Kent pattern axe refurbishment: vintage axe!

[Clouston98]

This morning we went to a local flea market, and I picked up some quality old tools. Among which was an old and heavily used Kaye and sons Hull No1 Kent pattern axe. I asked how much it was and it was an amazing £1, not even worth a haggle! I set about restoring it with some varying grades of high quality sand paper and some fine wire wool. The look I wanted was vintage - used but cared for. I didn't aim for a satin finish but removed the surface rest and cleaned it up, sharpened it and sanded and oiled the handle. It came up great, cuts really well and I'm chuffed with it!

After researching the company I discovered they had started in 1848, and went bust in 1982, so I know this axe is at least 32 years old. The company had been taken over and got renamed after 1848, so it probably isn't super old, but it's a proper vintage axe with top quality steel too!

I'm really pleased, so picture say a thousand words here it is:

Before:

After:

I oiled the handle after the photo was taken, but it just brought the grain out a bit more. Anyway hope you like it!

 

[TallTom]

Nice work, did you do it all by hand?
I just bought a kent pattern axe, not a number 1 as far as I know and not at such a steal. Im planning on refurbishing the head and putting a new handle on it, ill try to remember to post a pic when done

 

[Clouston98]

Nice work, dud you donit all by hand?
I just bought a kent pattern axe, not a number 1 as far as I know and not at such a steal. Im planning on refurbishing the head and putting a new handle on it, ill try to remember to post a pic when done

Yes mate all done by hand .

Sounds good too- I've never hafted an axe before, I might try it If I find a head .

 

[Grotzilla]

Sweet I just bought my first vintage Kent axe this morning 2!will post some pics when I get home, I'm looking to fix it up but need to start researching on methods first as I am totally new to this

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[Clouston98]

Sweet I just bought my first vintage Kent axe this morning 2!will post some pics when I get home, I'm looking to fix it up but need to start researching on methods first as I am totally new to this

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Cheers! Sounds good too!

 

[Biker]

Well done. It's a great feeling when you bring something like this with so much history back from the brink, it's like the tool breathes a sigh of relief.

I hope it'll be a great little user.

 

[Dave]

Its nice is that. Good Job Cameron.

 

[Clouston98]

Cheers lads! Thanks a lot for the kind words!

 

[copper_head]

Nicely done Cameron . Out of curiosity what is the Kent pattern axe originally designed for, looks like it doesn't have enough of a wedge to be a good splitter. Carving maybe?

 

[Clouston98]

Cheers!

I'm not sure about the design, I thought it was a historical thing? It does work well for general stuff though .

 

[Macaroon]

Looking good there, Cameron! Nice job

 

[Two Socks]

Nice one Cameron!

 

[Clouston98]

Looking good there, Cameron! Nice job

Cheers mate!

Nice one Cameron!

Thanks! it means a lot!

 

[TallTom]

So did some work on the head this eve, heres a before and after.

 

[Big Stu 12]

Nice work there, I like to see old tools being made use off rather then binned , I ve been known to do the odd one myself, but as far as rust removal goes, not a fan of sand paper and wire wool.. as it happens I ve got two axe heads in the Molasses at the mo

I have also wondered why the Kent is so shaped and done quite a bit of research, but still not yet found an answer that pin points it, but I like it, and I think so did loads of others that why the shape is popular, lol

The history of the Kent pattern axe is not well defined or how it become that shape, I have read it has been thought that it comes from the stone age where long rounded cutting edges were better and would last longer, mainly because they were longer, I've also read that it comes from the early ship building in Kent mainly the Dover area, being used firstly as a side axe for working large lumps of wood and the large round bite was good as this, another thought was that the shape of the axe was better for tree felling as it had a wide bite that and a narrow cheek section and that made cutting harder woods like oak easier.

I dont think that anyone really knows, its like every thing once it made by one person, and it sells well, others copy it.

 

[Clouston98]

That looks a cracker tom!

Cheers Stu, the history is very interesting too!

 

[markheolddu]

Great work Cameron, most old axes have great steel. The Kent pattern axes make good carvers.

Mark

 

[Clouston98]

Cheers Mark!

 

[Mal-J-Swaine]

I think my Granddad has an axe just like this, I'll have to double check. Either way I feel a restoration project coming on...

 

[Clouston98]

I think my Granddad has an axe just like this, I'll have to double check. Either way I feel a restoration project coming on...

Sounds good! It's well worth it mate!