Some great axes Mark, especially the spike one.
I like the explanation for the square slot although I don't know what a beaver trap looks like!
I have always been sceptical about the nail pulling slots, except for roofing axes. I get it for these with the triangular slot where you would likely find the nail head exposed when replacing a shingle or broken tile.
But I can't imagine many embedded nails being pulled with an axe slot alone in other situations.
Which brings me to the US Civil War naval axe. I have always thought it unlikely that the slots were for nails and OK we can suggest that it retains a link with the earlier US boarding axes, as Wayne's nice pic of a Type III, but was the US navy really that sentimental!
So it would be really interesting to know what the two slots were for?
Regards,
CC
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