A Growing Archive of Historic Axe Brands & Types
The project:
Information on historic axe brands shouldn’t just live buried in 10-year-old forum posts, with broken links and missing images. So, I’m building an archive of the historic axe brands, through research and collaboration.
Jim Bell – creator and axe collector
Want to submit an axe?
Please email images to museum@axeandtool.com to help the site grow!
Latest Articles
I am Canadian, so it’s mostly brands from Canada – for now.
The Ardex Axe: An Axe Brand Made in 6 Different Countries
A unique range of axes originally imported from various European countries before finally being made in Canada.
The Cruiser Axe: Definition, Uses and History
The name comes from the Timber Cruisers who historically used these axes to blaze trails and mark trees.
Lewis Bros. Black Diamond Axe
A private label brand by a Montreal-based hardware wholesaler. These uncommon axes often get misidentified as Walters.
The Chillington ARPAX & Diablo
A fire and rescue axe introduced just in time for WW2. For the civilian market, it was branded the “Diablo”.
CPR Axes
Axes stamped CPR were used by the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Barrel, Produce, & Packer’s Hatchets
Unique hatchets designed for packing and unpacking goods shipped in wooden barrels and boxes.
The Pulaski Tool: Designed After Disaster.
An iconic tool invented to fight forest fires after the “Big Burn” of 1910.
The Adirondack Axe: From the Mountains of New York
A double-bit axe with on a unique curved handle developed in the Adirondack region of northern New York.
AB Gefle Smidesfabriker (Gefle Vapen) Axes
Founded around the turn of the century (1900), in the port city of Gävle, Sweden.
GDR Axes From Behind the Iron Curtain
Axes made in East Germany during the Cold War period, stamped “GDR” for the German Democratic Republic.
The Michigan Pattern Axe: Design, Use & History
One of the most widely made patterns of all time, established around 1860 for logging pine trees in winter.
CNR Axes: Tools of the Canadian National Railway
Axes made for the Canadian National Railway during the 50s and 60s.
The Berghaus Axe: A “Swedish” Axe Made in Canada?
Sold in Canada from the early 1900s into the 1950s, the maker of these “Swedish” axes will surprise you.
Utilization of Waste in Handle Making (1915)
A look at early adaptations for reducing waste and boosting efficiency in handle production.
The Welland Vale All Steel: A Canadian Etched Axe
One of the few Canadian axes with a large etched design
The Kinds of Material that Come Out of Giant Douglas Fir Log (1920)
A look at the potential of uses of a 48-inch wide Douglas Fir.
How Axes Are Made (1882)
A contemporary explanation of how axes were made in the late 1800s.
Walter’s Pulpwood Axe
A line of mid-size axes made to accomodate the shifting needs of the lumber industry.
Howland’s Samson Axes
The high-end private label brand of Toronto-based hardware wholesaler H. S. Howland, Sons & Company.
Howland’s Waverly Axes
Howland’s affordable entry-level line of tools that followed the success of the premium “Samson” brand.
On The Weight of An Axe (1885)
A woodsman buck’s conventional wisdom in support of using smaller and lighter axes.
Owl Quality Axes
A brand made by Welland Vale in the 1930s-1940s for an unknown Canadian hardware retailer.
Howden’s Trueset Axes
A private-label axe brand created by one of Canada’s most long-lasting hardware businesses.
A Mere Outline Against the Blue Sky (1921)
A High Rigger performs many marvelous aerial feats and seems to defy death at every move in his poised position.
The “Canadian” Kelly Axe & Tool Company
A “company” created to cleverly bypass foreign tariffs and conquer foreign axe markets.
Ashdown’s “Diamond A” Axe
Ashdown’s Hardware earned its founder the nickname “the Merchant Prince of Winnipeg”.
Tuttle, Date & Rodden: A Flash in the Pan
This small firm only existed for 5 years but it started one of the most influential axe factories in Canadian History.
Allan Hills Edge Tool Company
A short lived company that produced a wide range of lumbering tools out of the old Warnock plant in Galt.
Hobbs Hardware Axes
A prominent hardware wholesale & retail business founded in London, Ontario with top-tier axes.
A History of Garant Axes
Garant axes are well-known in Canada. But, it might surprise you that they never made axe heads in Canada.
Strikemaster Canada Axes
Strikemaster Canada was manufacturer of striking tools including axes. They were likely imported from overseas.
Canadian Axe & Harvest Tool Co.
The Canada Axe & Harvest Tool Co. was founded in 1892 by William Chaplin, the owner of the Welland Vale Manufacturing Company.
The Short-Lived Canadian National Axe
The “National” axe was briefly produced by the National Farming Machinery Limited out of Montmagny, Quebec.
Oximex Canada Axes
Oximex operated out of Toronto Importing goods (including axes) from Asia. The axes would have been made from 1994 to the early 2000s.
Vintage Canadian Tire Mastercraft Axes
MasterCraft axes were produced for Canadian Tire by the Mann Edge Tool Company in Lewistown, Pennsylvania between the 1970s and early 2000s.
Burgess Tool Co.
Founded in Ottawa in 1945 by Gerald Burgess, this axe producer operated until the 1970’s.
True Temper Lion
The True Temper Lion was the final iteration of an iconic Canadian axe line produced out of St. Catherines Ontario.
Lion Brand Axes
An iconic line of chopping axes and hatchets made by the Welland Vale Mfg Co. in St Catherine’s between 1912 and 1950.
Garrett’s Black Diamond Hand Made Axe
A premium hand-made axe produced by Welland Vale Mfg Co. between 1906-1928.
Risley & Kerrigan
Risley & Kerrigan was a wholesale hardware dealer and importer located in Toronto, Ontario between 1883 and 1889.
Macleod’s Artisan & Expert Axes
The premium house-brand of tools for the Macleod’s Hardware chain, based on the US brand of Gambles Artisan.
The WAJAX Axe
The house brand of the Wood, Alexander, & James LTD. hardware company, in Hamilton, Ontario.