil' Town Liberty eh ? I too also enjoy visiting Searsport for the "Trash and Treasure Barn" as well as the Flea Markets. Ooh, be sure to check out : JUST BARBS for some good (inexpensive) all you can eat Fish and Chips just right down the road from the Barn and Flea Markets in Stockton Springs. http://bucksweb.com/04981.html



Darth....have you checked out "Elmer's Barn" ? https://www.google.com/search?q=elm...GZyASMkoH4Bg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAw&biw=1229&bih=575

Nothing Knife or Axe finds this weekend (so far). Last weekend.....I found two awesome BSA (Boy Scout America) vintage Hatchets! One is an awesome PLUMB (no nail puller) which I suspect is pretty old. It is in fantastic condition! Bought it (last Saturday) from an old man for nine dollars! The next day Sunday, I found a wonderful condition official BSA (COLLINS) Hatchet HEAD (no handle) for four dollars! The COLLINS has the nail puller. What luck!

HARDBALL
 
Treasure and Trash is just heaven. I've more cash for next time, the bucket o' axes out front just had me drooling. 4 bucks a pop for Collins' with a bit of surface rust? Still unsure on that crack though.
 
HARDBALL said:
... I found a wonderful condition official BSA (COLLINS) Hatchet HEAD...
Click to expand...

My impression is that the Plumb scout hatchets are more common, but for a while, the BSA was advertising a choice of hatchets from Collins, Plumb, and Bridgeport (the Bridgeport ones had a higher price).

Axes.png


from Boys Life, April 1925
http://books.google.com/books?id=G7cwmTiSGW8C&lpg=PA5&dq=collins%20scout%20axe&pg=PA5#v=onepage&q=collins%20scout%20axe&f=false

Boys Life, Dec 1930, with BSA advertising hatchets by Collins, Plumb, and Bridgeport:
http://books.google.com/books?id=eY4mxFK1KX8C&lpg=PA61&dq=bridgeport%20scout%20axe&pg=PA61#v=onepage&q=bridgeport%20scout%20axe&f=false
 
Hi Steve,

Thanks for the info/link. I suspect you are correct that the PLUMB is more common. It's a very nice handy size Hatchet (a bit over 12" OAL) which is a couple of inches shorter than my GB "Wild Life" Hatchet (a bit over 14" OAL). It's a small/handy size Hatchet with a nice size/weight head. The COLLINS "Official Boy Scout Axe" has a larger Poll despite being a smaller and lighter head. The COLLINS has a nail puller, the PLUMB does not. I think the PLUMB might be the older of the two Hatchets. Oooh ST, I haven't heard of BRIDGEPORT Axes. I'll have to keep an Eye open! Thanks.

HARDBALL
 
Welding is always an option. I was unclear from the photo where is the crack, my biggest concern would be if it were near the cutting edge. There is usually a way to get it done though. It would be a labor of love, due to the time and effort involved. No guarantees. :cool:
Danny.
 
It's near the back of the eye, towards the poll. It's right around the middle of the last picture, it runs about 1" up and stops.
 
Man, I'm envious of you guys up in the northeast...you seem to have a much better crop of vintage axe heads. It must be from all the wood-fired heating over the years so most homeowners, not just foresters, had axes. I found one axe at the local flea market this weekend...a council tool jersey with a curved bit hung high on a not good handle for $20. Needless to say I didn't get it.

Very nice finds too! Those places sound like I could spend a few hours digging around in them easily. I now have a few destinations the next time I am up that way!
 
Hi SC,

Welcome to BF and the Axe/Hatchet page. Yep....LOTS of Axes were made up here in Maine back in the day and I love to haunt/hunt the "Flea Markets" for all kinds of Axes/Hatchets/Knives.
Somewhere in these pages, is an awesome Historical Film/video on the making of Maine Axes from (what I believe) was the last operating Maine Axe company. Worth searching.

HARDBALL
 
Lot's o' goodies around here, sometimes in the least expected places, and at a great price. Searsport flea markets seemed to be a bit pricey, but compared to what I'm used to everything is pricey. The True Temper Kelly Works chops beautifully, I ever so WANT to use it to chop roots on an elm I'm collecting to make a Native American styled Root Ball club, but it's just so darn perfect I don't know if I want to. I may just take my CS frontier Hawk, or my Collins Hudson Bay out to do the job. I've maple and alder root balls already, but the more the merrier eh?
 
DarthTaco123 said:
The True Temper Kelly Works chops beautifully, I ever so WANT to use it to chop roots on an elm I'm collecting to make a Native American styled Root Ball club, but it's just so darn perfect I don't know if I want to.
Click to expand...
Once you get a nice clean edge on an axe you'll thoroughly regret using it to chop roots. All it takes is a small embedded stone to ruin an edge. Use a Pulaski or a 'beater' axe and do not go out of your way to do much more than keep it 'pointy' whenever working near or in the ground.
 
Went back today. Hit trash and treasure for a Collins rafting pattern (maybe cedar I can't recall at the moment), and a rock away pattern that has some nasty crud all over it. Pictures up after I get home, and visit liberty again.
 
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