2 axe heads and a big bit of metal

[JohnC]

I'm inspired by the axe restoration thread to have a go at these over the next few months.
The axe on the right is quiet pitted but seems sound. The one in the middle has been hammered on the end but is otherwise ok. The left hand one seems so solid, I assume it is a log splitter. I plan to grind or file off the ?burrs where the backs have been hammered as a starting point. Any other suggestions from axe knowledgeble people gratefully recieved.

 

[Longstrider]

The "big bit of metal" is a lathing hammer. This may account for the amount of burring that has taken place to the hammer side.
Lathing hammers are/were used to split wood to laths then hammer the nails to hold them in place on the studding of the wall or ceiling that was being prepared for plastering. The small divot in the bottom of the blade is, of course, for pulling out nails if you need to. This did not need to be as heavy duty as a claw hammer as the nails used for lathing are only small (pretty much like a standard 1" round wire nail or smaller). Yours looks as though it might have chipped out at some time and become a little enlarged.

The set of them look like a good project to keep you busy for few evenings.

 

[pierre girard]

The "big bit of metal" is a lathing hammer. This may account for the amount of burring that has taken place to the hammer side.
Lathing hammers are/were used to split wood to laths then hammer the nails to hold them in place on the studding of the wall or ceiling that was being prepared for plastering. The small divot in the bottom of the blade is, of course, for pulling out nails if you need to. This did not need to be as heavy duty as a claw hammer as the nails used for lathing are only small (pretty much like a standard 1" round wire nail or smaller). Yours looks as though it might have chipped out at some time and become a little enlarged.

The set of them look like a good project to keep you busy for few evenings.

I've also used them as shingling hamers for wood shakes or shingles. They are still sold in the US for that purpose, though the newer ones have a gauge on the side and are known as roofing hammers.

PG

 

[JohnC]

Thanks for the information guys
Although my dad had used it for splitting wood (and breaking up coal) I remember he got it from his dad who (among other things) was a slater and roofer.
It'll be nice to use something he used.

 

[oetzi]

These heads are certainly worth an effort.
As long as the eye is not deformed from too much pounding, re-hanging is doable.
I would always leave as much of the original finish as possible, polishing all surfaces would be a sin.
Furthermore you could try and fit handles of more contemporary shape, i.e. straight ones. Since these are impossible to find one can simply buy the handle of a pickaxe:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pickaxe.jpg
and reshape it. Lots of work, but worth if you want to restore something and not only make it usable again.
Have fun!