Collins Two Bit Axe - BCUSA Collaboration Auction #19

[mneedham]

You guys are awesome! I have a soft-spot for these old axes. You think about the potential history and lore of this Collins, and get it gets an entirely new start as a family heirloom and tool. Very cool.

[Treeline]

You guys are awesome! I have a soft-spot for these old axes. You think about the potential history and lore of this Collins, and get it gets an entirely new start as a family heirloom and tool. Very cool.

You're right Mike, this is a cool old axe.

The handle actually has some history too. I found it at an old-timey hardware store awhile ago. I don't see Oak handles often. It looked like it had been in the rack awhile but it had character and was the only cruiser size handle. The eye was small, I had not come across an axe head that it fit well until Wyndigo sent this one. This Collins is really chunky and has a smaller eye than most cruiser axes I've come across. This old oak handle fit it really well.

Here are some more photos of when I got it and some details.

Here's a before pic. I pulled a giant steel wedge and 5 nails out of the eye!



I cleaned it up on my low speed wire wheel to knock the rust off. I left the patina and it looks good. I did some comparison pics with a Kelly Cruiser. The Collins is nice and compact. A little smaller than the Kelly at just over 8" wide.

Here's a couple of comparison pics:



Collins above, Kelly below. You can also see in this pic how small the eye on the Collins is. This influenced me using the handle I did, because it was a pretty good fit. Most other Cruiser handles I've had lately have been much bigger/thicker.



Here it is on the "new" Oak handle. I spent a lot of time giving the edge a proper profile. Here it is hung and sharpened:

[Treeline]

After I oiled it up:



Here are a couple more pics that show the nice grain of the handle:







And another of the whole axe:

[Treeline]

I'll go 100.00

Wow, thank you sir.

[silhouette]

I'll do 120

[Wyndigo]

great work on the axe and mask!

[mneedham]

great work on the axe and mask!

For sure!

[Treeline]

Only a couple of days left to bid folks!

[kcardwel]

I will go $125

[mneedham]

I will go $125

Thank you!