A 19th century naval boarding ax

M ELEY · 25th December 2020, 05:22 PM

Here is what I believe to be a true 19th century private purchase naval boarding ax. I say 'true' because there are many mimics of such things, including fire axes and trench tools for soldiers. My example has a crescent-shaped (bearded) blade with a wicked 4-sided spike, forward/rear facing langets to secure the head, an early lathe-turned haft (based on the top of the haft cross/circle marks) and round eye. I make my argument that this is a legit boarding piece based on forging marks on the head (thus, an earlier piece), langets that are very primitive and awkwardly made ( not machined duplicates) secured by primitive uneven pins (versus screws) and early hand-turned haft. The rounded eye duplicates the British and American patterns while the bearded blade/spike and rear/frontward langets mimic the French patterns. This eclectic mixture of styles could indicate that it is a variant private purchase pattern meant for the Merhcantman ships or privateers during its period of use (perhaps 1810-1840- end of Age of Fighting Sail). It could likewise be from another nation than the typical naval powers at the time (Dutch, British, French, Imperial Russian, American). I have seen an East Indian ax/blunderbus combination weapon of the same period with a near identical ax head. The ax measures 17" long, head is 8 1/2" wide, spike approx 3", cutting edge is 3 1/4".

Boarding axes didn't start to even have set patterns until nearly the beginning of the 19th century. Prior to that, they were basically spike axes descended down from the 'battle ax' pattern of earlier times. Congruent with their development were the spike tomahawks of the fur trade coming into America. Boarding axes were used primarily as tools aboard ship to cut away fallen spars/ropes after a battle or storm damage. The spike end also was useful to pry free any impacted 'hot shot' (red hot cannon balls straight from the furnace fired by land installations into the hulls of ships to set them ablaze). No amount of water buckets could extinguish a molten hot shot, which would smolder and set planking on fire! The ax men would have to run out in the fray and pick at the fiery shot in the hopes of dislodging it and heaving it over the side! Finally, the boarding ax was of course a deadly weapon in combat on the close confines of a ship's deck. Boarding parties of men crossing plank bridges onto an enemy vessel would often carry these type weapons.

Great sources for these include:
Boarders Away- Gilkerson, Indian Tomahawks & Frontiersmen Trade Axes-Hartzler/Knowles, Swords and Blades of the American Revolution-Neumann,
Small Arms for Sea Service- Rankin

And, of course, David's/Cutlass Collector's excellent and definitive page-
http://www.boardingaxe.com/index.html

25th December 2020, 05:22 PM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,093	A 19th century naval boarding ax Here is what I believe to be a true 19th century private purchase naval boarding ax. I say 'true' because there are many mimics of such things, including fire axes and trench tools for soldiers. My example has a crescent-shaped (bearded) blade with a wicked 4-sided spike, forward/rear facing langets to secure the head, an early lathe-turned haft (based on the top of the haft cross/circle marks) and round eye. I make my argument that this is a legit boarding piece based on forging marks on the head (thus, an earlier piece), langets that are very primitive and awkwardly made ( not machined duplicates) secured by primitive uneven pins (versus screws) and early hand-turned haft. The rounded eye duplicates the British and American patterns while the bearded blade/spike and rear/frontward langets mimic the French patterns. This eclectic mixture of styles could indicate that it is a variant private purchase pattern meant for the Merhcantman ships or privateers during its period of use (perhaps 1810-1840- end of Age of Fighting Sail). It could likewise be from another nation than the typical naval powers at the time (Dutch, British, French, Imperial Russian, American). I have seen an East Indian ax/blunderbus combination weapon of the same period with a near identical ax head. The ax measures 17" long, head is 8 1/2" wide, spike approx 3", cutting edge is 3 1/4". Boarding axes didn't start to even have set patterns until nearly the beginning of the 19th century. Prior to that, they were basically spike axes descended down from the 'battle ax' pattern of earlier times. Congruent with their development were the spike tomahawks of the fur trade coming into America. Boarding axes were used primarily as tools aboard ship to cut away fallen spars/ropes after a battle or storm damage. The spike end also was useful to pry free any impacted 'hot shot' (red hot cannon balls straight from the furnace fired by land installations into the hulls of ships to set them ablaze). No amount of water buckets could extinguish a molten hot shot, which would smolder and set planking on fire! The ax men would have to run out in the fray and pick at the fiery shot in the hopes of dislodging it and heaving it over the side! Finally, the boarding ax was of course a deadly weapon in combat on the close confines of a ship's deck. Boarding parties of men crossing plank bridges onto an enemy vessel would often carry these type weapons. Great sources for these include: Boarders Away- Gilkerson, Indian Tomahawks & Frontiersmen Trade Axes-Hartzler/Knowles, Swords and Blades of the American Revolution-Neumann, Small Arms for Sea Service- Rankin And, of course, David's/Cutlass Collector's excellent and definitive page- http://www.boardingaxe.com/index.html Attached Images Last edited by M ELEY; 25th December 2020 at 06:09 PM.