Can you help me bring an old hatchet back to life

I found an old E.C. Simmons Keen Kutter hatchet head in the dirt on our farm where a shed used to be. It must be at least a hundred years old, but I can still read the stamped trademark easily. I took a wire brush to it and knocked off most of the rust, but that's as far as I've gone. It has some surface pitting from rust but its not too bad. I would like to bring the metal out as shiny as I can so I can hang it on the wall in my shop with some of the other odds and ends I think look good as decoration. I must admit I don't have a lot of metal working skills so I'm a little lost as to what the process would be in order to do this. I can get access to most any kind of equipment I would need, but I don't know where to start. Would I want to sandblast it and then work on it with a buffer pad and polishing paste or just go straight to using the buffer and paste or use some other method? Thanks for any insight you can give.

You could try Never Dull. You should be able to get it at any hardware store. Comes in a blue can.

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Originally Posted by chiye tanka

You could try Never Dull. You should be able to get it at any hardware store. Comes in a blue can.

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tried that. I gotta goto more drastic measures.

Try a rust eraser. If that doesn't help, elbow grease.

I forgot, I cleaned my grandad's WWII Ka-Bar with a can of Coke and some FINE steel wool. Try that.

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Originally Posted by chiye tanka

I forgot, I cleaned my grandad's WWII Ka-Bar with a can of Coke and some FINE steel wool. Try that.

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ah, I forgot about that one. Thanks

Good luck, I hope it works. Let me know.

I brought some old tools back to life starting as you did. Next I put it under a brass wheel on my bench grinder. I then too some wet/dry sand paper to them starting out with 220 grit and ending with 1000 grit. Final step was jewelers rouge and a buffing wheel. Mirror finish.

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Originally Posted by crashdive123

I brought some old tools back to life starting as you did. Next I put it under a brass wheel on my bench grinder. I then too some wet/dry sand paper to them starting out with 220 grit and ending with 1000 grit. Final step was jewelers rouge and a buffing wheel. Mirror finish.

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Thanks crash, looks like I'm going to Lowes tonight.

Yeah what crash said, also a Dremmel tool or any other rotary tool would work if you don't have a bench grinder. Be careful around the trademark stamp.

I'm gonna be different. That's a nice looking head the way it is. I would keep it in its present condition except for rust removal and go buy another one to use. I have a few old tools my great grandpa had before 1900 and some hardware grandpa brought back from WWI, and a couple of swords from Japan WWII plus tools. I don't like to do more than necessary on old stuff, but that's me.

I'd put it in a hot forge or if you have a torch with a rose bud tip and get it red hot, them plung it in a pail of cold water, that will blow most of the rust off it. do a search about tempering it, you may have to buy a small cam of Kasenit depending on how good you want it, if you want it to hang on the wall or for use.

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Originally Posted by Ole WV Coot

I'm gonna be different. That's a nice looking head the way it is. I would keep it in its present condition except for rust removal and go buy another one to use. I have a few old tools my great grandpa had before 1900 and some hardware grandpa brought back from WWI, and a couple of swords from Japan WWII plus tools. I don't like to do more than necessary on old stuff, but that's me.

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It does have a certain rustic look. hummm. I'm undecided on which I like better. I think I'll clean it up some more and put a new handle in it, then see how it looks and go from there.

Would you soak it in oil without the splits or shims (I'm not sure what to call them) or put them in and then soak it?

I read an article in Field & Stream that said to take an old coffee can and fill it with silica sand and old motor oil. When you're not using it, they keep it oiled and clean and the handle will keep from drying out as well.

Let it soak over night in a pan of white vinegar. Then wash with clean water and a scrub brush. All the rust will come off. I use this for cleaning my traps.

Keen Kutter is a trade name first used by Simmons Hardware Company of St. Louis, Missouri in 1866. The name was adopted as a trademark by Simmons Hardware Company in 1870 and was used on their highest quality tools and cutlery.

Simmons Hardware Company was purchased by arch rival Shapleigh Hardware Company (also of St. Louis) in 1940. Shapleigh Hardware Company was known for their premium brand Diamond Edge. After Shapleigh acquired the Keen Kutter trademark it was modified by replacing the "E.C. Simmons" in the top of the logo with Shapleigh's. Shapleigh continued to use the trademark on products until they went out of business in 1960.


After several years the Keen Kutter trademark was sold to Val-Test Distributors of Chicago, Illinois, a wholesale hardware buyers group. Val-Test allows smaller wholesale hardware companies to order goods. The orders are combined with orders from other hardware companies allowing for quantity discounts from manufactures. After Val-Test acquired the trademark they removed the "Shapleigh's" leaving the top of the logo blank. Val-Test discontinued the Keen Kutter line of goods during the 1990s. Also during the 1990s limited use of the Keen Kutter trademark was authorized for a line of pocket knives distributed by Frost Cutlery Co.

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Originally Posted by klkak

Keen Kutter is a trade name first used by Simmons Hardware Company of St. Louis, Missouri in 1866. The name was adopted as a trademark by Simmons Hardware Company in 1870 and was used on their highest quality tools and cutlery.

Simmons Hardware Company was purchased by arch rival Shapleigh Hardware Company (also of St. Louis) in 1940. Shapleigh Hardware Company was known for their premium brand Diamond Edge. After Shapleigh acquired the Keen Kutter trademark it was modified by replacing the "E.C. Simmons" in the top of the logo with Shapleigh's. Shapleigh continued to use the trademark on products until they went out of business in 1960.


After several years the Keen Kutter trademark was sold to Val-Test Distributors of Chicago, Illinois, a wholesale hardware buyers group. Val-Test allows smaller wholesale hardware companies to order goods. The orders are combined with orders from other hardware companies allowing for quantity discounts from manufactures. After Val-Test acquired the trademark they removed the "Shapleigh's" leaving the top of the logo blank. Val-Test discontinued the Keen Kutter line of goods during the 1990s. Also during the 1990s limited use of the Keen Kutter trademark was authorized for a line of pocket knives distributed by Frost Cutlery Co.

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You just can't beat the quality of most older products. We have lost much by manufacturing for bottom line instead of quality, pride and customer satisfaction.

I've gotta say. The more I think about it, the more I like Ole WV Coot's idea (happens a lot around here). Either way you go, it was a great find and will probably be the topic of conversations for years to come.

I'd have to agree with Coot also. Carve you a hardwood handle and put that thing on the wall just like it is.

Yep, Coot's idea was best. I'll post another pic when I get the handle carved. Thanks all