Those illustrated above capture the idea, but not the actuality.
The one I saw had no elegance, nor any attempt to beautify. It was of a piece with the boarding pikes: one-piece, with the socket sides extended on either side of the haft, riveted onto the shaft. I don't think that it was forged as one piece, but there was no attempt to created a joint between the various protrusions. It was obviously a tool, rather than a parade piece, and was produced, as were the pikes, by blacksmiths whose mandate was to crank out functional weaponry on a budget. Of course, forge time=money.
As mentioned, they were recorded into inventory in 1797, but were presumably made earlier. The "US" stamping would provide a lower date, but I'm not knowledgeable enough to know when that marking was first used.
The presenter indicated that there would be more forthcoming: boarding axes and cutlasses will be discussed in future. I'll provide photos going forward.
|