Native American spike tomahawk, fur trade pole axes and skinning knives

M ELEY · 13th February 2023, 01:34 AM

My newest acquisition and one seeped in controversy for more than one reason.

First off, this is a ca.1830-40 cast head spike axe made in the pattern of the so-called 'Underhill Tool Company' axes ca.1840. The Underhill Tool Company was one of the earliest of the companies that used fine steel shaped and cast via triphammer processing (pre-Industrial Revolution, but definitely much faster than blacksmith-wroght pieces). This axe pattern with the pointed/pyramid shaped ears was taken from earlier trade pieces, including an Iroquois pattern. (see Neumann's 'Swords and Blades of the American Revolution', 55a, 56a, 27a, 29a. See also Hartzler's 'Indian Tomahawks and Frontiersmen Belt Axes, pg 38\fig 5, pg 39\fig 6, pg 49\fig 36 and pg 96\fig 44 for similar triangled ears and similar heads). The oval eye on mine drilled out and the haft very possibly original.

As these were the very first commercially produced models, they were included in catalogs of the time and indeed sold to hardware stores, suttlers, tool suppliers, etc. It is noted, however, that these early pattern heads were also put on wagons and sent out to the trading posts, just like the old hand-wrought spike axes of yesteryear. Thus, we have an axe pattern that truly served both worlds (Native Americans and settlers).

13th February 2023, 01:34 AM	#13
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Early cast head spike tomahawk ax My newest acquisition and one seeped in controversy for more than one reason. First off, this is a ca.1830-40 cast head spike axe made in the pattern of the so-called 'Underhill Tool Company' axes ca.1840. The Underhill Tool Company was one of the earliest of the companies that used fine steel shaped and cast via triphammer processing (pre-Industrial Revolution, but definitely much faster than blacksmith-wroght pieces). This axe pattern with the pointed/pyramid shaped ears was taken from earlier trade pieces, including an Iroquois pattern. (see Neumann's 'Swords and Blades of the American Revolution', 55a, 56a, 27a, 29a. See also Hartzler's 'Indian Tomahawks and Frontiersmen Belt Axes, pg 38\fig 5, pg 39\fig 6, pg 49\fig 36 and pg 96\fig 44 for similar triangled ears and similar heads). The oval eye on mine drilled out and the haft very possibly original. As these were the very first commercially produced models, they were included in catalogs of the time and indeed sold to hardware stores, suttlers, tool suppliers, etc. It is noted, however, that these early pattern heads were also put on wagons and sent out to the trading posts, just like the old hand-wrought spike axes of yesteryear. Thus, we have an axe pattern that truly served both worlds (Native Americans and settlers). Attached Images