Axe for ID

[fernando]

This is the other example that my friend collector found that day at the antique shop. I can see no significant differences in the axe properly, except that in this one, what appears to be a maker mark, is more clear and evident.
However the handle has a slightly different profile, with a rather different end. It could be that its knob was (perfectly) flattened after production, possibly to fit better with its keeping or hanging place, as also the hole for a lanyard in the previous one might have been done at a later stage. And while the handle of the said previous example had some superficial turned grooves, this one doesn't have such intervention, but i think i discern in the wood vains a dark tone, which could have been from a previous black painting ( a navy habit ?), later scraped.


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[fernando]

Comparing the previous with the present example. Amazing that the dimensions and the weight of both are the same. Having the equal measures, we may accept as normal, but the weight of both being 918 grs. gram to gram ... coincidences do exist indeed.


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[CutlassCollector]

That's really interesting to see them together, Fernando.

Only very slight differences to the metalwork and the fact that weight and sizes are so close suggest that they were made by different smiths but to the same pattern. Changes to the wood work possibly made, as you suggest, in service to fit use or storage.

Thanks for posting.
Regards CC

[M ELEY]

Now that you found a another, Fernando, I think we can conclude these are a Portuguese interpretation of the form! Great piece, too bad he won't sell it to you to make a pair (or to me to make me happy!!!)

[fernando]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

... Great piece, too bad he won't sell it to you to make a pair (or to me to make me happy!!!)

Maybe some day, Captain .

[CutlassCollector]

After reading this thread again and the research that Fernando did two years ago I agree with Mark that there is a good case that these should be considered as Portuguese Boarding axes.
Even if there was no standard government pattern as Fernando's research suggests we can still assume that being two of them, near identical in size and weight, and so definitively boarding axes that there must have been more.

It was up to each Naval unit Commander to choose, order and acquire the axes in the required quantity for their crew. In a way that we can find different axe models in the various naval units of the same period.

Even medium sized naval ships would have require 30 or 40 and the largest vessels many more.

Regards, CC