old ax: genuine or copy?

[gioberto70]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and I'm writing from Italy. I found an old ax and would like some information. It is similar to a late Gothic ax already published here years ago. The handle has an engraving that looks very old, I assume the owner's name. Does anyone have any more information? Is it authentic or a more recent copy? Thank you



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[cel7]

It sure is old. The handle could have been renewed, hard to say but that is to be expected with axes of this age. The "crack" to the right of the marks is not a break but an indication of how it was forged. That part is folded over and forged together . A technique that you often see with old forged axes.

[gioberto70]

Thanks for the reply. The handle fits perfectly into the iron part, the writing (as you can see from the first letter, a T) seems to be gothic. On the other side of the handle there is another writing, longer but indecipherable, because it is worn. The old age of the handle seems evident to me
I simply cleaned the neck very well because it was very dirty, but I didn't do any treatment to the wood. Should I put an impregnator?