Hi Mark, always good to get your observations.
The owner of the Brit style axe agrees with your assessment as he dates it "mid to late 18th century and may have been of colonial manufacture". It's a good puzzle though especially if we consider that there may be as much as several decades between the axes, which is why I thought the name may be known if he had been around for awhile.
Of course he could be just a guy re-hafting axes although neither of us think the axes have replaced wood but nothing is certain. I certainly had not considered he may have been French and that also is a possibility. Perhaps his name will turn up again!
I have had good dealings with the NMM in Greenwich in the past - they are always very helpful. I can't say the same about the Marine Museum in Paris unfortunately, although it's probably my French to blame!
Regards CC.
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