Boarding weapons from the Trafalgar era

Jim McDougall · 4th June 2025, 07:20 PM

Hardly a long read to me

(Tolstoy here!)
Excellent research and I think most plausible deductions, and I think there is a great deal of misunderstanding about actual swordsmiths and cutlers. Then factor in toolmakers and blacksmiths, as well as notable outsourcing

These partnerships also play an important part in trying to use the name(s) on a weapon to establish its date/period. I would guess that a weapon with only the SARGENT (sic) stamp would be from the earlier 19th c period, and that the numbers of examples with the 'I' initial were from the years later 1820s+

Again this is an amazing example, and very much appreciate your sharing all these in this grouping!!

M ELEY · 5th June 2025, 11:16 AM

I can never get over how boarding axes, particularly the British pattern, so closely resembles the spike trade axes (i.e. tomahawks) that were being made for the Native Americans at around the same time period. I know we're talked about this before and even Gilkerson supported the theory that they definitely are 'related'. Yours is an amazing example and I do hope to add one to my own collection someday!

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4th June 2025, 07:20 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,848	Hardly a long read to me (Tolstoy here!) Excellent research and I think most plausible deductions, and I think there is a great deal of misunderstanding about actual swordsmiths and cutlers. Then factor in toolmakers and blacksmiths, as well as notable outsourcing These partnerships also play an important part in trying to use the name(s) on a weapon to establish its date/period. I would guess that a weapon with only the SARGENT (sic) stamp would be from the earlier 19th c period, and that the numbers of examples with the 'I' initial were from the years later 1820s+ Again this is an amazing example, and very much appreciate your sharing all these in this grouping!!

5th June 2025, 11:16 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,227	I can never get over how boarding axes, particularly the British pattern, so closely resembles the spike trade axes (i.e. tomahawks) that were being made for the Native Americans at around the same time period. I know we're talked about this before and even Gilkerson supported the theory that they definitely are 'related'. Yours is an amazing example and I do hope to add one to my own collection someday!