According to Gilkerson (p.38), earlier axes often marked with the Crowns broad arrow but "..seldom anything else". The second arrow (point to point) indicating sale or out of service is also noted. Rack numbers were in the handles.
Their is no mention of other markings except a rare instance of an axe with provenance to Trafalgar (1805) being marked with makers name, Sargant.
In latter 19th century some dates, names occur.
My guess would be, after reading about the volume of these 'tools' produced and the complacency toward them as rather insignificant implements (the reason so very few survive) that the BO/arrow was quite likely stamped in this manner. It seems about this period (1830s through Crimea), just about everything was stamped with the BO.
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