A group of axes

M ELEY · 21st March 2010, 02:25 PM

Here is a nice spike tomahawk, ca 1780-1830. Spike axes were traded with the native Americans and quite popular. This one has a single-bearded blade, no steel bit, original old haft and a blacksmith repair in its working life. (Often a blacksmith/fur trader lived near the tribe to trade. There are several examples of repaired axes in Hartzler's book), Note the squared notch cut into the blade later. It is not a nail-pull, but used by trappers as a trap chain pull (you go sticking your hand in frigid water all day and see why they did this to the axe!). Old brownish-red primer and deadly spike.

M ELEY · 21st March 2010, 02:26 PM

Here we have that boarding axe again! This time hopefully with better pics...

M ELEY · 21st March 2010, 02:30 PM

This is what they call the 1st Pattern of rifleman's axe, ca 1760-1800. It has a very hefty head and original haft. The later versions had slight differences. Note that with these early hammer polls, it is generally theorized that the "hammer" was actually more of a balancing weight and allowed for a more powerful chop. This type carried by continental soldiers and explorers.

M ELEY · 21st March 2010, 02:34 PM

This is a Revolutionary War camp axe as distributed to the continental soldiers (the Yankee Doodle Dandies, as the Tories used to call them). The haft is perhaps walnut? An example in Hartzler's book is a dead-on match for this one. It has an unreadable stamping on the blade. Well, I had one more little spike axe, but I've lost the pictures, so that's all folks!

Jim McDougall · 21st March 2010, 03:30 PM

Absolutely outstanding post Mark!!! A grouping of such weapons does not need to be voluminous, especially when they well illustrate the distinctions of a weapon form and its variations. What is best is that you offer important information along with the illustrations, and give us all a chance to learn more on these axes.
This is exactly what I always hope for, information, description and explanation along with weapons illustrated. Well done, and thank you so much!!!

All the very best,
Jim

M ELEY · 22nd March 2010, 12:18 AM

Thanks Jim. Now that I'm getting a little better with posting pics, just thought I'd try my hand with the axe pics. So glad you enjoyed them. It seems to be one of the last areas of collecting where one can still occasionally get a bargain now and then.

junker · 22nd March 2010, 07:49 PM

Hi,
you are right. I think axes are a differnt field of ethnographis, where less peope deal with.
whats the title of the book you mentioned ?

So you know alredy my beheading axe, now i added some more.
from left
a german fire axe
second i will call india or persia
third i could not identify, no marks, maybe a smiths homework
the head should be a celtic on from around 300
and the last one is a normal carpenter axe

if any one needs close ups just shout

all of you a happy day
Dirk

21st March 2010, 02:25 PM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,184	Some info Here is a nice spike tomahawk, ca 1780-1830. Spike axes were traded with the native Americans and quite popular. This one has a single-bearded blade, no steel bit, original old haft and a blacksmith repair in its working life. (Often a blacksmith/fur trader lived near the tribe to trade. There are several examples of repaired axes in Hartzler's book), Note the squared notch cut into the blade later. It is not a nail-pull, but used by trappers as a trap chain pull (you go sticking your hand in frigid water all day and see why they did this to the axe!). Old brownish-red primer and deadly spike. Attached Images Last edited by M ELEY; 22nd March 2010 at 12:15 AM.

21st March 2010, 02:26 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,184	Next... Here we have that boarding axe again! This time hopefully with better pics... Attached Images

21st March 2010, 02:30 PM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,184	A nice early hammer poll axe... This is what they call the 1st Pattern of rifleman's axe, ca 1760-1800. It has a very hefty head and original haft. The later versions had slight differences. Note that with these early hammer polls, it is generally theorized that the "hammer" was actually more of a balancing weight and allowed for a more powerful chop. This type carried by continental soldiers and explorers. Attached Images

21st March 2010, 02:34 PM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,184	And finally... This is a Revolutionary War camp axe as distributed to the continental soldiers (the Yankee Doodle Dandies, as the Tories used to call them). The haft is perhaps walnut? An example in Hartzler's book is a dead-on match for this one. It has an unreadable stamping on the blade. Well, I had one more little spike axe, but I've lost the pictures, so that's all folks! Attached Images Last edited by M ELEY; 22nd March 2010 at 12:14 AM.

22nd March 2010, 07:49 PM	#7
junker Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 140	book Hi, you are right. I think axes are a differnt field of ethnographis, where less peope deal with. whats the title of the book you mentioned ? So you know alredy my beheading axe, now i added some more. from left a german fire axe second i will call india or persia third i could not identify, no marks, maybe a smiths homework the head should be a celtic on from around 300 and the last one is a normal carpenter axe if any one needs close ups just shout all of you a happy day Dirk

21st March 2010, 03:30 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,454	Absolutely outstanding post Mark!!! A grouping of such weapons does not need to be voluminous, especially when they well illustrate the distinctions of a weapon form and its variations. What is best is that you offer important information along with the illustrations, and give us all a chance to learn more on these axes. This is exactly what I always hope for, information, description and explanation along with weapons illustrated. Well done, and thank you so much!!! All the very best, Jim

22nd March 2010, 12:18 AM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,184	Thanks Jim. Now that I'm getting a little better with posting pics, just thought I'd try my hand with the axe pics. So glad you enjoyed them. It seems to be one of the last areas of collecting where one can still occasionally get a bargain now and then.