Unidentified

CutlassCollector · 11th September 2018, 01:24 PM

Help required.

This axe resides in a museum but no-one knows what its use was. It is presumed marine so lives in that section. I have never seen anything like it before.
There is a light axe head opposed by a rounded holed section ending in a small projection. This section and the hole has rounded edges - for accepting a rope?
There are integral side langets and the butt of the haft is protected by a steel shoe.

It is approx 30" (76 cm) and blade edge to opposing point is approx 8" (20 cm).

Any information or thoughts appreciated.

Regards,
CC

M ELEY · 11th September 2018, 03:55 PM

Very interesting, David. Never seen one like that before! It doesn't look particularly 'naval' to me. The pointed end reminds me of some climbing axes I've seen, like those fokos (spelling?) you have seen. The loop end might have had a rope attached to aid in scaling precipices? The hammer end might have been used to secure the metal clip holder? Just a total guess...

Bob A · 11th September 2018, 05:28 PM

Probably not a mountaineering tool; the blade edge would have to be perpendicular, rather than parallel to the shaft, for cutting steps in the ice.

bvieira · 11th September 2018, 07:26 PM

Hello,

I can't say i have seen other similar axe but i have seen many nonstandard designs of axes and 99% of them where axes related with firefighters, the blade on that one is very similar with vintage firefighers axes i have seen, the hole can as said ealier used to tie a rope or used to fit a object....

It will be interesting to discover another similar and really confirm or not my theory.

Regards,

BV

Jim McDougall · 11th September 2018, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Very interesting, David. Never seen one like that before! It doesn't look particularly 'naval' to me. The pointed end reminds me of some climbing axes I've seen, like those fokos (spelling?) you have seen. The loop end might have had a rope attached to aid in scaling precipices? The hammer end might have been used to secure the metal clip holder? Just a total guess...

Cap'n Mark.......stay safe my friend, batten them hatches. Hoping all will be OK with that big'n looming off the coast.

M ELEY · 12th September 2018, 12:03 AM

Thank you, Jim, and very good to hear from you (I'll PM soon!). Yes, you would think a 1000' tidal wave was on the way (we are 4 hours inland, after all.) Buying batteries, emergency supplies for power outages, etc. I remember Hugo, though! 80 mph winds I could lean into like Buster Keaton!!

M ELEY · 12th September 2018, 12:12 AM

Good points. Bob and BV.

True that there are all manner of odd fire axes and tools out there. Here's a weird fire crowbar from Japan, one exactly like a 'weapon' I helped identify on this forum ages ago...

M ELEY · 12th September 2018, 12:14 AM

Good points. Bob and BV.

True that there are all manner of odd fire axes and tools out there. Here's a weird fire crowbar from Japan, one exactly like a 'weapon' I helped identify on this forum ages ago...

CutlassCollector · 12th September 2018, 01:45 PM

Mark, Bob, BV and Jim, thanks for the comments - all good suggestions, which certainly move it away from the naval theory.

At 30" it is probably slightly too short for a walking stick axe. Climbing axe another option with the rounded part forming a grip and being able to take a rope but this is discounted as Bob says - the blade is wrong for cutting ice steps or stopping a slide.

Fire axe is always a possiblity but this is a light axe. While hatchets are light - the two handed larger fire axes are usually heavy beasts for battering down doors etc - although that does not rule it out.
BV - that is an interesting thought, maybe it was designed to fit or operate something. Fire hydrant valve possibly.

Or, in current weather situation, hammer it into the ground and tie a rope around the house to stop it blowing away.
Back in my sea faring days I was on an old tanker which had not the most reliable of machinery - broke down in the middle of the night in a typhoon, blacked out no power. Interesting few hours and ones I would not care to repeat.

So I'm with Jim - stay safe.

M ELEY · 12th September 2018, 09:02 PM

Wow, David! That sounds both exciting and extremely terrifying! I didn't realize you were an 'old salt'! So without trying to stray away from this interesting ax, where where you at (what ocean or sea) when that ship broke down?

CutlassCollector · 13th September 2018, 01:41 PM

It is a bit off topic, but:
Big storms are not uncommon so every ocean going seafarer will have had their share of hurricanes and typhoons and normally ships avoid or stay as far away as possible and ride them out. A few days of uncomfortable heavy weather is usually the only consequence.
Many decades ago I was a junior engineer on a tanker built in the 1950’s – a steam turbine ship (sorry Mark no sails!). It was a hard working ship but on a good run - round trips taking fuel oil from Singapore or Brunei up to various ports in Japan. Good run ashore at each end!

