Mark & Stephen Ferguson & Barry Worthing Started A Shop That Crafts Maine Pattern Axes & Restores Vintage Axes

Mark & Stephen Ferguson and Barry Worthing, owners and founders of Brant & Cochran, started a shop almost four years ago that restores vintage axes and crafts Maine pattern axes. These three gentlemen have brought back the craft of axe making in Maine as there are no other axe makers currently in Maine. Back in the 1800s to 1900s, twelve well-known axe makers resided in Oakland, Maine including Emerson and Stevens who crafted many axes including an axe for Theodore Roosevelt. Brant & Cochran use techniques and traditions created from this historical time towards their axe making. From forging, grinding, heat-treating, sharpening and hafting, the process is dirty and challenging but the Brant & Cochran staff have a good process going and they continue to refine it every day. They even stamp each of their axes with their logo, the temperer’s initials and year of manufacture as it is a tradition that all axe makers take on and Brant & Cochran wanted to continue it.Please visit Brant & Cochran's website to view their products. Feel free to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to get updates on new products and promotions. Also, please reach out to them if you would like to check out their shop in South Portland and visit their events page to see how you can see their axes and wonderful makers up close and in person.Also, please check out the featured musician of this episode, The Gawler Family. The Gawler Family brings you a delightful assortment of songs and tunes rooted in the traditional music of Maine and the Northeast. John and Ellen, together with their daughters Molly, Edith, Elsie, and “brother” Bennett Konesni, back up their intertwining family harmonies with fiddles, banjo, cello, guitar, and sometimes, a few surprises. 
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