Collins axes: A breif history of the Co.

[Double Ott]

A Brief History of the Collins Axe Company
For a while now I’ve wanted to look into companies that are still manufacturing axes and trace their history. The reason is that many companies have been bought, resold, and worked in collaboration with other manufacturers. As a result, the products have often varied accordingly. When trying to select a tool, those can be important considerations.

In 1826 three men, Samuel w. Collins, David C. Collins and William Wells, formed an axe manufacturing business under the name Collins & Co. They opened a manufacturing facility in South Canton, Connecticut by the Tunxis River. In 1830, the village where the factory was located was renamed Collinsville, and the river was renamed to the Farmington River.

The location for manufacturing was chosen because of the readily available high quality iron produced by a local company, Watkinson & Co. The company made a wide variety of edged tools in addition to axes. The axes gained a particularly high reputation, and were well finished and ready to use out of the box.

In 1834 the company had to reorganize due to financial difficulties, and began functioning under the name The Collins Manufacturing Co., even further expanding its product line. The company was again reorganized in 1843 as The Collins Company.

The Collins Company continued to expand its market into South America providing tools specially designed for the region, and printing labels in both English and Spanish. The company continued to mark its products by stamping them with the Collins & Co. label, even after the company name changes.

The company continued to function until 1966, when it was bought out by Mann Edge Tool Co. of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, another reputable axe manufacturer. Mann Edge Tool Co. continued to manufacture Collins axes under the Collins Axe division. Axe production continued until 2003.

In 2004 the Collins Axe division was bought by Truper Herramientas, a company based in Mexico. Truper Herramientas continues to produce Collins axes.

Some brands produced by Collins over the years include:
Dynamicus

Homestead

Old Timer

Red Seal

Commander

Collins Bonded Axe-this was advertised as the highest quality axe produced by the company.

Hercules-produced mostly for wholesale hardware catalogs.

Red Knight-produced mostly for wholesale hardware catalogs.

Fleetwood-produced mostly for wholesale hardware catalogs.

Collins Kromite/Choprite-produced for large scale distributers.

Rayo-manufactured mostly for the Latin America market.

Luchador/Luctador-manufactured mostly for the Latin America market

El Martillo-manufactured mostly for the Latin America market

Legitimus-this is a brand used by Collins on a wide range of their products. It most often appears in connection with the crown and hammer design. It is one of the best known markers for Collins, although it is not related to any one specific design or model.

My regards, Double Ott
P.S. All my Collins are vintage steel produced prior to 1966. I don't own any Mexican made products.

 

[Double Ott]

A Brief History, Collins

Here's a little more for those that are interested:

A Brief History​

Collinsville is located along the banks of the Farmington River, in the southeast corner of the Town of Canton, bordered by the towns of Avon, Farmington and Burlington. In 1826, Samuel Watkinson Collins, age 24, his brother David, age 21, and their wealthy cousin, William Wells purchased a sawmill property along the Farmington River and began mass producing high quality axes and selling them wholesale throughout the world.

The Collins Company constructed housing for its employees, as well as stores, a church, bank and hotel. In the 1920's, the Company owned as many as 190 houses in Collinsville. The first fire department was organized to protect the factory and its properties in Collinsville and the building and equipment was later donated to the Town of Canton's volunteer fire department.

The Collins product line grew to include 1,300 types of edge tools, including axes, adzes, machetes, hatchets, picks, knives, swords and bayonets. The Company built dams on the river to produce hydroelectric power to run their production and situated buildings strategically along raceways and turbines to take advantage of this source of water power.

In 1966, after 140 years in business, the Collins Company closed its doors, due in part to losses experienced in the devastating Flood of 1955 and changing technologies and economies.

Today, about 26 of the original 50+ factory buildings remain and are leased by a variety of tenants, such as; a multi-dealer antiques company, small offices, artist studios, woodworkers and metal workers. The former rail line, which Sam Collins brought to Town, has been converted to a walking and biking trail which connects to several area towns.

The Canton Historical Museum, located at 11 Front St., has a very large collection of Collins Company tools as well as a general store and many items from the Victorian Era. The former Valley House Hotel, on the corner of Main and River Street, has been converted to condominiums. The storefronts and homes in Collinsville retain their early Twentieth Century charm. Canton Town Hall and the the Collinsville Post Office are located downtown. Artists are drawn to the area and help organize a well-attended Halloween Parade each October as well as art shows and other entertaining events throughout the year.

My regards, Double Ott _____________________________________________________________

 

[Bushwacker73]

Thanks for posting this. I have read this before, its a good read for the Axe Men on here. I have a HOMESTEAD that was made way back when axes were a part of everyday life. As far as I know, Upthecreek and I are the only Homestead owners here. I also own a "Collins" double bit made in Mexico. Its a piece of crap, but I had to have one.

 

[alukban]

Oooo... ya forgot the biggie about Collins - a fella named Elisha Root invented die casting there :dblthumb:

Root moved on from axes and went to work for Colt, developing more novel techniques and machinery, ultimately becoming the President of Colt

...from axes to Colts.

 

[coop]

Thought Homesteads were pretty common. I know I have one that I'm working on hanging.

Also have a Collins Legitimus Connecticut pattern and an unknown (maybe Virginia) pattern Collins.

 

[RedRanger]

Great write up. I live a little ways from the factory, lot of hidden history in that small town.

 

[Sgt Hell]

I have an early sixties Collins axe I bought new when I lived in Connecticut. I still use it to split wood, as it’s one heavy beast.

 

[Cut Daddy]

I have a full size single bit, stamped "COLLINS"; whick was originally painted blue. I don't have any idea when it was made. It has been rehung, on a new handle.