Edged tool restorations

Beauty I drove past the old Collins axe factory in Collinsville CT yesterday by coincidence. I'd love to find one someday at a yard sale needing restoration.

 

This one was an eBay purchase. Started with a cutoff handle and red paint job.

 

I found a little time today to put some work into my pitted plumb Michigan pattern. As usual, I forgot to take any pictures before I cleaned it up. The poll was a little dinged, but not nearly as bad as a lot of the older heads that I run across. The pits are deep enough that I elected to leave them. I did put some effort into the bit, and I gun blued it all for a more uniform look. The handle is a 32” New England pattern from Whisky River. It has a really tall shoulder. I decided to seat the head way down because I think it looks better that way. The whole deal from top of head to bottom of handle, all hung, is 30”. I think it will be a very nimble axe to swing. Here is my progress so far:

 

Looking good!

I was just talking about using gun blue on a head the other day and wondered how it would look.

Question answered!! Ill have to get some to try now.

 

I think it helps even out the patina, especially where I had to do some grinding to clean up some dings. When I put the final sharp on it, I usually leave the bit shiny. I sanded the handle down and trimmed the fawns foot. It is a really comfortable handle. I put a second coat of boiled linseed oil on last night. I will try to remember to snap a picture when I give it another coat tonight.

 

I put the 4th coat on tonight.