All About Pocket Knives

I didn’t notice how he had them up there. I sure hope he didn’t drive a nail through that handle, surely no one would be that ignorant of what that would do to the value.
He has two huge display cases w/ drill bit sets, planes, meat grinders, vegetable cutters, safety razors, manicure sets, pipe wrenches, adjustable wrenches, and so many things I have never seen before. This collection is massive. I am really torn about passing on this or taking the plung, but it’s a lot of money and I am way out of my league on this.
Back to the topic. If there is a specific axe or hatchet made by Keen Kutter that someone is looking for, let me know and I can call him or go and look for it. Anything is for sale at the right price. I think he is over collecting and would like to get it all out of his workshop.

The reason I collect axes is at farm auctions they sell "CHEAP". I tend to collect more Plumbs, and I have never paid more than $10 for one. I have Collins Legitimus,Kelly, Mann, some Swedish stuff. Some nice heads bring lots of money on ebay. Follow it and take notes.

Here is a $1 ball peen hammer I picked up. no name so probably had a stick on label. gave the worn handle a bit of sanding. And my home made mallet tool for large wood carving tools. Bob

Did you spray the matte finish on the hammer handle?

FRJ wrote:Did you spray the matte finish on the hammer handle?

Yes on the ball peen, soaked right in. Found my boiled lindseed oil so may give it a few coats.

I started on a display board for some axes. This is the same pattern I would use with small ball peen hammer heads. I got tired of waiting to get enough to make a board, so I bought all the brass drawer pulls Ace Hardware had. I still need more. If you look in the center of the board there is a single pull buy its self. I plan on putting one between each double, and one on each end. That will give me nine axes on this board. The ones on a single pull will hang head down on a leather choker, Joe.

For those interested, on the board above, the first on the left is a Collins Legitumus with the "Collins Genuine Hickory" script still on the original handle.The second is a Plumb Cruiser my friend hung for me. He hand shaved the handle to an octagonal, feels great in the hand. The third was my wife's grandfathers American Beauty, and last is a True Temper Kelly Perfect.

rarefish383 wrote:For those interested, on the board above, the first on the left is a Collins Legitumus with the "Collins Genuine Hickory" script still on the original handle.The second is a Plumb Cruiser my friend hung for me. He hand shaved the handle to an octagonal, feels great in the hand. The third was my wife's grandfathers American Beauty, and last is a True Temper Kelly Perfect.

Awesome collection!! Do they get use?

There is a fellow on youtube, and a member of arboristsite, that have a "cord wood challenge" going. The goal is to Chop, split, and stack a cord of wood with an ax. I'm using the American Beauty to try to make it. I'm basically chopping down all of the little Gum trees in the woods behind my house. The biggest pieces are 4-6 inches. Not trying to split any. For the guys trying to split pieces, you have to lay them flat on the ground, being tapered on both ends, from being chopped. I did chop down and chop up one gum tree with the little Plumb throwing ax I made a few months ago. But, since mowing season is in, and all the rain here, I haven't done much with the axes, except buy a few more, Joe.

Rehabbing a battered old perfect

MM, I like that one. You got the contour back and the poll cleaned up, and didn't go too far with the polishing. yep, I like it, Joe.

I made this board a couple months ago and finally hung it on the wall. I still need to do a little rearranging of some furniture so I can hang one more hatchet on each end, so far it works. I was going to lean all of my singles along the wall under the board, but that's how I ruined a few nice doubles. I left them leaning almost straight up, for years, and they all warped into the lean. So, I need to do something else for the singles.

Rarefish, great display. Never occurred to me a leaning axe handle would warp. Did you ever get your cord of wood chopped?

Nice display, rarefish.

doglegg wrote:Rarefish, great display. Never occurred to me a leaning axe handle would warp. Did you ever get your cord of wood chopped?

No pretty much gave up.I usually have about 7-10 cord split and stacked by now , this year I have none, so the ax challenge went out the window. If it's not raining I'm mowing. My right knee and hip are hurting bad enough I can only stand for a few hours at a time. Getting the knee replaced October 16.

Sorry to hear about the joint problems. Had both my knees replaced 4-5 years ago. It was a wise decision. Absolutely no regrets. Do the follow up and do it religiously and you won't regret it.

Thanks for the confidence builder. I already got the left one done, works pretty good. I'll be glad to get rid of the pain.

I have more than a passing interest in axes. The pocket knives are actually an offshoot of tool collecting.

1967redrider wrote:Ivoryman, was/is that a working peace pipe? I like the red handle.

Missed your post. No peace pipe, solid hammer pole shaped like a pipe bowl but much more handey for pounding tent pegs, no damage to the lungs.

3rd picture looks like a large meat cleaver. any name on it? I have one similar from Indiana.

Ivoryman wrote:

1967redrider wrote:Ivoryman, was/is that a working peace pipe? I like the red handle.

Missed your post. No peace pipe, solid hammer pole shaped like a pipe bowl but much more handey for pounding tent pegs, no damage to the lungs.

On a recent episode of Forged in Fire on History channel they had a peace pipe challenge and one of the parameters was the judges had to be able to smoke out of it. Then they chopped bone/wood or something like that, so everything had to be perfectly made to withstand their torture tests. The ability to smoke out of it was more of a novelty thing just to see if the contestants could make a hatchet/hawk that functioned on all levels.

mrwatch wrote:3rd picture looks like a large meat cleaver. any name on it? I have one similar from Indiana.

It's an English meat cleaver. I need to dig it out to get the makers name again.

doglegg wrote:Rarefish, great display. Never occurred to me a leaning axe handle would warp. Did you ever get your cord of wood chopped?

Hey, doglegg. Got my right knee replaced back in December, I'm getting around fine now. Was down in the woods splitting firewood a couple weeks ago and saw the pile of wood from the "Cord Wood Challenge". I think I might give it a try again this year. I'm hoping for a normal year of rain. Last year it rained so much I didn't get a single day off to play, if the sun popped out for five minutes I was mowing.

As for the warped handles. I had a few that were so bad you could chop wood around a corner. Just on a whim I tried leaning them on a wall in the basement, warp out, and they did straighten up a lot. I talked to my friend that makes handles about making a jig with pegs and maybe a small bottle jack to straighten them. He said he thinks it would work and not loose any strength. Maybe try steaming them first. I've passed a few nice axes because they had warped handles and I didn't want anymore projects laying around. If the jig works I won't pass up anymore crooked handles, Joe.

Glad to hear that you knee replacement is healed. Had both of mine replaced some years ago and have been totally pleased with it. If you do that cord wood challenge keep us updated. Thanks.

Three Bulgarian axes for restoration.