Chip Chop No1

[David Day]

Anyone know anything about this cheeky chap? I’m assuming (or at least hope) this handles all wrong??

 

[Madriverrob]

The CHIP CHOP No.1 was a very popular axe by Gilpin of Cannock

Gilpin was a reputable English tool maker , yours looks young butmight be worth a few quid or will certainly be worth re handling and keeping , does it have any serial number on it ?

I’m no expert but I think it’s a Kent pattern ...

 

[Madriverrob]

History of William Gilpin, Wedges Mills and Churchbridge Works

Trades' Guide, 1879, page 157 William Gilpin was an English tool manufacturer in Cannock, north of Birmingham. The firm operated 2 works...

trowelcollector.blogspot.com

 

[Ystranc]

I agree, Gilpin is an excellent maker that is up there with Elwell for British collectors.

 

[David Day]

Its one of the last relics from my grandads workshop so it'll always be a keeper. Cannock wold make sense as he was a Bloxwich boy.
Any idea what sort of handle it should of had originally?
Would be a lovely addition to my collection If I can get it rehung an put an edge on it
Might bring it down south in a few weeks to enjoy by the campfire!

 

[Ystranc]

Its one of the last relics from my grandads workshop so it'll always be a keeper. Cannock wold make sense as he was a Bloxwich boy.
Any idea what sort of handle it should of had originally?
Would be a lovely addition to my collection If I can get it rehung an put an edge on it
Might bring it down south in a few weeks to enjoy by the campfire!

I would just go with whatever you're comfortable with, I doubt that you could get a handle exactly like the original anyway. It is a nice one though, it's been looked after.

 

[David Day]

On a side note...... whats written on my new coffee table project in the background?

 

[Ystranc]

No idea but there are various translation apps that will tell you

 

[Madriverrob]

A handle like this will look good

 

[David Day]

Thanks buddy!
That looks spot on

 

[Baytree]

Another nice looking axe.
Somewhere amongst other stuff I've a couple of gilpin hammers and possibly a lathing hammmer ( essentially a hammer axe combo used in roofing) that may be. As it is the old gilpinworks isn't or rather wasn't a million miles away from me . My father worked at the local incineration plant in the 70's and 80's and gilpin's would take their waste there and that included handles that weren't up to scratch , maybe a knot or a split . We've burnt loads on the fire during that time and I'm pretty sure that's where the heads came from too. My father wasn't a man to buy a hammer if a free one could be had.

 

[Ystranc]

I've got a 5lbs Gilpin felling axe head somewhere, I'm slightly ashamed to say I'm unsure how many axes I actually own.