Posted 7 years ago
AnythingOb…
(1778 items)
Picked offa the auction hayracks before the 'public' even had a chance ;-) this old double-edged log splitting axe probably first belonged to my grandfather, many decades ago. I don't know exactly how old it is (anyone?) but it has the KEEN KUTTER name stamped on one side of its blade and the number 32 on the other, and measures roughly 3' long overall.
This dates at least 1940. It is surely older. The mark is similar to the one found on hedge shears (KK-8 1/2) This must be very heavy. Congratulations on this find! These i believe aren't common in such a large size, so yours may be somewhat scarce from the way I see it.
Simmons made axes for Keen Kutter and also Winchester. Top quality and in 1912 they sold for $18 a dozen. You have a double bit with a 3' handle which is standard. You also have a thick bit which means it was made for hardwood. Softwood would have a much thinner bit. Unfortunately the marking on yours is not a Keen Kutter registered trademark that I can find. That would indicate a reproduction. They used their wedge logo from 1870 until 1985.
fhrjr2, visit this image address:http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h414/operator1975/SAM_1130_zps039d4c17.jpg It shows the 1930 catalog page of the marks used on the tools during that time. The mark on the tool above is one of them shown, as I have hedge shears that have the same mark.
Wait a second, My mistake, I've noticed the "serifs" on the letters are not there. This confirms it's not original.
THANKS everyone for the loves, and to McCoyNelson and fhrjr2 for your very informative comments! How intriguing that y'all seem to think this is a 'repro' of some sort -- but then again, I have no true idea of how (or when) it actually ended up in my Dad's (formerly Granddad's) garage either...and it *was* just one of a pile of 3 or 4 similar axes sitting on the hayrack -- the others were unmarked so I grabbed this one. ;-)
McC-N, the link you gave didn't go directly to a photo, but did take me to a forums page where I was able to scroll about halfway down and find another (single-edged) axe with what looks to me like the same exact 'KEEN KUTTER MADE IN USA' logo on it, though stamped slightly deeper than on my tool.
And anyways...I don't really plan to split any logs with it anytime soon, but it still looks pretty cool...?? <lol>
More good info to stir the pot below. If yours is a fake, then there appears to be fakes of fakes??? In the link below, you will see 2 more axes, with the same mark as yours, so you be the judge. I would do a little more investigating, as allot of strange things happened way back in time, between tool makers, and sales companies. That being said, keen kutter was ripe for counter fitting, as they had their mark on everything from tools to toasters. Lastly, your mark "style" appears to be legit according to "The Keen Kutter Collectors Guide" by Jerry & Elaine Heuring, which i own a signed copy of. See Axes and hatchets on page 12.
http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/keen-kutter-axes-info-and-post-em-up-updated.1001503/