Splitting Maul ID?

T

Tymowens

Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Messages
69
I found an old-looking splitting maul at a junk/antique store today. Paid $10 for it. It had been poorly hung as the head didn't go near the shoulder and 2 metal wedges were pounded in seemingly in lieu of a wooden wedge.

It says "Wear Safety Goggles" on one side. If the edge is down and poll up then the letters would be in the correct orientation. There is an 8 stamped on the same side and US on the opposite. I will try to post some pictures later, but it's a maul... Looks like every other maul. It has a regular sledge hammer eye, not an axe eye.

Once I clean it some maybe some other markings will appear.
 
Absolutely zero way to tell without photos, and even then probably no positive ID. With the safety goggles note it's probably a pretty recently made one.
 
Yea like I said it looks like every other splitting maul, so i'm not sure photos will be too helpful either.... I'll post some tomorrow after a little bit of cleaning.
 
"Wear safety glasses/goggles" is a recent phenomenon. A lot of striking implements began to sport this safety advice beginning in the mid to late 1970s.
 
As promised:



Wear Safety Goggles and a few 8's on one side and US on the other.
I removed the evil red rust, rehung it on a new handle, and began profiling the edge. Not going to get a chance to test it out tonight (thanks daylight savings).
Heck it may be a 2 year old head from Lowe's for all I know lol. It's been sitting outside this junk store in town a couple of old guys run. Who knows how long it's been sitting out front on the weather. Just hoping maybe someone would recognize the markings. :)
 
Last edited:
If it's US made then it's probably more than ten years old and undoubtedly better then what is sold in hardware stores now. Hang on to it. Use it.
 
Definitely planning on using it. I have been wanting to find an old splitter to rehang/refurbish. I got lucky and after digging around with no luck the guy said he had some hand tools sitting outside. Being so excited seeing this I don't even remember what else he had out there... Lol.
 
Interesting how far back the eye is. Have a top-down pic of it? I'd like to see the shape!
 
I've found some pretty old tools with the "wear safety goggles" disclaimer but none forged in. I'll say this, there aren't too many junk tools that someone took the time to stamp that much stuff on.
 
300Six said:
Presumably weight of the poll matches weight of the blade in order to equalize the balance of a two-sided whacker.
Click to expand...

I know. That's what makes me curious about the actual geometry of the bit. ;)
 
Here's the top view:


I gave it a very brief test today. I found my self not fully trusting my hanging job at first. Got the hang of it eventually. I think I need to thin down the edge a little more for better penetration. Any advice is welcome.
 
Meant to add that the balance point is right in front of the eye. I would imagine that without the handle the eye would be the perfect center of balance.
 
Interesting shape! Should split pretty well, though it looks bowed to the left. I do agree that thinning the edge a bit more would probably be a good idea. :)
 
Hmm... It does look slightly bowed in the picture. I didn't notice it until you pointed it out. I don't think it will affect it too much, its not a precision instrument :) The edge was slightly uneven. I corrected it since the picture for the most part. Its going to take a lot of file work to thin the edge down enough to make a difference. Work in progress...
 
Liberatus1 said:
I've found some pretty old tools with the "wear safety goggles" disclaimer but none forged in. I'll say this, there aren't too many junk tools that someone took the time to stamp that much stuff on.
Click to expand...

You are much younger than I am. "Wear safety goggles" is a recent phenomenon. You won't see this stamped on a cannon barrel from WWII, Korea or Vietnam. Not stamping in any information (today) would include "made in China". This paper label, decal, acid and/or photo etch business really takes the cake. First time out the markings all disappear and then you don't know who the "H" made what nor where.
Funny though that "lifetime guarantee" has never been permanently stamped on anything including Craftsman, Rigid, Snap-on nor Mastercraft tools either.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top