Navall boarding axe on eBay

M ELEY · 16th March 2009, 02:36 AM

Hello,
This one just ended on eBay recently. Don't know how to post thread, but here is the number- 370166340567
I have one very similar that came out of the U.K as well. I have every reason to think these types are legit, unlike amy of the WWI Brit troopers axes, ship axes and later Brit fire axes out there, but I'm just not sure of the period. Gilkerson's guide speaks about so-called 'private purchase' sea swords, but doesn't mention boarding axes, only covering the issued naval axes of the period. I personally think these types are private purchase axes for merchant/privateer ships, possibly either French, British or AMerican. One intriguing axe/musket combination weapon I saw from India recently led me to believe that it could also be from there. Mine, like this example, had pins through the haft and appears to be hand-forged (mine has roughly the same patina as this example). I'm guessing early-mid 19th century. Anyone else have opinions/comments? Thanks,
Mark

katana · 16th March 2009, 08:17 PM

Hi Mark,

Link
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...0%3D%26fvi%3D1

Regards David

M ELEY · 17th March 2009, 09:35 AM

Thanks so much, David!

broadaxe · 17th March 2009, 11:48 PM

Being an axe collector I have a different opinion. First of all, plenty of axes on ebay are being misrepresented as "boarding" for the sake of better selling and higher final bids (same story with "executioner axe").
To my eye, this axe looks more industrial than hand forged. The shape is not so early, I would say turn of the 20th century - note the thickness of the head, the straight blunt pick and the lack of flaring or a beard. However, there are several minor characters that set this axe away from modern fire axe - the black paint on the haft looks pretty original (typical naval); the small slots at the bottom of the head; the stylized langets. I would say this is an "intermediate axe", in between the true old, sailing age boarding axe to the rather modern personal fire axe.
Private purchase boarding axes did exist but this subject is yet to be studied.

M ELEY · 18th March 2009, 02:48 PM

Hello Michael and thanks for posting,
Ouch! Well, I do see your points when it comes to this axe. I know there have been a flood of axes resembling boarding axes lately that fit the general characteristics, but end up being fire or factory axes. This piece we are discussing does resemble mine closely, but with mine in hand, there are differences. My axe's blade does flare more, does appear to be a well-made forged piece and the spike, although straight, comes to a deadly point. It's haft isn't painted black, but has an old red staining. As previously stated, its piened to the haft, no screws. I think that it could be the real deal (mid-late 19th c.), but in the so called (and definately unstudied/un-researched) private purchase axes.
My axe's blade is more flared, like the French hach de bord, which as I recall, also had thicker heads such as this. Believe me, I DON"T want to hear I paid a high price for a modern fire axe, so I hear what you're saying, as painful as it is. I'm still out to lunch on this one, but hope to do more research and perhaps find some more info over time.

In the mean-time, I do wish someone out there would write/research about so called 'private purchase" sea swords and axes. This area is ripe for the picking and I'd love more info on this "shady area" of maritime collecting (Gilkerson has one page with 4 swords dedicated to this area. Love his book, but wish he had more). Thanks!

M ELEY · 8th April 2009, 07:59 AM

http://webprojects.prm.ox.ac.uk/arms...ms/1884.21.57/

Opinions on this one? Referred to as boarding axe with apparently some provenance? I'm assuming again a "private purchase" maritiem piece. One must remember that merchantmen and privateers far dwarfed the naval vessels of the time, so...?

16th March 2009, 02:36 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,082	Navall boarding axe on eBay Hello, This one just ended on eBay recently. Don't know how to post thread, but here is the number- 370166340567 I have one very similar that came out of the U.K as well. I have every reason to think these types are legit, unlike amy of the WWI Brit troopers axes, ship axes and later Brit fire axes out there, but I'm just not sure of the period. Gilkerson's guide speaks about so-called 'private purchase' sea swords, but doesn't mention boarding axes, only covering the issued naval axes of the period. I personally think these types are private purchase axes for merchant/privateer ships, possibly either French, British or AMerican. One intriguing axe/musket combination weapon I saw from India recently led me to believe that it could also be from there. Mine, like this example, had pins through the haft and appears to be hand-forged (mine has roughly the same patina as this example). I'm guessing early-mid 19th century. Anyone else have opinions/comments? Thanks, Mark

18th March 2009, 02:48 PM	#5
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,082	Hello Michael and thanks for posting, Ouch! Well, I do see your points when it comes to this axe. I know there have been a flood of axes resembling boarding axes lately that fit the general characteristics, but end up being fire or factory axes. This piece we are discussing does resemble mine closely, but with mine in hand, there are differences. My axe's blade does flare more, does appear to be a well-made forged piece and the spike, although straight, comes to a deadly point. It's haft isn't painted black, but has an old red staining. As previously stated, its piened to the haft, no screws. I think that it could be the real deal (mid-late 19th c.), but in the so called (and definately unstudied/un-researched) private purchase axes. My axe's blade is more flared, like the French hach de bord, which as I recall, also had thicker heads such as this. Believe me, I DON"T want to hear I paid a high price for a modern fire axe, so I hear what you're saying, as painful as it is. I'm still out to lunch on this one, but hope to do more research and perhaps find some more info over time. In the mean-time, I do wish someone out there would write/research about so called 'private purchase" sea swords and axes. This area is ripe for the picking and I'd love more info on this "shady area" of maritime collecting (Gilkerson has one page with 4 swords dedicated to this area. Love his book, but wish he had more). Thanks! Last edited by M ELEY; 19th March 2009 at 03:22 AM.

16th March 2009, 08:17 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Mark, Link http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...0%3D%26fvi%3D1 Regards David

17th March 2009, 09:35 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,082	Thanks so much, David!

17th March 2009, 11:48 PM	#4
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 332	Being an axe collector I have a different opinion. First of all, plenty of axes on ebay are being misrepresented as "boarding" for the sake of better selling and higher final bids (same story with "executioner axe"). To my eye, this axe looks more industrial than hand forged. The shape is not so early, I would say turn of the 20th century - note the thickness of the head, the straight blunt pick and the lack of flaring or a beard. However, there are several minor characters that set this axe away from modern fire axe - the black paint on the haft looks pretty original (typical naval); the small slots at the bottom of the head; the stylized langets. I would say this is an "intermediate axe", in between the true old, sailing age boarding axe to the rather modern personal fire axe. Private purchase boarding axes did exist but this subject is yet to be studied.

8th April 2009, 07:59 AM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,082	http://webprojects.prm.ox.ac.uk/arms...ms/1884.21.57/ Opinions on this one? Referred to as boarding axe with apparently some provenance? I'm assuming again a "private purchase" maritiem piece. One must remember that merchantmen and privateers far dwarfed the naval vessels of the time, so...?