Spike Tomahawks

mgolab · 13th July 2023, 01:27 PM

Thank you very much. I used lacquer thinner. Worked really well and exposed all the forge marks/patina. Not sure what that red/pink on the blade is, whether old paint or otherwise.

I'd appreciate any further comments on the tomahawks as to age. etc.

mgolab · 16th July 2023, 09:29 PM

Wanted to share final images of the tomahawk after removing all varnish from the handle and paint from the head. Handle appears to be white ash. Old nail notch cut in the head, for square head nails or chain pull, pre-1880.

David · 18th July 2023, 04:29 PM

On your first example (the painted one) i would deem that more a pick than a spike. I wonder if this might possibly be trench axe.The nail pullers and the long pick point to something that was more likely made to be a tool rather than a weapon.

mgolab · 18th July 2023, 05:06 PM

Thank you David.

Interesting, trench axe did not cross my mind. Given the geographic location where the piece was found, PA/NY border in Tioga County, I wonder if it is revolutionary war period.

The area where the axe was found served as a staging point for the infamous "Sullivan's Expedition" in 1779.

M ELEY · 19th July 2023, 12:54 AM

With many of these types, it is sometimes difficult to positively say whether or not a spike ax is a true tomahawk versus a pick ax/trench ax/fire ax. Likewise, boarding axes, which resemble tomahawks, are frequently faked and mis-identified as well. That being said, I think your two axes are the real deal, but this is just my view.

The smaller ax with the long spike appears to me to be early 19th century, of the pattern later used for roofing hatchets. I base the time factor on this single bearded/eared head shape. It is blacksmith-made (not trip hammered) with forging flaws, steel bit and the 4 sided spike again of that form dating to late 18th/early 19th. The squared notch is possibly a beaver trap chain pull as used by the fur traders. Smaller hatchets like this would have been popular not just with natives, but fur traders, frontiersmen, scouts, soldiers, etc. There is a chance the notch was also channel-cut later in the axe's working life...

The second axe looks to be right, but again, I'll hold off for others more experienced in this area than me. It looks authentic, but there are so many fakes these days-

mgolab · 19th July 2023, 07:44 PM

thank you very much for the information. I appreciate it.

MitsuWa. · 19th July 2023, 11:40 PM

That pink stuff you saw on the ax head was bondo, polyester autobody filler. The hardware store hammer handle that is mounted on it is not original.

13th July 2023, 01:27 PM	#1
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 64	Thank you very much. I used lacquer thinner. Worked really well and exposed all the forge marks/patina. Not sure what that red/pink on the blade is, whether old paint or otherwise. I'd appreciate any further comments on the tomahawks as to age. etc. Attached Images

16th July 2023, 09:29 PM	#2
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 64	Wanted to share final images of the tomahawk after removing all varnish from the handle and paint from the head. Handle appears to be white ash. Old nail notch cut in the head, for square head nails or chain pull, pre-1880. Attached Images

19th July 2023, 12:54 AM	#5
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,156	With many of these types, it is sometimes difficult to positively say whether or not a spike ax is a true tomahawk versus a pick ax/trench ax/fire ax. Likewise, boarding axes, which resemble tomahawks, are frequently faked and mis-identified as well. That being said, I think your two axes are the real deal, but this is just my view. The smaller ax with the long spike appears to me to be early 19th century, of the pattern later used for roofing hatchets. I base the time factor on this single bearded/eared head shape. It is blacksmith-made (not trip hammered) with forging flaws, steel bit and the 4 sided spike again of that form dating to late 18th/early 19th. The squared notch is possibly a beaver trap chain pull as used by the fur traders. Smaller hatchets like this would have been popular not just with natives, but fur traders, frontiersmen, scouts, soldiers, etc. There is a chance the notch was also channel-cut later in the axe's working life... The second axe looks to be right, but again, I'll hold off for others more experienced in this area than me. It looks authentic, but there are so many fakes these days- Last edited by M ELEY; 19th July 2023 at 03:45 AM.

18th July 2023, 04:29 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	On your first example (the painted one) i would deem that more a pick than a spike. I wonder if this might possibly be trench axe.The nail pullers and the long pick point to something that was more likely made to be a tool rather than a weapon.

18th July 2023, 05:06 PM	#4
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 64	Thank you David. Interesting, trench axe did not cross my mind. Given the geographic location where the piece was found, PA/NY border in Tioga County, I wonder if it is revolutionary war period. The area where the axe was found served as a staging point for the infamous "Sullivan's Expedition" in 1779.

19th July 2023, 07:44 PM	#6
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 64	thank you very much for the information. I appreciate it.

19th July 2023, 11:40 PM	#7
MitsuWa. Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 22	That pink stuff you saw on the ax head was bondo, polyester autobody filler. The hardware store hammer handle that is mounted on it is not original.