What do you look for when buying a vintage hatchet/axe?

T

the possum

Joined
Jul 31, 2002
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Sometimes I've shared my fondness of edged tools with others, and sometimes the excitement is contagious enough that they become interested in picking up their own. And they invariably ask what they should buy. I can point things out in person with my own tools, but that gets harder to do online.

Why don't we make a reference thread we can point newbies to?

What do you look for? What do you avoid? Can you provide pictures to show what you're talking about? How about comparison pictures of badly worn edges/toes, warped or cracked eyes, excessive poll mushrooming, and so on vs. a good example?
 
The 3 things i look for the most when looking for old head is #1 what shape its in, I don't want cracks, mushrooming or grinder marks indicating someone used power tools on it compromising the heat treatment. #2 who made it (stamp) usually with the stamp you can get a general idea of the origin and date of said head and #3 can i get it back to a usable state with the tools and knowledge i have. If all these check out i will usually lean towards scooping it up.
 
From another (similar) thread titled "what to look for in vintage axes?", a one-sentence summary from S Square_peg :

"Look for a high centerline, a known makers mark, a toe that isn't worn out and a poll that isn't mushroomed too badly."

Square_peg said:
Look for a high centerline, a known makers mark, a toe that isn't worn out and a poll that isn't mushroomed too badly. Get that and you're fine.

Hudson Bay axes are great for light duty or bushcraft work but won't stand up to harder work because of their short eye. A boys axe is a better multi-purpose axe. There are lot's of Kelly Woodslasher boys axes out there cheap. No stamp but you can recognize them by the ridges in the eye.
Click to expand...
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/what-to-look-for-in-vintage-axes.1374898/
 
One thing I avoid is a seller with attitude. I've walked away from pieces I wanted on more than one occasion because of the seller not because of the price. Other than that I agree with what's been posted.
 
Avoid these...

The top DBL bit is badly worn on one bit and they have used it as a hammer denting the eye. A little dent I just ignore, not this one.
The second DBL bit is broke.
The painted head is worn and the paint is hiding a crack. Painted heads can be a gamble as they hide sins and also preserve the head.
The second to the last one is also badly worn, but it didn't show up well in the picture. Even though the toe is not that far back from the heel. It would be apparent in a top down view.
The last one is beat into submission.

These are better...

The worst of the lot is the second to the last one that is rust pitted. It also has a little wear(see the toe being behind the heel?). Some file work will get you many years of life out of it still, but it should be priced accordingly.
The DBL bit on the bottom is in fine shape I just have not got around to cleaning it up after it came out of the vinegar. It was covered in light rust and has very minor pitting. No problem.
 
I've gotten to where I love to find an old axe with a story behind it.

I found this little cruiser a couple of years ago. It has been treated with the utmost respect, but it was worked hard.. No doubt it has paid the bills, and fed the children for someone, but who, why, where, and when? I have on more than one occasion fell asleep thinking about the story behind it.

[url=https://postimg.cc/image/3p18521oh/][/url]
 
quinton said:
I've gotten to where I love to find an old axe with a story behind it.

I found this little cruiser a couple of years ago. It has been treated with the utmost respect, but it was worked hard.. No doubt it has paid the bills, and fed the children for someone, but who, why, where, and when? I have on more than one occasion fell asleep thinking about the story behind it.

Click to expand...

That little guy worked hard for someone, I am sure. It still had the self-respect to resist the steel wedges. :thumbsup:
 
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