US Surcharge Hatchet?

mgolab · 8th January 2025, 07:39 PM

I received this hatchet head for Christmas. Painted red at one point but hand forged. Very similar in size/weight to 36.A in Swords and Blades of the American Revolution and Figure 26 in Rifleman's Belt Axes.

Collar is stamped "A". Also a faint "US" mark?

M ELEY · 9th January 2025, 10:23 PM

Hello Mark and great to hear from a fellow axe collector! This does indeed appear to be a colonial era axe head very similar to the one listed in Hartzler's guide under the pole/camp axe section as you noted. This type pattern with the U.S. marking seems to last until the early Federalist period from what I gather. The red paint makes many think of fire axes, but it was common practice during this period to paint axes with the primary color paints at the time (baby blue, barn red, yellow, white) to act as a rust preventative. You found a nice old one there! I assume the eye is lozenge-shaped or squared?

mgolab · 9th January 2025, 10:39 PM

Hi Mark. Very good to hear from you and Happy New Year! Thank you for the feedback. Yes, the eye is lozenge shaped.

I am still trying to figure out the "A" stamping on the collar. Amory mark? Inspector mark? I recall reading somewhere that the "A" stamp indicated an acceptance mark into the arsenal. Not sure though..

M ELEY · 11th January 2025, 09:46 AM

Well, if you find a reference to arsenal acceptance marks, please list it here! I've often wondered about many of these mysterious stamps, initials, symbols, etc.

8th January 2025, 07:39 PM	#1
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 44	US Surcharge Hatchet? I received this hatchet head for Christmas. Painted red at one point but hand forged. Very similar in size/weight to 36.A in Swords and Blades of the American Revolution and Figure 26 in Rifleman's Belt Axes. Collar is stamped "A". Also a faint "US" mark? Attached Images

9th January 2025, 10:23 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,112	Hello Mark and great to hear from a fellow axe collector! This does indeed appear to be a colonial era axe head very similar to the one listed in Hartzler's guide under the pole/camp axe section as you noted. This type pattern with the U.S. marking seems to last until the early Federalist period from what I gather. The red paint makes many think of fire axes, but it was common practice during this period to paint axes with the primary color paints at the time (baby blue, barn red, yellow, white) to act as a rust preventative. You found a nice old one there! I assume the eye is lozenge-shaped or squared?

9th January 2025, 10:39 PM	#3
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 44	Hi Mark. Very good to hear from you and Happy New Year! Thank you for the feedback. Yes, the eye is lozenge shaped. I am still trying to figure out the "A" stamping on the collar. Amory mark? Inspector mark? I recall reading somewhere that the "A" stamp indicated an acceptance mark into the arsenal. Not sure though..

11th January 2025, 09:46 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,112	Well, if you find a reference to arsenal acceptance marks, please list it here! I've often wondered about many of these mysterious stamps, initials, symbols, etc.