Remains of collection of antique/ancient axes for ID.
 

About 20ish years ago I bought a collection of very antique English/European axes.
At the time I rehafted a couple (long gone now) but there is a limit to the amount of axes I can stomach having on the wall, the rest of them ended up stored away.
Anyhow, I've dug them out and would appreciate any thoughts on their origins. They ranged in date back to late medieval at the least (possibly earlier).
I'm unsure what I'll do with them, but of course IDing them is a first step.

#1: I've always thought is was some kind of battle axe (but I could of course be wrong!)

Weight is around 1300g. Dimensions as shown.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10917.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10919.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10921.jpg

#2: This next one was labelled as medieval battle axe.
Dimensions as shown, weight around 800g.
Thoughts?

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10925.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10927.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10928.jpg

#3: Unknown type (probobly agricultural). Interesting initials 'H.P' on both sides.
Large size as shown, weight around 2.3kg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10930.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10932.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10934.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10936.jpg
#4 Again an unknown type (probobly agricultural), in excavated condition.
Some deep pitting and loss of surface, dimensions as shown, weight just under 1400g.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10942.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10943.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10944.jpg

#5: I think this is the last one (unless I find any more in the shed!)
Another unknown type (probobly agricultural).
Sizes as shown, weight 2150g

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10946.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10945.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...a/SDC10948.jpg

Hi Gene,

Though this is not my field of expertise I remember seeing axe blades like your #4 dated as early the 8th/9th c. (Continental Carolingian type).

Btw, I just noticed our number of posts was even as of today. :)

Best,
Michael

Nos. 1-3 I would tentatively attribute to the 17th c., no. 5 is in my opinion not far away in time from no. 4.

Just rough estimations though ;) - where are the experts? Broadaxe, wouldn't you like to join in? :)

Best,
Michael

Thank you Michael.
I was beginning to think that nobody was interested in these rusty old things ;)

Oh, I too used to have such special items about 20 years ago, so a bit of dating memory seems to have survived.

Best,
Michael

Are the two of us the only ones to feel a certain lethargy here? :(

Best though worrying,
Michael

It will be slow this weekend .
Everyone is at the arms show and seminar . :cool:

Ahh, Rick's solved the mystery ;)
We aren't being ignored :)

I realize that.

So will I, bidding on behalf of a friend as well! :cool:

m

Ahhh, good luck ;)

Thanks, Gene,

Actually I was not there in person so I still do not know whether we won our two fine swords. You and all otheres here will receive a documentation soon though. :)

Best,
Michael

Look forward to it Michael :)

Still no thoughts from others on the axes>?

I think another reason folks are shying away is that many of these axe-forms lasted for centuries without much change. Still, this is an awesome collection, Gene.
No expert by any means, but here is my stab at it-
1st appears 17th-18th century, classic colonial type as seen in Neumann's and Hartsler's tomahawk/Amer trade axe book.

2nd perhaps slightly earlier pattern of 16th going into 17th based on the bearding/flare at bottom of edge

3rd a type seen as Michael pointed out -17th through 18th c.

4th- Not too familiar with this one, appears very early, so Michael pegged it

5th- as similar to above

6th- not so sure, but this type also goes back a long ways, so anywhere from midaevel to 17th century is a guess.

These axe types were used as both weapons and tools interchangibly. You will note their differences from the typical broadaxes and hewing axes of the period. The first 3 types made it to America and were popular trading axes between the fur traders and Native Americans (thus, used as weapon-tools), a subject fascinating by itself. Again, a very nice collection!

Thanks for the input.
These are certainly sounding interesting now ;)

Nobody got anything to add?
The Axe specialists?

Bump

ut-oh, the photos went away! ;)
I was going to say "Das Werkzeug des Zimmermans" by Schadwinkel has some great descriptions & photos of german axes from the 15th - 20th century, I can scan in relevant pages if you like :)

C'mon Gene, upload those missing piccys .. :)

Of what use is this thread without them ? :(

Rick

Sorry guys.

I thought that nobody had anything to add and as none seem to be proper weapons.... I got a bit despondent and decided to just get rid of them!
Thought the discussion was dead so deleted the pics so as to not get in trouble!

:o

Gene, Gene, what 'trouble' . :confused: :)

We love pictures here . :)






I'll pester you no more ... ;)

C'mon Gene, you know better than that :(
Just look back to this thread; what a disaster :shrug:

HUH? Old threads never die, they just slip off into the basement :) Then every now and then somebody comes up with new stuff and revives them! Look at the ones that have just come up.
Besides, you always post interesting stuff, sometimes unusual and it takes a while to find info on it.

All the best,
Jim