I'm going to somewhat disagree on the electrical statement. If your chopping through the skin of an aircraft it has crashed and the electrical system is disconnected. Additionally, aircraft run on 24 volt dc. Even the larger aircraft. 24 dc won't do much shocking. There are inverters on medium to large aircraft running AC but likely they are off if the aircraft crashes. The rubber coating is more for grip I'm going to say.

As you can see in Ohio Boy's post, they still advertise new crash axes as being insulated against 20,000 volts. It would not be a major selling point, if an insulated handle was not needed. A lot of crash axes were used on aircraft damaged by hostile fire during WWII, which likely still.had intact electrical systems. Those aircraft were different than today's.

Keith

I believe that pick was designed for railroad use. The reverse end is just the right size for driving a railroad spike.

Keith

Keith the up swell with red handle and a hatchet like it are kind of uncommon ? I have a old hatchet like that that i put a longer handle in and I use it very often in log building projects .Seems like I can get to more different positions with it . Are they made today and where to buy and what is the common name for that style ? Thanks for posting and I hope you do well on them .

That's called a Dayton Pattern. It is more upswept than most. Michigans are similar, but the corner's of the poll are more rounded, instead of square. Because of its light weight, the one in the picture is likely a "boys axe".

Here's a chart of different common axe head patterns:



There are many other patterns of axe heads. Some axes are kind of in between patterns too.

Daytons are common in my area, because they originated about 45 minutes from here.

I don't know much about new axes and I am still a pretty rank amateur on antique ones. There's is a tremendous amount to learn Sorry, I don't know of anyone still making them.

Keith

Might be a stone masons grozing head, used like a broad axe only for stone.

Did you get that all at one auction? That was a heck of an auction if you did. What else do it have? It is crazy what some of the prices axes are bringing on eBay nowadays. You killed it at $12.43great deal Was there any Black Raven's there?????

The first pictures were all from one auction. It was out in the middle of nowhere, which greatly helped on price.

I have not been lucky enough to find a Black Raven, that wasn't identified in an auction or in a classified's picture, without a description. Black Ravens are so valuable now, there are starting to be a lot of fakes. The fakes are usually stamped or laser cut, instead of embossed.

I put a lot of effort into looking for axes, hatchets, adzes and cleavers.

I had these two True Temper hatchets shipped in from an online auction on Saturday.



Keith

Great collection! From what I understand there were possibly hundreds of edged tool makers in the U.S and Canada from the 1840’s to 1940’s. I have found dozens of axe heads detecting early homestead and logging sites they seem to be a common find. I usually bring home the smaller heads also some of the early 1860-1880 single bits. Indian trade ones occasionally show up too.

Thanks. The trade axes often bring very good prices, even in pretty horrendous shape, from being buried for many years. I found two buried axe heads here, when I put in new electrical conduit. They were both splitting axe heads. I don't have any original trade axes.

I bought these two axes at auction today.




The bottom axe is a jersey pattern, True Temper, Flint Edge, Kelly single bit, splitting axe.

I believe the red axe, on top, is also a Kelly splitting axe.

Keith

What was the one that looks like the letter P used for?

The hatchet shaped like the letter P is an aircraft rescue hatchet. They are designed to cut through the metal skin on an aircraft and are supposed to protect the user from electric shock.

I haven't been buying much since May, but I did get a pickaroon today from a friend of mine. It's my only pickaroon.






Keith

It's "Grozing" head, used for cleaning the edges, and flat surfaces of stone work.

Top Pic: I know what a "Pickaroon" is, but what the other side for?

I "Liberated" a rescue hatchet when I was in the military, looks like a regular hatchet, but it has a large notch ground in the blade for perforating the aircraft skin.

I'm not sure what you mean by other side. This little pickaroon was made to pick up rounds and splits of firewood probably.

Keith

In the first pic, the other end from the pick side?????, a flat straight edge not a cross edge like a hoe or mattock.

You mean the first picture on page 1?

Yeppers. What other first pic is there? LOL

The very first axe posted, on the first page is an ice axe, used to cut ice for ice boxes, before modern refrigeration.

Keith

AAAAAH! OK, I can see that, thanks.