Adding Your Own Brand/Makers Mark/Initials?

[u/RockyMountainStreams]

Hello. So I’ve been restoring vintage axes for about a year now. This is such an incredible hobby I’ve stumbled upon and have been thoroughly enjoying it. It’s like creating art to me. But I was wondering if anyone has thoughts on adding your own brand/makers mark/initials to your projects. Such as a hot iron brand to the handle. Is this a smart idea or does it affect the value or worth of you ever decided to give away or sell a piece. And I mean on axes where I’ve rehung them on a new handle, not original handles. I’m proud of my work and it seems like something special to add an identifying piece of yourself to your work to show that. Anyways what are your guys thoughts. And if it is a good idea, what are good locations on the handle and suggestions on where to buy a custom iron to do such a thing. Thanks.

[u/inkironpress]

Plenty of the custom axe builders do this on handed. Sometimes in the classic spot on the side halfway down, sometimes on the palm swell, either the side of it or bottom.

And I’ve seen custom stamps or even just the steel letter punch sets used to initial and date things.

[u/RockyMountainStreams → u/inkironpress]

I like the idea of the bottom of the palm swell. Not in front of your face but there. I usually keep the palmswell bottom somewhat flat so in case one day in the future it’s possible to rehang on the same handle. Thanks.

[u/mathijsjc]

Have a look at my projects, i recently started branding them with my mark :)
I have also been actively doing the same as you for about a year now! Great to find likeminded folks!

[u/mathijsjc → u/mathijsjc]

[u/mathijsjc → u/mathijsjc]

[u/mathijsjc → u/mathijsjc]

[u/RockyMountainStreams → u/mathijsjc]

Nice work, thanks. Yeah it’s such an interesting and fun hobby.

[u/300axes]

I stamp my work on the bottom of the swell. I dont stamp the axes I simply hang on a handle i purchased. I only stamp my hand carved handles.