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General Forestry => General Board => Topic started by: scottyc on September 25, 2013, 01:49:47 PM

Title: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: scottyc on September 25, 2013, 01:49:47 PM
Hello, I'm new to the forum and i love collecting vintage axes. I started about 3 months ago, I've aquired a 5 1/2 lb Plumb felling axe, A 5' Stinsson 2 man saw and a 4lb Ciollins
My question is, what type/company axes should i keep my eye out for? again purly for collecting.
My second question is, Where and how does someone go abouts ordering a John Neeman axe? I sent a few emails and left a few messages.. Is there a webiste besides his
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 25, 2013, 01:51:24 PM
Last I knew he was having some trouble with his website.
There is a knife I am interested in so I'm waiting for his site to be available again.

Welcome aboard Scotty!

Jon
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: Weekend_Sawyer on September 25, 2013, 01:52:39 PM
By the way, did you view the thread above titled It's Hatchet Time
Very interesting.
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: Raider Bill on September 25, 2013, 01:53:59 PM
Welcome

Forget John Neeman. Nothing but excuses.

This is the place to go for axe's & knifes.

http://www.autinetools.com
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: scottyc on September 25, 2013, 02:02:28 PM
Thanks for the Welcome and the link, Does anyone here collect vintage Axes?
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: Jeff on September 25, 2013, 02:10:58 PM
I have a few. Not a lot. :)  Plumbs are quite common around here. My favorites here are a Keen Cutter and a Winchester and a Kelly stamped for the C.C.C.
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: scottyc on September 25, 2013, 02:14:49 PM
I have to be honest with you, I really like restoring them lol.. My plumb has a mirror finish. I know it's not practical for use but again i just enjoy collecting them, I paid $5.00 for it and $15 for the stinsson 2 man saw.
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: thecfarm on September 25, 2013, 02:19:29 PM
scottyc,welcome to the forum. I have quite a few vintage axe heads. Theses are all from my Father and his Father. I doubt they are any big names,but they mean a lot to me.
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: beenthere on September 25, 2013, 02:33:43 PM
scotty
Welcome to the forum, and we'd sure like to see pics of the restored axes.
I'm looking to learn a few things from this thread.

The thread "It's Hatchet Time" is here
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,67192.0.html

And what would make an axe "vintage" ?? Age, and if so, what age would be the minimum?
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: scottyc on September 25, 2013, 02:56:16 PM
I'll post a picture tonight when i get home from work
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: jueston on September 25, 2013, 03:10:58 PM
i have a pretty big collection of old hammers, mostly from estate sales, but i have a few hatchets too. i don't know why, i just like the idea of the old piece of steal. it seems so much better then one off the shelf at a store.

i also sharpen and polish mine far beyond what is necessary, but it keeps me busy, and i enjoy it.... and then after i make them pretty i just put them up on a wall in the shop(my basement) and never use them... some people(my girlfriend) think its a waste of time, but we all have hobby's....
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: scottyc on September 25, 2013, 03:14:33 PM
i hear the same thing from my girlfriend :laugh: I'm going to look at a collection of 2 man saws and older axes from a buddy of mine who has been cleaning out farms for estate sales in upstate ny and northern jersey, looking forward to sunday
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: Jeff on September 25, 2013, 03:49:14 PM
Remember, if you keep all that stuff in the house, someone is going to make you dust. I know. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQr1OwdahFE
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: loggah on September 25, 2013, 04:01:29 PM
I have quite a few old axes, and hatchets. lots of blacksmith made ones,some winchester hatchets 4 different styles,and a bunch of Marbles safety axes and Marbles cruisers axe, the Marbles are high quality made in Gladstone,Mich. Don
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: Jeff on September 25, 2013, 04:08:50 PM
The marbles company is still up there, at least in name.  The older ones are probably one of the highest priced collectable axes you will find in these parts.
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: loggah on September 25, 2013, 04:35:54 PM
Jeff, The old Marbles stuff is super quality,sights,knives,axes. The newer stuff is made overseas and is really  no where near the quality of the old !!  :( :( Don
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: snowstorm on September 25, 2013, 05:03:33 PM
if you ever get to maine. go to liberty tool. its in liberty. it may be old used and a little beat up but you never know what you will find there
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: scottyc on September 25, 2013, 07:01:29 PM
Everyone tells me to go to Maine.. I think i'll take a weekend up there in the spring
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: Al_Smith on September 25, 2013, 09:06:51 PM
I don't neccessarily collect  old axes but I have a few .Notable I suppose is an old 5 pound splitter that evidently was hand forged according to my ex wives grandfather .I also have my deceased fathers' double bit Plumb which is as old as I am. That axe has only been sharpened with a hand stone for as far back as I can remember and has never sat outside in the rain .Actually you can't sharpened it with a file because the steel is too hard .
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: WH_Conley on September 25, 2013, 09:50:53 PM
Anybody know anything about Germantown Axe? My brother in law got a hatchet as they were cleaning out an old man's house that lived beside him a few years back and gave it to me. It seems like a quality tool, but, I can find very little on the web.
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: scottyc on September 27, 2013, 08:56:11 AM
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33805/axe_001.jpg)(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33805/axe_002.jpg)
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: scottyc on September 27, 2013, 08:57:17 AM
this is a 3.5 lb Plumb in working on now, The one side is done still have some work on the other,
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: thecfarm on September 27, 2013, 09:02:22 AM
That has a nice shine,finish to it. WOW! Mine are just the old dull kind. Nothing fancy or real good steel like that.
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: scottyc on September 27, 2013, 09:26:51 AM
i have a few with a dull finish, I wanted to learn how to get a high finish. I learned it takes alot of elbow grease or i need to buy a polisher :laugh:
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: beenthere on September 27, 2013, 10:08:31 AM
Good on the pics scotty.  And you polished this with "elbow grease" ? 

Care to tell us what you used for polish, grit, and pad?
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: scottyc on September 27, 2013, 11:22:59 AM
Thanks, I start with a wire brush to get the rust off then 100 grit sand papper, 250,600,800.1000 and 2500 girt finished with green jewlers polish. I enjoy the work but i am investing in a grinder with a polishing wheel
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: pappy19 on September 27, 2013, 08:57:04 PM
Any of the old Marbles axes or hatchets are some of the best USA made ever. Most problems are the replacement handles, as the Marbles had a much different interior design and therefore, much harder to replace. I have 2 hatchets that need handles, but hard to find. Marble steel is also hard to beat. Even Randall Made Knives used a Marbles hatchet head on a few of their very rare Randall hatchets. That should tell you something.

Pap
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: scottyc on September 28, 2013, 08:42:39 AM
I picked up Marbels hatchet a few eeks back at a flea market, The handle is in good shape, I'll post a pic when i start working on it, I'm starting on one of my 2 man saws this week, Looking forward to seeing how it comes out
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: Wagaige75 on May 07, 2017, 08:50:47 AM
Hi guys I'm new to axe collecting and recently got my first beauty.  She is a 6lb elwell I also bought a 7 1/2 lb elwell but not here yet and a 6lb Whitehouse yes I'm guilty for liking the looks of the English axe. I am also starting a restore on my 3lb plumb what's your guys thoughts on best way to refinish the steel and what do you coat them with to protect them
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: coxy on May 07, 2017, 07:29:26 PM
no idea but welcome to the FF
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: Kbeitz on May 08, 2017, 01:17:36 AM
I got a couple of old broadhead axes.
Title: Re: Vintage Axe Questions.. I need advice
Post by: Chuck White on May 09, 2017, 07:38:54 AM
Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Wagaige75!