I found some old Kelly's axe head's at friends and estate sales The top one came from a friend who used to work for Kelly axe/true temper It's never been hung Kelly's was located 40 miles from me In Charleston WV. It shut down in the early 80s Growing up many of my cousins, neighbors and my grandmother worked there. The 2nd one down is a Kelly's perfect The third down has no markings The 4th down is a Kelly's boy's axe.
I have several W C Kelly axes. I've been picking them up here and there. I've seen them in some unusual places. Down south "Florida" , out West "Montana". I found one a few weeks ago that was pretty unique, short handle and a larger than normal head.
I just know a few of the patterns There were countless varieties and makers apparently Locally I've seen a mix over the year's Around here Kelly's are common as well as Collins and plumb.
I have two or three older axes upstairs in the shop. No idea what they are , I do know one was a double bit but no clue who made any of them. They all have no or broken handles. Have to look into it and maybe they would be some good wall hangings.
I found these recently at a estate sale Mann edge and tool a True American The other one I don't know it looks like my other Kelly's but unstamped I'm told these are Kelly's/true temper woodslashers but I really don't know They only have usa stamped on them. My favorite wedge bangers falling tree's Nice large surface areas to hammer with. Internet pic
I'm inclined to think the two jersey patterns are Council railsplitters. Still a fine, US made axe. Looks like the start of a fine collection. Just like CAD, looking for axes can get outta hand quickly.
Thanks I believe your right I never collected them they just accumulated over the decades People usually throw them away since handle prices went crazy.
I'm a fan of the Jersey pattern axes, picked up a hand forged one (late 18th/early 19th century) here fairly locally this past spring, I wanna make a haft for it so I can use it....
The old hand forged one that I won on fleabay back in May....its around 4-4.5lbs, so it's a bigger example. Which is what I wanted.
The jersey are my favorite especially for wedge bangers With a nice flat poll When my family used to cut with axes in the 70s/80s they seemed to cut better than all but the thinnest double bit.
Axe handle prices are crazy I did see a lot of 6 28" straight miners handles for 70 some dollar's shipped on eBay that was the best deal I found on single bits My niece is going on vacation to Amish country if they are decent priced I told her to get 6 for me. I like the 28" for carrying in the woods.
I have noticed handles prices in hardware/box stores has gotten ridiculous. Supply chain? Plenty of trees. Labor shortage? It's all on copy lathes. Holmes County ohio Amish country? Send her to Colonial Homestead, awesome place, easy place to spend lots of money on tools. Online, check out House handle Welcome to House Handle Company Or Beavertooth Beaver Tooth Handle Co. Replacement Axe & Tool Handles Sheaths Wedges
I have a 4' long by 20" diameter pignut hickory log I saved thats clear and appears knot free, I'm planning on riving it down into staves for making some hafts.
A guy gave me this knotty warped handle he bought so I put one of my 4lb Jersey's on it Luckily I'm left handed it favors me I might cut it down to use as a wedge banger.
The thing about old handles, even knotty ones, they've made it this long, and there went many wall hangers...
Loved that video, actually laughed out loud at 5:00 where he lights the tobacco in his corn cob pipe with that glowing hot axe blank. Too bad azz.
Grandpa had several Kelly's. They all disappeared when he passed.....along with several other things I would have loved to have gotten my hands on. I was born in Belleville WV by the way
Many of the older generations I grew up knowing had Garages and barns full of old farm equipment and hand tools. Who would have ever thought people would steal hand tools? Well they will now I never paid attention but apparently in the last 20/30 years or so the old stuff has gained value virtually everything vintage is gone. Of course scrappers got most of it. But we never thought the axes and stuff were particularly valuable because literally dozens of family members and people we knew worked at Kelly's for generations. We just used them and rehandled or grabbed another one Now you can't leave them in the back of your truck anywhere. If I can ever get access my friends terry and bob who used to work at Kelly's has dozens of Kelly's single and double bits and terry has the handle frame jig his grandpa and dad used to make and sell handles for like .15 cents in the 30s/40s I have to go through a barn soon My friend gave me all the axe and hammer heads he has. I've only had one thing stolen that I can remember it was a very nice Kelly's perfect double bit axe head that was in my barn.
