Hi Norman
,
thanks for the input. They do look very similar, if it is a fireman's axe the spike must have been removed very early in its life as the surface 'patina' is fairly uniform over the 'heads' entire surface.
I would estimate that the latest date for the axe.....judging by the oxidation, is likely mid / late 19th C. Will investigate to see if fire axes all have spikes....perhaps this is a less common variant or early version.
The head fitted to a longer handle would certainly make a fine saddle axe
Kind Regards David