Original Item: Only One Available. In 1826, two brothers, Samuel Watkinson Collins (age 24) and David Collins (age 21) along with their wealthy cousin, William Wells, purchased the old Humphrey gristmill along the Farmington River in South Canton with the intention to produce high quality ground axes. The Collins Company line of products would grow over the years to include not only axes, but also machetes, hatchets, adzes, brush hooks, picks, shovels, knives, swords, bayonets and plows, making them the world’s leading manufacturer of edge tools.

These short No. 37 machetes are very hard to come by on today's market. Made by Collins & Co. of Hartford, Conn, this is a LEGITIMUS model No. 37 machete. The Machete has an impressive overall length of 23 inches, with a straight 18 inch Bush/Collins machete shape blade. The blade is about 2 ⅛ inches wide at the thickest point. The ricasso is faded but marked:

LEGITIMUS
COLLINS & CO.
HARTFORD
NO. 37
U.S.

The blade is in good condition, though it does show some use, staining, pitting and surface oxidation. It has been sharpened several times, it is obvious that this was a machete that did not spend its life in the scabbard.

The stacked leather washer grip is in great shape without any serious damage. The scabbard is a fantastic example of a hard to find early-war leather one. The construction is still solid with deep markings on the front. The markings identifies the scabbard as being for Signal Corps use.

A very nice Signal Corps used machete ready for display.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 18”
Blade Style: Machete
Overall length: 23”
Scabbard Length: 19 ¼”