Does this embossing look familiar to anyone?

[PhilipWimberly]

I don't think there is any way to read it, but maybe the shape, size or a letter tells someone something. I'm putting 3 pics from different distances in case it helps.
(I've also attached pics of the blown out eye that I'm going to try to fix...with "blacksmithing experience" of exactly one 4 hour class where I made an ugly warped hook. So any thoughts on that would be cool, too. Anybody ever seen that type of damage before? How does it happen?)

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

I don't think there is any way to read it, but maybe the shape, size or a letter tells someone something. I'm putting 3 pics from different distances in case it helps.
(I've also attached pics of the blown out eye that I'm going to try to fix...with "blacksmithing experience" of exactly one 4 hour class where I made an ugly warped hook. So any thoughts on that would be cool, too. Anybody ever seen that type of damage before? How does it happen?)

Looks like Gransfors Bruks head
https://www.traditional-tools.com/history-swedish-axe-makers-marks-gransfors-bruks-1902-current/

 

[flexo]

i don(t know but this axe got some abuse! i happens when axe or axe head is hammered as splitting wedge

 

[PhilipWimberly]

Looks like Gransfors Bruks head
https://www.traditional-tools.com/history-swedish-axe-makers-marks-gransfors-bruks-1902-current/

Wow. That's a really astute catch. Same size and shape and I really want to think you're right. My brain is even telling me I can see the RSB now.... But I'm realizing how dumb it was to ask for help identifying without showing you the pattern. From the link you included, I think I'm seeing GB didn't make this pattern when they were using this stamp. Am I misreading?

 

[PhilipWimberly]

i don(t know but this axe got some abuse! i happens when axe or axe head is hammered as splitting wedge

Yeah. Honestly, this is the only reason I'm brave enough to try to fix it. One of the few times I can't make it worse by trying! Look at the bit on the pic I attached to CBN's reply, though. Seems crazy it's so pristine, right? Like the user destroyed in on the first use. Makes me doubt it's even old.

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

Wow. That's a really astute catch. Same size and shape and I really want to think you're right. My brain is even telling me I can see the RSB now.... But I'm realizing how dumb it was to ask for help identifying without showing you the pattern. From the link you included, I think I'm seeing GB didn't make this pattern when they were using this stamp. Am I misreading?

Actually. you showed very characteristic tall Hudson Bay poll (more of Montreal pattern) to point me toward Canadian or Swedish export products.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-hudson-bay-style-axe-head-lb-2005057804
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-axe-head-gba-gransfors-bruk-1901440270

https://archive.org/details/WellandValeMfgCo1896/page/n5/mode/2up?view=theater

 

[PhilipWimberly]

Yup -- and thanks for your continued consideration of this -- but that eliminates the "early GB" theory, right? I think the smaller, curved embossing GB used in the early 1900's, which as you found does look similar to the embossing on mine, couldn't actually be GB because they didn't make this pattern at that time (from looking at the link you included above; https://www.traditional-tools.com/history-swedish-axe-makers-marks-gransfors-bruks-1902-current/ ).
Or maybe I should assume that the picture of the catalog page in that link was for one particular year -- probably very early seeing all of the collared heads -- and that maybe later, but while still using the small, arc'd embossing like on mine, they did make this pattern?

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

Yup -- and thanks for your continued consideration of this -- but that eliminates the "early GB" theory, right? I think the smaller, curved embossing GB used in the early 1900's, which as you found does look similar to the embossing on mine, couldn't actually be GB because they didn't make this pattern at that time (from looking at the link you included above; https://www.traditional-tools.com/history-swedish-axe-makers-marks-gransfors-bruks-1902-current/ ).
Or maybe I should assume that the picture of the catalog page in that link was for one particular year -- probably very early seeing all of the collared heads -- and that maybe later, but while still using the small, arc'd embossing like on mine, they did make this pattern?

I wish I could say for sure that they did not make that pattern. I know Swedish axe companies had different line of products for export. Maker's mark might be more readable if dusted with white flour. Also, brass wire wheel might help a bit in this case.
https://archive.org/search?query=subject:"yxor"&sort=date

 

[baxtrom]

I’m Swedish and cannot make out what that could possibly say, could be the name of a blacksmith, or perhaps it’s not Swedish at all? In the middle it looks a bit like a ***ERS*** or similar, and we have a lot of -ers- in Swedish, like in family names, Andersson or Pettersson for example.

You could perhaps try looking at it with some raking light?