Trade axe/tomahawk NE America 18th c.

[C4RL]

I can post some more images, I'll sort some out.

A screwdriver or house brick can be a weapon.
These hatchets were tools in the countries they were manufactured in the period they were made. I'll find some images of what's still being produced.

It's not in the usual use of language here (UK, Spain) to refer to anything as a weapon in everyday language, things are called by their names, eg axe, hatchet, knife.
Talking about a historical "weapon" yes, but the O.Ps example isn't historical, they are still being used.

[M ELEY]

They were indeed tools back in Europe, but here in the New World, transported by ships in the thousands to be used on the frontier and traded to the Native Americans, I can assure you they were used as both. Many trade axes of the round poll type still turn up as Indian weapons, complete with brass tack decorations, beadwork, wirework, etc. Hartzler's tomahawk book shows numerous examples. There is a pattern of evolution of the axe from weapon to weapon/tool to finally only as a tool in the latter (19th) century in the states. Ship's boarding axes are another classic example. They were both a tool and a weapon, used by boarding parties to storm the deck (well documented, BTW) and as a handy weapon in a pinch. In later years (mid-19th c) they became strictly a fire tool, patterning the first fire aces that were to follow.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you guys for all these responses!
C4RL, I very much appreciate your valuable insights on this, and of course you are well situated being in Spain and in this collecting field to have unique expertise in these forms of 'hatchet'.
As I mentioned earlier, I am entirely a novice as far as these 'items' (hatchet, axe, tomahawk, tool,weapon etc.) and it is important to me to have all views in discussion of them to better evaluate the most likely origin of the example In have posted.

In most of my reading on these hatchets, it does seem well noted that the Basque areas of Northern Spain were key to metalwork from local iron resources which included tools, weapons and iron items. The iron shackles with bar and lock used to hold prisoners and unfortunately slaves were known as 'bilbo's, referring to the city and port of Bilbao where iron products were produced and often exported. The well known Spanish arming swords of the 18th century often hilted there also gave them the colloquial term 'bilbo' (in English) due to these origins.

In research on the Spanish colonial 'espada ancha', I discovered that these familiar short swords were actually termed 'machete' in Spanish and in the periods of their development and use in the Spanish colonial frontiers.
These shorter swords with typically frontier blacksmith forged blades, while of course in the form of that 'weapon' actually were more commonly used as a 'tool' for brushing trails, chopping vegetation much as the modern machete is.

On the vessels coming to the New World, the hangers/cutlasses used aboard these ships were the prototypes for the espada ancha/machete. It seems the 'cutlass' term was more maritime in colloquial application, while the same weapons ashore used inn utilitarian functions were termed 'machete', despite the 'hanger' term which seems more military oriented.

On these vessels, as noted, were often barrels full of axe/hatchet heads for colonial use and trade, as well of course as being used aboard by the sailors and men on these vessels for the purposes required. Boarding axes, while used as weapons, were most commonly employed in the mundane chores that were always at hand in the daily functions at sea, and often ashore, just like the 'cutlasses'.

In colonial New Spain, it is well known that Basques, and their wares were profoundly present . These 'hatchets/axes' were thoroughly ubiquitous from the arrival ports and entrepots and the trade networks, where the Basque term became quite collectively used to describe the similar forms.

Having said all this, it does seem that the general form of my axe, in round poll character, retains what appears to be a quite traditional type of 'hatchet/camp axe etc.' and of course from a long tradition of these from Basque regions.

From what I have understood, the 'round' eye gave way to the more 'tear drop?' shaped type later, so if I understand correctly, this style was still being produced in the 20th century in Spain? (100 years ago was of course 1920s).
So the 'clean' lines etc. of my example could not have been produced in the profoundly skilled and highly regarded iron working centers in Basque country in the earlier period noted (early to mid 19th c.)?

The reason I brought up the case of the machete/cutlass/hanger etc. is to point out that the specious debate of tool vs. weapon is, as well noted, pretty well moot, as virtually most of these can be used (and were) interchangeably. Straining the matter further is the term 'tomahawk' , which is again, broadly applied to various forms of these smaller (than woodsman axes) axes used as weapons, in the American Indian manner......which of course lends to the notably strained 'name game'. Shakespeare said it best,
..a rose by any other name....is still a rose'.

