Subject Guide
Mountain West
Malachite’s Big Hole
The Collins Axe:
The Collins axe was a product of the Collins Company. The Collins Company (known
throughout
its history by similar variations) was established in 1826 by Samuel Collins
in partnership with his brother Dave Collins and William Wells and was originally
located in town of Canton, Connecticut. Eventually an industrial complex was established
at what became known as Collinsville, Connecticut. The company quickly established
a reputation for producing high quality axes. In 1831 factory prices for Collins
axes were quoted at $20 a dozen and in 1841 at $13 a dozen. It isn’t clear specifically
what axes these prices apply to as the company did produce many different styles
and weights of axes ranging from one-half pound up to at least five and one-quarter
pound. In addition to axes the Collins Company fabricated plows and other edged
tools at their industrial complex.
For more information about Collins Axes see also:
Collins Axes, by James Hanson, Museum of the Fur Trade Quarterly, Volume 47, No. 4, Winter 2011, pp 1-7.
American Axes,: A Survey of Their Development and Makers, by Henry J, Kauffman, Stephen Green Press, Brattleborouh Vermont, 1972, pp 31-39