greensngravy Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 This one is a hewing axe, I believe. The blade is beveled on only the right-hand side and has a slight sway to the blade. The blade is 12.5" long, and the manufacture mark on the head that is visible says "Rochester", and there is also a stamp mark that looks like a rose next to "B15" or "P15" or something. Any ideas? Thanks, Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maillemaker Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 If the head is flat on one side, then it would probably be used for squaring timbers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greensngravy Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 Thanks! I am looking also for the brand name of the axe. It's in real good shape to boot. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 It looks like a coopers wing axe for cutting barrel staves. At least the axes I used for that purpose looked like that. It also looks like it has had quite a bit of sharpening. How long is the handle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greensngravy Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 The handle is about 32" from tip to tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 With a handle that length, then I'd say it is a coopers axe. Easily swung with one hand for roughing staves. If the bevel is on the right side it's a right handed axe or vise-verse for a lefty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greensngravy Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 Any ideas about who the mnufacturer is based on the stamped markings on the head? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Pretty hard to say who made it, unless you are an axe collector. These tools were made by a myriad of manufacturers both here and in Europe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Note that the handle has been replaced---perhaps Many Times and no guarantee that the latest one was put on by anyone in the know----(I was once trying to buy a hammer head cheap but the dealer kept wanting to get too much for it as he had put in a new handle---and done it so badly that I pulled out the handle and handed it to him and asked him "How much for just the head?") Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanBrassaw Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Note that the handle has been replaced---perhaps Many Times and no guarantee that the latest one was put on by anyone in the know----(I was once trying to buy a hammer head cheap but the dealer kept wanting to get too much for it as he had put in a new handle---and done it so badly that I pulled out the handle and handed it to him and asked him "How much for just the head?") There's an antique dealer around here that does the same thing. I've asked him in the past if I can just look at his unhandled heads, but he refuses, since a shoddy handle job can triple the price he gets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momatt Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 No help on the maker but its a common broad axe. I have and use several just like it. Its a reversable pattern flip teh head and its good for a right or left handed hewing. The handle would have been bent to clear the log. Check out mud pond hewing to see on in action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greensngravy Posted February 23, 2013 Author Share Posted February 23, 2013 Thanks Momatt. It sounds like its more than likely a hewing axe like I originally thought. There were probably a bunch of axe makers in the Riochester, NY area back in the day. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greensngravy Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 Regarding reshaping of the axe head (it's gotten pretty flattened and out of shape over the last century), does it make sense to reforge the head and beat it back to a reasonably original shape? And if so, how would one go about doing that without jeopardizing the blade side? Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gundog48 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Rochester is a town near me in England, it has quite a history so this axe could have been for a number of things if it came from there. Or it could be another Rochester somewhere in the world, or Rochester could be a surname or just a name of a forge. Not exactly helpful I know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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