Axe Head Question

[Captain John]

I have an axe head marked "True Temper" . The "T" top runs across the script . There are no other marks anywhere . I saw on Rodneys excellent GPW 124269 thread a picture of an axe with the same "True Temper" but with "Flint edge" and "Kelly Works " below . Is my axe G503 or a later version ??? Thank You all .

Captain John in cool rain on the way Spring evening Suffolk County England .

[Mark Jesic]

John is the name "COOPER" stamped anywhere an the head.?

[Captain John]

No Cooper just TrueTemper on the left face .

Captain John same place same weather .

[Mark Jesic]

Cooper was one of the main suppliers of axes, not sure about true temper, im sure the jeep police on this site will let you know.

[mudbox]

John Barton's posts on axes was moved to the Jeep Draw site HERE. Some great reading.
The provision for USA to be marked on the axe was removed in 1943, though I personally suspect that any maker that was marking USA on the heads, continued to so do... but that's just my opinion.

Your True Temper axe sounds like post war/civilian to me. Can you post a pic?

Here's a pic of mine. There is a '4' to mark it as a 4lb axe under the butt of the axe near the haft (not pictured).


-Jason

[Wingnutt]

Captain John,

See if there's a "4" on the head anywhere, check all surfaces not just the cheek. And then check the butt end of the handle as mudbox suggested. I also tend to agree with him that your axe is probably post-war without any other markings.True Temper was a not a company name, like it is today. It was a brand name of American Fork & Hoe back then. American Fork & Hoe had multiple contracts with the Ordnance Dept for all kinds of pioneer tools, including axes. But the wartime axes usually had Kelly Works also stamped on them. Kelly Works was a company that American Fork & Hoe bought prior to the war. Longer explanation here:
viewtopic.php?p=1432983#p1432983

Cooper was one of the main suppliers of axes, not sure about true temper, im sure the jeep police on this site will let you know.

Hmmm, never hear of it. Are you sure you're not thinking of Collins?

[Mark Jesic]

Huge apologies Wingnut, i did mean Collins, got confused as i was reading about D.B.Cooper the hijacker, an amazing story.