We were slow steaming to stay behind a typhoon north of us and heading towards Japan. Unusually it turned back on itself and we became much deeper in than we expected. Wasn't a problem......until the main generator failed - no power, no steering - after a very scary time and a lot of sweary words we got everything running again.

11th September 2018, 01:24 PM	#1
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 330	Unidentified Help required. This axe resides in a museum but no-one knows what its use was. It is presumed marine so lives in that section. I have never seen anything like it before. There is a light axe head opposed by a rounded holed section ending in a small projection. This section and the hole has rounded edges - for accepting a rope? There are integral side langets and the butt of the haft is protected by a steel shoe. It is approx 30" (76 cm) and blade edge to opposing point is approx 8" (20 cm). Any information or thoughts appreciated. Regards, CC Attached Images

11th September 2018, 03:55 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,096	Very interesting, David. Never seen one like that before! It doesn't look particularly 'naval' to me. The pointed end reminds me of some climbing axes I've seen, like those fokos (spelling?) you have seen. The loop end might have had a rope attached to aid in scaling precipices? The hammer end might have been used to secure the metal clip holder? Just a total guess... Attached Images

12th September 2018, 12:12 AM	#7
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,096	Good points. Bob and BV. True that there are all manner of odd fire axes and tools out there. Here's a weird fire crowbar from Japan, one exactly like a 'weapon' I helped identify on this forum ages ago... Attached Images

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11th September 2018, 05:28 PM	#3
Bob A Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 427	Probably not a mountaineering tool; the blade edge would have to be perpendicular, rather than parallel to the shaft, for cutting steps in the ice.

11th September 2018, 07:26 PM	#4
bvieira Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 108	Hello, I can't say i have seen other similar axe but i have seen many nonstandard designs of axes and 99% of them where axes related with firefighters, the blade on that one is very similar with vintage firefighers axes i have seen, the hole can as said ealier used to tie a rope or used to fit a object.... It will be interesting to discover another similar and really confirm or not my theory. Regards, BV

12th September 2018, 12:03 AM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,096	Thank you, Jim, and very good to hear from you (I'll PM soon!). Yes, you would think a 1000' tidal wave was on the way (we are 4 hours inland, after all.) Buying batteries, emergency supplies for power outages, etc. I remember Hugo, though! 80 mph winds I could lean into like Buster Keaton!!

12th September 2018, 12:14 AM	#8
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,096	Good points. Bob and BV. True that there are all manner of odd fire axes and tools out there. Here's a weird fire crowbar from Japan, one exactly like a 'weapon' I helped identify on this forum ages ago...

12th September 2018, 01:45 PM	#9
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 330	Mark, Bob, BV and Jim, thanks for the comments - all good suggestions, which certainly move it away from the naval theory. At 30" it is probably slightly too short for a walking stick axe. Climbing axe another option with the rounded part forming a grip and being able to take a rope but this is discounted as Bob says - the blade is wrong for cutting ice steps or stopping a slide. Fire axe is always a possiblity but this is a light axe. While hatchets are light - the two handed larger fire axes are usually heavy beasts for battering down doors etc - although that does not rule it out. BV - that is an interesting thought, maybe it was designed to fit or operate something. Fire hydrant valve possibly. Or, in current weather situation, hammer it into the ground and tie a rope around the house to stop it blowing away. Back in my sea faring days I was on an old tanker which had not the most reliable of machinery - broke down in the middle of the night in a typhoon, blacked out no power. Interesting few hours and ones I would not care to repeat. So I'm with Jim - stay safe.

12th September 2018, 09:02 PM	#10
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,096	Wow, David! That sounds both exciting and extremely terrifying! I didn't realize you were an 'old salt'! So without trying to stray away from this interesting ax, where where you at (what ocean or sea) when that ship broke down?

13th September 2018, 01:41 PM	#11
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 330	It is a bit off topic, but: Big storms are not uncommon so every ocean going seafarer will have had their share of hurricanes and typhoons and normally ships avoid or stay as far away as possible and ride them out. A few days of uncomfortable heavy weather is usually the only consequence. Many decades ago I was a junior engineer on a tanker built in the 1950’s – a steam turbine ship (sorry Mark no sails!). It was a hard working ship but on a good run - round trips taking fuel oil from Singapore or Brunei up to various ports in Japan. Good run ashore at each end! We were slow steaming to stay behind a typhoon north of us and heading towards Japan. Unusually it turned back on itself and we became much deeper in than we expected. Wasn't a problem......until the main generator failed - no power, no steering - after a very scary time and a lot of sweary words we got everything running again.