Little boarding axe?

carlos · 11th May 2019, 11:56 AM

I just adquired this little axe, similar like boarding axes I have seen.
There are a mark in blade, maybe Peugeot freres, but I haven, t information.
Any Information about this piece ?
Thanks

CutlassCollector · 11th May 2019, 07:11 PM

Hi carlos,

Nice axe. I have seen several of these and I believe that it is a late 19th or early 20th century French fireman's hatchet but it is a direct descendant of the French boarding axe and closely copies it.
Its small size make it unlikely to be a boarding axe as it is maybe 300mm long with a blade to spike point of perhaps 185mm. Even the smaller models of French boarding axes were more like 530mm by 230mm.

Peugeot freres have a long history of tool manufacture and go back at least to 1850.

I have seen one of these marked with the Free French cross indicating it was still in use in WWII.

Regards,CC

Jim McDougall · 11th May 2019, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CutlassCollector

Hi carlos,

Nice axe. I have seen several of these and I believe that it is a late 19th or early 20th century French fireman's hatchet but it is a direct descendant of the French boarding axe and closely copies it.
Its small size make it unlikely to be a boarding axe as it is maybe 300mm long with a blade to spike point of perhaps 185mm. Even the smaller models of French boarding axes were more like 530mm by 230mm.

Peugeot freres have a long history of tool manufacture and go back at least to 1850.

I have seen one of these marked with the Free French cross indicating it was still in use in WWII.

Regards,CC

CC, while not a collector nor having knowledge in this field, I just wanted to thank you for the detailed info and insight into this interesting axe. I wondered if it could be a firemans axe, and it is great to learn from the example shared and observations, so very much appreciated.

kronckew · 12th May 2019, 07:42 AM

I have one of the fire axes too. As noted, the boarding axe had a longer haft, it also had a belt hook on the side of the head to keep it secure on your belt. The Boarding axe usually had a similarly grooved grip area, missing from yours as required by the French blueprints I've seen. Nice little axes. French ones had the languets fore/aft to protect against missing and breaking the handle. British axes had them on the sides, like the UK boarding axes which had them there to prevent the head being cut off That evolved into the fire version where that was not really necessary.

Mine is in pic below too), it's also slightly smaller/lighter than the French one.

corrado26 · 12th May 2019, 11:51 AM

Fot those who are able to read and understand a second language here copies of the opus of Christian Aries concerning French bording axes
corrado26

CutlassCollector · 12th May 2019, 07:12 PM

Jim,
Thanks for the encouragement - I'm mostly in awe of the vast knowledge to be found here and it's good to be able to give a little bit back once in a while.

And

Kronckew - Good point about the belt hook which is normally found on French Boarding axes.
I remember your axe - it's rare as well.

Regards, CC

11th May 2019, 11:56 AM	#1
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	Little boarding axe? I just adquired this little axe, similar like boarding axes I have seen. There are a mark in blade, maybe Peugeot freres, but I haven, t information. Any Information about this piece ? Thanks Attached Images

12th May 2019, 07:42 AM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,181	I have one of the fire axes too. As noted, the boarding axe had a longer haft, it also had a belt hook on the side of the head to keep it secure on your belt. The Boarding axe usually had a similarly grooved grip area, missing from yours as required by the French blueprints I've seen. Nice little axes. French ones had the languets fore/aft to protect against missing and breaking the handle. British axes had them on the sides, like the UK boarding axes which had them there to prevent the head being cut off That evolved into the fire version where that was not really necessary. Mine is in pic below too), it's also slightly smaller/lighter than the French one. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 12th May 2019 at 07:57 AM.

12th May 2019, 11:51 AM	#5
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	Fot those who are able to read and understand a second language here copies of the opus of Christian Aries concerning French bording axes corrado26 Attached Images

11th May 2019, 07:11 PM	#2
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 330	Hi carlos, Nice axe. I have seen several of these and I believe that it is a late 19th or early 20th century French fireman's hatchet but it is a direct descendant of the French boarding axe and closely copies it. Its small size make it unlikely to be a boarding axe as it is maybe 300mm long with a blade to spike point of perhaps 185mm. Even the smaller models of French boarding axes were more like 530mm by 230mm. Peugeot freres have a long history of tool manufacture and go back at least to 1850. I have seen one of these marked with the Free French cross indicating it was still in use in WWII. Regards,CC

12th May 2019, 07:12 PM	#6
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 330	Jim, Thanks for the encouragement - I'm mostly in awe of the vast knowledge to be found here and it's good to be able to give a little bit back once in a while. And Kronckew - Good point about the belt hook which is normally found on French Boarding axes. I remember your axe - it's rare as well. Regards, CC