Colonial-era spike axe/tomahawk

M ELEY · 9th August 2005, 05:39 AM

Picked up this nice item for a steal. I got it because it looked similar to many of the boarding axes from the early 19th century. Turns out this spike axe dates to late 18th/early 19th century and could have been carried by anyone from a soldier, trapper, frontiersman or Native American (contrary to popular belief, American Indians traded and used axes such as these just as much or more than the classic tomahawk). These early axes were weapons as well as tools and not treated as respectibly as other bladed weapons. They were badly treated and many don't survive. The blade on this one has an old rivet repair. The notch in the head might be a trap chain pull apparently used to set early fur traps. I think these items make an interesting 'ethnographic' touch to a collection, as no two are completely alike.

9th August 2005, 05:39 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,159	Picked up this nice item for a steal. I got it because it looked similar to many of the boarding axes from the early 19th century. Turns out this spike axe dates to late 18th/early 19th century and could have been carried by anyone from a soldier, trapper, frontiersman or Native American (contrary to popular belief, American Indians traded and used axes such as these just as much or more than the classic tomahawk). These early axes were weapons as well as tools and not treated as respectibly as other bladed weapons. They were badly treated and many don't survive. The blade on this one has an old rivet repair. The notch in the head might be a trap chain pull apparently used to set early fur traps. I think these items make an interesting 'ethnographic' touch to a collection, as no two are completely alike.