Vintage "Ox Yoke" Embossed Double Bit Axe, customized for the Barker, Rose & Clinton Co

Product Description

Step back into American toolmaking history with this rare Vintage "Ox Yoke" Embossed Double Bit Axe, customized for the Barker, Rose & Clinton Co. of Elmira, New York. Featuring bold, raised embossing across the cheek, this high-carbon steel double bit head is a standout piece of late 19th- to early 20th-century hardware store heritage and American forestry craftsmanship.

Historical Background

• Barker, Rose & Clinton Co. (Elmira, NY): Operating under this partnership name between 1898 and 1928, Barker, Rose & Clinton was a premier wholesale and retail hardware firm in Upstate New York, serving lumbermen, builders, and tradesmen across the region.

• The "Ox Yoke" Brand: During the Golden Age of tool manufacturing, major hardware distributors contracted top-tier American forge works (such as Kelly Axe & Tool Co., Mann Edge Tool, or Plumb) to manufacture premium private-label axes. The "Ox Yoke" line was named as a tribute to rugged frontier work and draft animal power.

• Embossed High-Carbon Steel: Unlike standard printed or paper labels that wore off quickly with heavy woodland use, deep relief embossing and acid etching provided a permanent mark of quality that endured through generations.

Dimensions & Specifications

• Brand / Marking: Embossed "OX YOKE" motif along with "BARKER, ROSE & CLINTON CO. USA" on the cheek.

• Head Pattern: Classic Full-Size Double Bit Pattern.

• Estimated Head Weight: Approx. 3.5 to 4.0 lbs

• Overall Head Length (Bit to Bit): Approx. 9.5" to 10.5"

• Cutting Edge (Bit Length): Approx. 4.25" to 4.75"

• Eye Size: Standard full-size double bit eye (approx. 3" x 3/4")

• Material: Forged high-carbon American tool steel.

Condition & Listing Notes

• Clear, legible raised embossing across the cheek with strong historical character.

• Natural aged patina with minor surface oxidation consistent with period use and vintage origin.

• Excellent structural integrity—ideal for active restoration, custom re-handling, or display in a vintage tool collection.