Bag/Belt Axe or Old Roofing Tool?

[AHite]

Originally Posted by David

Seems more a tool than a weapon.

Hatchets and their predecessors tomahawks are vicious weapons. The infamous Lizzy Borden supposedly used a hatchet to murder her parents. But yes, this is a tool not made with the intent to be a weapon.

[M ELEY]

Now on this one, I will pause and say in my opinion, this seems like the real deal. Again, there will always be different opinions on these because by their very nature, they are controversial. Hammer pole axes preceded the traditional tool axe, so the only thing that defines one as a weapon and one as as tool are very subtle differences and the time period they were used. Likewise, remember that the pole axe was meant BOTH as a tool and a weapon. The hammer end acted as a counter balance to give a more massive blow, but it could equally be used to chop wood, skin game or hammer in a tent peg. This one appears old, is obviously hand-made and is of an earlier double bearded form. If we accept this as a true hammer pole and not a tool hammer axe, its dimensions indicate that it is indeed a so-called 'bag axe', a more diminutive form compared to a rifleman's belt axe. This is just my opinion, so you can take it for what its worth-