Axe for identification

CutlassCollector · 2nd February 2013, 06:11 PM

Excellent pictures Kronckew and I think I agree with you that the French have the edge when it comes to the elegance factor.
I know it's not a hundred percent conclusive but until anyone says different, it's in my collection as an early 19th century (possibly)French boarding axe.

Many thanks to you both.

M ELEY · 2nd February 2013, 10:53 PM

You are a lucky man! I love your ax. I, unfortunately, only have one true boarding ax in my collection and have been wanting one of these French types. Forgot to mention that the eye on yours is squared, another popularity with the French patterns.
Thank you, Kronckew, for posting the pics. I'm not so savvy when it comes to such things-

. Yes, I did notice that the one I mentioned was British, but of the French pattern. Forgot to mention that and hope it didn't cause any confusion. It is interesting that the boarding axe, serving as both a weapon and tool, became the standard fire ax as we know it. It goes back to the fact that on the crowded decks of ships, almost anything could become a weapon in a hand-to-hand melee (whaling blubber knives, belaying pins, axes, rope and tackle, rumlets, grappling hooks, etc, etc). The trick is deciding when is an ax a weapon and when is it just a fire suppressant?

kronckew · 3rd February 2013, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M ELEY

...The trick is deciding when is an ax a weapon and when is it just a fire suppressant?

that was a conundrum. i guess it's a weapon when you are hitting someone with it to prevent them from hitting you with theirs or shooting you.

that went out of fashion as the fire activity predominated. and boarding actions became rare.

sadly, with attacks on responding fireman increasing, it may see use as a weapon again. even boarding activity at sea is on the increase. pirates might get a surprise! they're already using firehoses to wash them off ladders...

2nd February 2013, 06:11 PM	#1
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 343	Excellent pictures Kronckew and I think I agree with you that the French have the edge when it comes to the elegance factor. I know it's not a hundred percent conclusive but until anyone says different, it's in my collection as an early 19th century (possibly)French boarding axe. Many thanks to you both.

2nd February 2013, 10:53 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	You are a lucky man! I love your ax. I, unfortunately, only have one true boarding ax in my collection and have been wanting one of these French types. Forgot to mention that the eye on yours is squared, another popularity with the French patterns. Thank you, Kronckew, for posting the pics. I'm not so savvy when it comes to such things- . Yes, I did notice that the one I mentioned was British, but of the French pattern. Forgot to mention that and hope it didn't cause any confusion. It is interesting that the boarding axe, serving as both a weapon and tool, became the standard fire ax as we know it. It goes back to the fact that on the crowded decks of ships, almost anything could become a weapon in a hand-to-hand melee (whaling blubber knives, belaying pins, axes, rope and tackle, rumlets, grappling hooks, etc, etc). The trick is deciding when is an ax a weapon and when is it just a fire suppressant?