Trade axe/tomahawk NE America 18th c.

M ELEY · 22nd September 2023, 07:57 AM

Wow, Jim! This is an incredible early round poll axe, as you so mentioned. I've seen so many variations of the stamp on these and most are, to my understanding, lost to time. Contrary to some sources, although these were indeed traded to Native Americans, they were also used by the fur traders themselves as well as scouts, soldiers, frontiersmen, etc. These types preceded the later hammer polls and pipe tomahawks. They were absolutely used as both a tool and a weapon. Looking upon the early axe forms, one sees a familiar pattern of starting out as weapon, then weapon-tool and eventually tool only into the latter periods. Perhaps there is someone out there that recognizes this petal stamp? I'm not at home, but I'll try to look at some of my sources when I can.

22nd September 2023, 07:57 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,087	Wow, Jim! This is an incredible early round poll axe, as you so mentioned. I've seen so many variations of the stamp on these and most are, to my understanding, lost to time. Contrary to some sources, although these were indeed traded to Native Americans, they were also used by the fur traders themselves as well as scouts, soldiers, frontiersmen, etc. These types preceded the later hammer polls and pipe tomahawks. They were absolutely used as both a tool and a weapon. Looking upon the early axe forms, one sees a familiar pattern of starting out as weapon, then weapon-tool and eventually tool only into the latter periods. Perhaps there is someone out there that recognizes this petal stamp? I'm not at home, but I'll try to look at some of my sources when I can.