CPR Axes
Canadian Pacific Railway
Various Canadian Axe Makers
1940s – 1960s*
Axes stamped CPR were used by the Canadian Pacific Railway to clear branches, trees, and other line work.
Axes were always a tool used on the railway. Large and mid-size felling axes were used to remove trees growing too close to the rail, clearing fallen trees and branches off the track, and clearing land for new routes.
Broad axes and hatchets could also be used for shaping timber for line work, railway ties, and working on wooden buildings, structures, and signs/signals on the route.
CPR Axe Makers & Markings
Canadian Pacific Railway did not have a single ongoing source of axes and tools, but ordered from many makers as needed, which makes sense for a smaller railway.
True Temper Canada supplied some in the late 1950s or early 1960s with a large standardized CPR stamp on the poll (shown at the start of the article). This is very similar to the much more common CNR axes from their competitor, the Canadian National Railway.
shared by Tim Branch
While CPR axes made by Smarts out of Brockville, Ontario appear to have a hand-done stamp – with position and alignment slightly different on every axe. Which would make more sense for smaller runs of axes – and could have even been
But other CPR axes and tools have been found made by Welland Vale, and without any manufacturer marks (but still hand-stamped CPR).
The date range of 1940 to the 1960s is based on similar trends of other companies, and the axes CPR stamps have been found on.
The railway industry was struggling in the 1930s due to the great depression. But after the Second World War, it was booming with both shipping and travel at an all-time high.
The CPR stamps aren’t extremely rare, but I would call them uncommon. They don’t pop up as often as many of the other marks from the time period.
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I have a hatchet with a stamp saying made in England and just below that is a stamp “cnr”
I purchased it at a flea market a number of years ago. I don’t really know much about the hatchet however it seems to be made of high quality steel. Possibly about 1 pound in weight.
CNR would be the Canadian National Railway. The railway companies would often just buy retail axes and hatchets and put them into service as needed. So an English axe could have been bought in store and stamped “CNR” after the fact. I’ve never seen one before so I assume it was likely from retail, – but they could have been contracted too and I’d be curious to see it. Thanks for the comment.