This spike ax has the original full haft, a rarity these days. It is of the eared form, single bearded blade with steel bit edge chewed to pieces over time! The eye is long oval and this one very close to the period of Rogers. You will note the lug repair, as breakage near the eye for these types was common. Blacksmith repairs to these was not uncommon and in Neumann (Swords and Blades of the American Revolution), there is one in a group with a similar repair.
One will note the rather squarish slot on this one. I believe this to be a beaver trap chain pull, very common on fur trade axes (why else would a non-hammer ax have such a channel? Can't hammer a nail with a spike!). Beaver traps were set in icy waters and it probably got old reaching down into murky water to check the traps (not to mention the little bugger might bite 'cha if she wearn't dead!)
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