unidentified half hatchet

S

seams lazarus

Joined
Aug 26, 2017
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2
i have a half hatchet that I got at a garage sale. it has no maker's mark and I can't tell what brand it is. it also seems to be cast.
IMG_20170806_201329.jpg
sorry for the modifications, wasn't planning on doing this.
 
Its very possible its cast. Lots of old half hatches are cast iron. Yours could be an example of.
Way back when...& Just as today is demand for very cheap tool. Marketed to those who dont understand or care about the difference.
 
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Just because an axe or hatchet head was drop hammer shaped/pressed in a closed die process (is there evidence of a seam that did or did not get trimmed and ground off) doesn't mean the quality is poor. Some of the older sledgehammers I have are stamped 'cast steel'.
 
Lieblad said:
Its very possible its cast. Lots of old half hatches are cast iron. Yours could be an example of.
Way back when...& Just as today is demand for very cheap tool. Marketed to those who dont understand or care about the difference.
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I'm pretty sure cast iron can't make an edge tool, so they wouldn't be made of cast iron.
 
Hickory n steel said:
I'm pretty sure cast iron can't make an edge tool, so they wouldn't be made of cast iron.
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If you look at old specimens and descriptions in tool catalogues of that timeframe, you will find cast iron is not uncommon material for 'economy grade' half hatchets.
CI can be sharpened. No, it wont hold edge for crap and prone to chip, Were suited for the kitchen drawer where it might need to pound a few tacks, open a crate or split kindling a couple times per year.
 
Lieblad said:
If you look at old specimens and descriptions in tool catalogues of that timeframe, you will find cast iron is not uncommon material for 'economy grade' half hatchets.
CI can be sharpened. No, it wont hold edge for crap and prone to chip, Were suited for the kitchen drawer where it might need to pound a few tacks, open a crate or split kindling a couple times per year.
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Got any evidence of a catalog page describing a half hatchet as cast iron ?
It just doesn't make sense to me to use cast iron when steel probably wouldn't cost much more or be harder to forge.
Normally to save money they skimp on finishing steps vs materials quality.
This is just one of those believe it when I see it situations.
 
Lieblad said:
Not great, but one example.
https://www.farmandcountrylife.com/store/p67/Vintage_Hatchet Axe Design_1880's_$1.html
I cant post images, but expect one could google up catalogue examples were one inclined.
Some of our members here would surely have catalogue evidence also & if inclined help out your tools education.
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I'm still learning, but I noticed this catalog having a hatchet (top right) that was "case hardened malleable casting", which presumably started out as cast iron (annealed to make it malleable, and case hardened at the bit at least?). It cost only $27 per dozen, compared to $90 for the Germantown and $108 for the Estwing.

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Cast steel, also referred to as crucible steel was a refined version of "blister steel" that was made in ceramic cruciables. It dates back to the early 1800's. cast steel was used in the manufacture of springs, razors, cutting tools, and impact tools. It was often used as the insert in axe bits. It was expensive to produce so a cast steel stamp on an axe or other tool was a sign of quality.
 
The malleable cast iron hatchet is interesting. Malleable iron is white cast iron that has been processed to give it mechanical properties that are similar to mild steel. Malleable cast can flex to an extent and sustain impacts with out cracking. By case hardening it the surface can be made hard while the core stays soft. The down side is that the hardening is very shallow and will be removed from the edge when it is sharpened.
 
Steve Tall said:
I'm still learning, but I noticed this catalog having a hatchet (top right) that was "case hardened malleable casting", which presumably started out as cast iron (annealed to make it malleable, and case hardened at the bit at least?). It cost only $27 per dozen, compared to $90 for the Germantown and $108 for the Estwing.

$%28KGrHqNHJCkFIMqHEsHJBSJT4jwN8g~~60_57.JPG
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Hmm, then I guess I was wrong and that they did make them from cast iron.
I'll bet they case harden them for quite a while, because I know that if you do it right you can just about case harden something all the way through.
 
Square_peg said:
I've never come across a cast iron hammer or axe.
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Cast iron post mauls are still being sold, though. Saw them at the local farm store, made by Truper.

The 1897 Sears catalog has a cast iron hammer they were selling, Item 23754. The listing says "Cast iron hammers are strictly no good. We have a few of these hammers in stock... You will be sorry if you buy one..."

 
I'll bet they case harden them for quite a while, because I know that if you do it right you can just about case harden something all the way through.
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If they managed to do that, it wont be case hardened any more.
A tool like that would be sharpened to whatever degree desired, then quickly case hardened. Thats it.
Any more metal processing would not be economical for a bottom line economy tool.
 
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