Uploaded January 2017 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
I've had this rusty example of a classic phantom bevel Jersey pattern head for some time, very similar in profile to a Kelly Perfect. It may even be a Kelly Perfect, but whatever stamp this head had at one time has been eliminated by rust and pitting. It has also been very badly abused by a previous owner, with lots of mushrooming from repeated hammer blows to almost every surface other than the bit itself. But after filing off the mushroom areas and taking the edge down to bare metal, this old head is fully capable of going back in the woods and holding its own.
I've read many discussions online about the pros and cons of older American heads with phantom bevels and high centerlines vs modern flat cheeked patterns. I honestly do not have a strong opinion either way, but tend to use the old style heads by default. By restoring and rehanging a classic head on a new handle you can have a fine axe at a fraction of the cost of a new axe of comparable size. This axe will be fully as capable in the woods as the equivlent axe of this size from Gransfors Bruks (the current axe manufacturer du jour on Youtube), which would be the "American Felling Axe" ( retails for almost $209.00). This axe will be hung for less than $25 all told in out of pocket costs, most of that for the handle.
My personal views on heads like this is that it is completely pointless to try and remove every bit of rust, and to try and remove all evidence of pitting would probably weaken the axe beyond usability. I am merely removing the mushroomed areas and taking the bit down to bare metal so it can be honed later. The rest of the head will be given a coating of paste wax and eventually linseed oil which will fill the pore spaces in the rust and stabilize it. With proper handling and maintenance this axe head can still be useable for generations to come.
I've had this rusty example of a classic phantom bevel Jersey pattern head for some time, very similar in profile to a Kelly Perfect. It may even be a Kelly Perfect, but whatever stamp this head had at one time has been eliminated by rust and pitting. It has also been very badly abused by a previous owner, with lots of mushrooming from repeated hammer blows to almost every surface other than the bit itself. But after filing off the mushroom areas and taking the edge down to bare metal, this old head is fully capable of going back in the woods and holding its own.
I've read many discussions online about the pros and cons of older American heads with phantom bevels and high centerlines vs modern flat cheeked patterns. I honestly do not have a strong opinion either way, but tend to use the old style heads by default. By restoring and rehanging a classic head on a new handle you can have a fine axe at a fraction of the cost of a new axe of comparable size. This axe will be fully as capable in the woods as the equivlent axe of this size from Gransfors Bruks (the current axe manufacturer du jour on Youtube), which would be the "American Felling Axe" ( retails for almost $209.00). This axe will be hung for less than $25 all told in out of pocket costs, most of that for the handle.
My personal views on heads like this is that it is completely pointless to try and remove every bit of rust, and to try and remove all evidence of pitting would probably weaken the axe beyond usability. I am merely removing the mushroomed areas and taking the bit down to bare metal so it can be honed later. The rest of the head will be given a coating of paste wax and eventually linseed oil which will fill the pore spaces in the rust and stabilize it. With proper handling and maintenance this axe head can still be useable for generations to come.
