A Trade Axe?

Ed · 2nd July 2024, 04:12 PM

This was represented as a trade axe used during colonial times in the US.

Length overall is 8.5".

Thoughts?

kronckew · 2nd July 2024, 08:35 PM

Looks more like a replica roman legionary dolabra pick axe.

adrian · 3rd July 2024, 10:54 PM

This was represented as a trade axe used during colonial times in the US.
Length overall is 8.5". Thoughts?

I think you will find that it's a slate roofing hammer.
The blade for cropping them to length when needed and the point for making the clout holes.

fernando · 4th July 2024, 10:29 AM

So let's see how it develops in the Miscellania Forum.

C4RL · 6th July 2024, 06:25 AM

Represented by who?

Have you read through this? ~
https://www.furtradetomahawks.com/fa...pros---17.html

If you click on the menu there's 31 pages of hawk/hatchet information.

.

Ed · 6th July 2024, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C4RL

Represented by who?

Have you read through this? ~
https://www.furtradetomahawks.com/fa...pros---17.html

If you click on the menu there's 31 pages of hawk/hatchet information.

.

As I recall, I got this from Bill Guthman when I lived in Westport Ct. Bill and I got friendly and I bought a number of things from him.
https://www.antiquesandthearts.com/n...-guthman-dies/
Good guy. Wrote an interesting article on fakes that I am still trying to locate.

Found the illustration below (thanks for the reference). Looks like they are pretty darn close. Mine weighs 6.5 oz.

Lee · 12th July 2024, 12:39 PM

I am, unfortunately, suspicious of the manner in which this axe head was made, as it appears to be a product of a more modern casting process rather than hand forging. Axes, like spears, can be so difficult because the same forms reoccur in many times and places.

I bought what was supposed to be a frontiersman's belt axe (for disassembling game, etc.) at a country auction at a genuinely old house in upstate New York. I sent images to Mr. Miller, whose fur trade tomahawk site is linked above, and he suggested it was instead a reworking of a small claw hammer. XRF was very consistent with that interpretation. The estate was that of a former re-enactor who dabbled in blacksmithing.

2nd July 2024, 04:12 PM	#1
Ed Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 237	A Trade Axe? This was represented as a trade axe used during colonial times in the US. Length overall is 8.5". Thoughts? Attached Images

2nd July 2024, 08:35 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	Looks more like a replica roman legionary dolabra pick axe. Attached Images

6th July 2024, 06:25 AM	#5
C4RL Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 50	Represented by who? Have you read through this? ~ https://www.furtradetomahawks.com/fa...pros---17.html If you click on the menu there's 31 pages of hawk/hatchet information. . Last edited by C4RL; 6th July 2024 at 06:50 AM.

3rd July 2024, 10:54 PM	#3
adrian Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 125	This was represented as a trade axe used during colonial times in the US. Length overall is 8.5". Thoughts? I think you will find that it's a slate roofing hammer. The blade for cropping them to length when needed and the point for making the clout holes.

4th July 2024, 10:29 AM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	So let's see how it develops in the Miscellania Forum.

12th July 2024, 12:39 PM	#7
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 914	I am, unfortunately, suspicious of the manner in which this axe head was made, as it appears to be a product of a more modern casting process rather than hand forging. Axes, like spears, can be so difficult because the same forms reoccur in many times and places. I bought what was supposed to be a frontiersman's belt axe (for disassembling game, etc.) at a country auction at a genuinely old house in upstate New York. I sent images to Mr. Miller, whose fur trade tomahawk site is linked above, and he suggested it was instead a reworking of a small claw hammer. XRF was very consistent with that interpretation. The estate was that of a former re-enactor who dabbled in blacksmithing.