Found an old axe

[Plumber]

Found a Simmons Kleen Kutter Axe in a 111 year old house. The new owner of the house used it as a pry bar, and broke the handle. It was badly abused, and rusty.
Before;


After a vinegar bath, and a little soap and a soft brush.


Can anyone tell me why the bit turned black?

[wsdstan]

Probably the heat treat on the bit reacted to the vinegar differently than the body of the axe.  Just a guess though.

[Plumber]

I thought of that too, but than the other line where it turns gray is a strait line, and I think that could be the temper line. 
I gave it another vinegar bath, and scrubbed it again. The only strait haft at the local hardware was sapwood hickory.
I used a Dremel to remove the peened portion of the eye.



This axe head reminds me of Sally Field. It has puffy cheeks. It will make a good splitting axe, but not a felling axe.
The homeowner wants to give me the axe head, but I want to pay him. What do you think it's worth?

[Plumber]

I failed to plan when I saw the blunt bottom of the cut for the wedge. When I put the wedge in, it bottomed out before it was tight. I made another wedge of red oak, and put it in the center of the other wedge.

[Plumber]

Here is a full Monty.

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

The homeowner wants to give me the axe head, but I want to pay him. What do you think it's worth?

Barter.

Alan