As always, my entries become longer than intended, but I wanted to express my take on these aspects not to dispute anything in particular, but to encourage further discussion on these 'axe' type forms and recognizing the character in proper age identifying.

Thanks again to all here for these great responses! The more I learn here (thanks to you guys) the more intrigued I become in this field! Oh Oh!!

[Lee]

If one one wants to take a deep dive into old hatchets and tomahawks (and treacherous look-a-likes and fakes thereof) might I recommend https://www.furtradetomahawks.com/.

[C4RL]

To keep my reply simple & clarify, the hatchet in question is undoubtedly made completely from carbon steel, if it were to be soaked in any etchant it would show a light uniform grey steel colour all over because it's cast with around an inch along the cutting edge that'll be much darker grey where it's been hardened. It's a 20th century factory head.
Quite a lot like it in this area alone (southern Spain), many still in use.

Below, the first two images are more in line with older heads, these are wraps with a small carbon steel bit welded in.
Third & fourth image a hatchet that's a wrap with a filler piece.
Fifth, a beautiful example of a wrought iron wrap with a welded in carbon steel bit fresh out of etchant (before you cry "sacrilege" for etching something so old....I can explain).
Six & seven, huge old axe heads, I put these here simply as an example of what some might describe (& possibly try to sell..) as executioners axes, or again weapons. They are in fact just (lovely) old French wood axes, nothing more!

[urbanspaceman]

Reading through this excellent thread Jim one issue springs to mind.
The final chapter in the Addenda of my book on the Shotley Bridge swordmakers is about the Saugus Ironworks.
It gains entry into my book because of the involvement of the Vintons: Swedish metalworkers and miners who were active in the Shotley Bridge area from around 1600.
They were a big family and are on record as immigrants to Massachusetts and active in the "Iron works at Lynn", later known as Hammersmith (a most aposite title, yes?) about 1646 to 1670. There is even a town named after them: although the residents don't know where their name came from.
What made Hammersmith special was that it was the first site to successfully implement the full range of iron production and refinement at one facility, producing cast iron, refined bars, as well as nails.
Also active there was Joseph Jenkes of Hounslow fame.
On the tailrace of the Saugus blast furnace, Joseph Jenks established a mill for the making of Sithes (sic), saw blades, and other edge tools for which he was granted a Massachusetts patent in 1646: probably one of the first patents ever issued in the colonies. Jenks brought his millwright and smithing skills to the banks of the Saugus River where he forged, hardened, and tempered iron and steel into saw blades and axes.
Jenks Jr., established a forge shop and sawmill on the Blackstone River in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Iron tool manufacturing continued within this branch of the Jenks family well into the nineteenth century.
If you are looking for an early source of axe heads then this is a likely suspect.

[C4RL]

These are old images hence the photobucket stamps as I cannot find the originals.

The first image is of three hatchets that belong to an elderly gentleman I know, they are hung on his garage wall and are especially nice because they belonged to his father-in-law & were used up until he finished working. They are all 20th century carbon steel cast heads despite looking centuries old. I can & will take new photos of these when I next see him & ask about a time frame.
(Going a bit far off topic the first time I spotted them I told my friend quite confidently "the handle on the big one is upside-down", we tapped the handle out as they are all "slip through fit" & found it didn't fit the non round eye the other way up" it was only when used in an imaginary "pruning an overhead olive tree branch" air swing that it made sense & I had to eat my words!..... All home made handles, obviously to suit a purpose).

The next photo is what at first glance could look like two old blacksmith made "wrap" forged heads? In fact only the top one is a blacksmith made wrap & old, the lower two are later cast carbon steel heads, the smallest one still being available to buy new.

I think most of the axe images I've posted can be found by shape in reference books, drawings & paintings but many of these (shape) heads were made up until fairly recently & some similar shapes are still being manufactured.
The way they were made & the steel they are made from are the best indicators of age.