Spike Tomahawks

mgolab · 11th July 2023, 02:17 PM

Hello:

I wanted to share and gain some feedback on these two tomahawks.

The smaller one has been painted black and refurbished. What is the best way to remove the paint?

Both are lightweight, roughly 1.1 pounds. The smaller one comes from the PA/NY border. The larger one (without the paint) comes from Northern Ohio.

Thanks

Sajen · 11th July 2023, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgolab

The smaller one has been painted black and refurbished. What is the best way to remove the paint?

I would use paint remover, it can't harm the steel and the handle looks very recent, can't get bad!

mgolab · 13th July 2023, 02:27 PM

Thank you very much. I used lacquer thinner. Worked really well and exposed all the forge marks/patina. Not sure what that red/pink on the blade is, whether old paint or otherwise.

I'd appreciate any further comments on the tomahawks as to age. etc.

mgolab · 16th July 2023, 10:29 PM

Wanted to share final images of the tomahawk after removing all varnish from the handle and paint from the head. Handle appears to be white ash. Old nail notch cut in the head, for square head nails or chain pull, pre-1880.

David · 18th July 2023, 05:29 PM

On your first example (the painted one) i would deem that more a pick than a spike. I wonder if this might possibly be trench axe.The nail pullers and the long pick point to something that was more likely made to be a tool rather than a weapon.

mgolab · 18th July 2023, 06:06 PM

Thank you David.

Interesting, trench axe did not cross my mind. Given the geographic location where the piece was found, PA/NY border in Tioga County, I wonder if it is revolutionary war period.

The area where the axe was found served as a staging point for the infamous "Sullivan's Expedition" in 1779.

11th July 2023, 02:17 PM	#1
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 42	Spike Tomahawks Hello: I wanted to share and gain some feedback on these two tomahawks. The smaller one has been painted black and refurbished. What is the best way to remove the paint? Both are lightweight, roughly 1.1 pounds. The smaller one comes from the PA/NY border. The larger one (without the paint) comes from Northern Ohio. Thanks Attached Images

13th July 2023, 02:27 PM	#3
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 42	Thank you very much. I used lacquer thinner. Worked really well and exposed all the forge marks/patina. Not sure what that red/pink on the blade is, whether old paint or otherwise. I'd appreciate any further comments on the tomahawks as to age. etc. Attached Images

16th July 2023, 10:29 PM	#4
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 42	Wanted to share final images of the tomahawk after removing all varnish from the handle and paint from the head. Handle appears to be white ash. Old nail notch cut in the head, for square head nails or chain pull, pre-1880. Attached Images

18th July 2023, 05:29 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	On your first example (the painted one) i would deem that more a pick than a spike. I wonder if this might possibly be trench axe.The nail pullers and the long pick point to something that was more likely made to be a tool rather than a weapon.

18th July 2023, 06:06 PM	#6
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 42	Thank you David. Interesting, trench axe did not cross my mind. Given the geographic location where the piece was found, PA/NY border in Tioga County, I wonder if it is revolutionary war period. The area where the axe was found served as a staging point for the infamous "Sullivan's Expedition" in 1779.