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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: adelaide south australia
Posts: 276
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Hi Guys
I have almost completed photographing and cataloguing a friends extensive collection of curios, when I came across this item which he has listed as a Beheading Axe. I have no idea how to describe this or authenticate this item and would value any assistance someone might be able to offer, particularly with regard to the numerous marks on one side of the Blade. Cheers Cathey |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,063
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The blade looks to be flat over to one side, in which case it is probably a side axe used for trimming logs square. Also known as a goose wing axe.
https://www.oldtoolstore.co.uk/side-axes-135-c.asp |
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#3 |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,085
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I agree with David. This is almost certainly a goosewing hewing axe.
But here is a short article from the royal armouries discussing the difficulty with accurately identifying any axe as an executioner's axe. https://royalarmouries.org/stories/o...-heading-axes/ |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 444
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Hi Cathey,
A couple years ago, I created a thread depicting illustrations from the Nuremberg Chonicle. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=Chronicle The very first post includes a depiction of Cain killing Able with an ax AND a depiction of Noah's ark being built. The artist(s) depicted what would have been in use in the late 1400s. The axe you post looks very similar to the woodworking axes. The off-set head further indicates carpentry as being its purpose (as has already been said). Hope this helps, -Rob |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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I read (in this forum) about an execution performed by a rather bad executioner, he used one of these side axes, didn'’t sharpen it and was purported to be drunk at the time. The executioner's aim was off, and it took quite a few blows, and sawing with a knife to accomplish his task. He was vilified and insulted roundly by the media of the time, and wrote his own pamphlet to excuse his act and blame somebody else. These axes are NOT designed for executions OR any other chopping other than squaring a beam by a right-handed man, and are imbalanced and awkward for any other use.
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 403
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#7 | |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Bristol
Posts: 101
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