Hammer Poll?

M ELEY · 28th July 2023, 06:01 AM

Definitely hand forged, perhaps late 18th/early 19th? Based on the size and 'bulkiness', it's more of a tool than a weapon. I know the discussion always leads to the trend of 'weapon vs tool', but that was because in those days, either/or was based on what you were carrying then you were being attacked!!! It's just like belay pins on a ship. The naysayers will point out that these are not weapons, ever! They are tools/support pins for the ship.

Yet...in many many boarding attacks, these pins became excellent club weapons in a pinch. The importance in the distinction should really fall more on 'is my ax one that was carried by a rifleman on the plains, native American, fur trapper in the wilderness, etc or was it made by Sears/Roebuck and supplied to some plumb little shopkeeper in Abilene! Some axes were weapons only, some both weapon and tool and some just tools, but your tool ax, with it's heavy weighted hammer end (which aided in counter-balance and gave strength to a swing) could be lethal either way. If only these items could tell us their tales!

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28th July 2023, 06:01 AM	#5
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Definitely hand forged, perhaps late 18th/early 19th? Based on the size and 'bulkiness', it's more of a tool than a weapon. I know the discussion always leads to the trend of 'weapon vs tool', but that was because in those days, either/or was based on what you were carrying then you were being attacked!!! It's just like belay pins on a ship. The naysayers will point out that these are not weapons, ever! They are tools/support pins for the ship. Yet...in many many boarding attacks, these pins became excellent club weapons in a pinch. The importance in the distinction should really fall more on 'is my ax one that was carried by a rifleman on the plains, native American, fur trapper in the wilderness, etc or was it made by Sears/Roebuck and supplied to some plumb little shopkeeper in Abilene! Some axes were weapons only, some both weapon and tool and some just tools, but your tool ax, with it's heavy weighted hammer end (which aided in counter-balance and gave strength to a swing) could be lethal either way. If only these items could tell us their tales!