True Temper Flint Edge restoration

My small collection of axes has been slowing growing. I wanted to get a boy's axe to fill in the size gap between the hatchets and camp axes to the full size felling axes. I lucked out and won a True Temper Flint Edge 2 1/4lb boys axe head on eBay. The head also had BSA marked on the opposite face making this axe have just a bit more history.  It looked as if someone took a angle grinder to the faces trying to remove the rust. There was grind marks all over both sides.

I had to remove the grind marks from the axe head, wished to been able to leave the patina alone but the grinding ruined that. I started with a hammer and a file to remove the small amount of mushrooming on the poll. Once that was worked down I started with 100 grit sandpaper to work the grind marks out. I worked all the way through 320 grit paper, using WD40 to help float the dust away. The head has a nice worn look to it and I finished it off with Johnson's paste wax to prevent rusting.

I had a 28" boy's axe handle floating around in the shop for awhile, I always pick up handles whenever I'm in a hardware store and find one worth getting. It's easier to pick them up as you find good ones than to go and hunt one down when you need it. Handle was fitted to the head and before mounting I gave the whole handle a good sanding with 80 grit paper. I wetted the handle down and went back over with 150 grit. Was real happy with finish sanding that I took two other axe handles and roughed them back down to repeat the same process. Smooth but not slick, I have the problem with over doing it. After mounting I gave all three handles a coat of stain. The next day they received their first coat of boiled linseed oil.

My dad really enjoyed this axe restoration, he was a boy scout when he was a young boy. He mentioned he is going to look for his hatchet he had when he was in the boy scouts which will be real treat for me. It is a real hot to breathe new life into a old tool, it's a disgrace to allow a tool to be abused and destroyed, but it's a even worse to clean one up to simple be a wall decoration. This axe will be put back to use when it is needed to complete a task.