J.B. STOHLER Very Old Repair/Resteeled Antique Pa Handle.

This antique J.B. Stohler hand-forged axe is an extraordinary piece of early American blacksmithing history. Built with a wrought iron body, it features a historically significant "resteeled" (re-bitted) edge—a period forge-repair technique where a new high-carbon steel cutting edge was forge-welded into the worn iron body by a blacksmith to extend the tool's working life. Mounted on a traditional Pennsylvania-style hardwood handle, this axe exhibits authentic forge marks, centuries-old repair character, and a crisp Stohler maker's stamp. Sold as is or happy to sharpen it and add a piece of wood to the bottom of the handle.

Detailed History

John Beamesdorfer Stohler (1841–1920) was a legendary Pennsylvania blacksmith who forged high-demand axes out of a small shop in Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, between 1866 and 1919. Known for his convex bit geometry and deep-set polls, Stohler's axes sold for more than double the price of mass-produced factory axes due to their superior balance and edge retention. During the 18th and 19th centuries, tool steel was expensive and scarce; when an axe bit ground down from decades of heavy timber work, local blacksmiths would "resteel" or forge-weld a new piece of carbon steel into the original body. This antique combination of Stohler craftsmanship and period forge-repair represents a rare, working artifact of Pennsylvania Dutch blacksmithing heritage.

Dimensions & Weight