On Friday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Boothbay Railway Village welcomes South Portland-based Brant & Cochran, keepers of Maine’s axe making tradition, for a full-day demonstration. Curious museum visitors will learn how to properly sharpen and care for a variety of axe heads along with the process of attaching a handle, known as hafting.

Making axes is only one facet of Brant & Cochran’s mission to “make, educate, and curate.” They are champions of axe care and culture and will be discussing the rich history of axe production in Maine and the historic importance of the axe to Maine families.

The story of Maine is in many ways the story of the axe. So important to Maine was the axe that at one time nearly 200 companies forged axes in the Pine Tree State. Eventually, these companies closed their doors due to the increased use of chainsaws in the woods and the import of cheaper foreign axes.

Brant & Cochran is reviving the production of axes in Maine. They craft a Maine wedge pattern camp axe dubbed the “Allagash Cruiser.” This axe is forged from U.S. 1050 carbon steel, hung on a Maine white ash handle, and masked with a Maine-crafted custom leather sheath.

“It is important to Maine to have an axe company. It’s in the state’s DNA. It would be like Wisconsin saying they weren’t going to make cheese anymore, and that’s just not right,” says partner Mark Ferguson who with his brother Steve and friend Barry Worthing are the driving forces behind Brant & Cochran. The Fergusons have a personal connection to tool production. Brant & Cochran shares its name with their grandfather’s Detroit tool supply company and its logo pays homage his original design.

Brant & Cochran also restores vintage axes to be used and treasured for years to come. Do you have a beloved axe that needs some TLC? Stop by their tent to discuss the restoration process and bring new life to your heirloom axe!

This event is part of Artisan Days at Boothbay Railway Village and is supported by the Davis Family Foundation and the Belvedere Handcrafts Fund at the Maine Community Foundation. Artisan Days events are free with museum admission: Adults $14, Seniors (65+) $12, Children (3-18) $7, Children under 3 and museum members are always free.

For more information on Artisan Days visit www.railwayvillage.org/explore/artisandays or call 633-4727. Boothbay Railway Village is located at 586 Wiscasset Road, Route 27 in Boothbay.