The 1859 British Boarding Axe

[adrian]

The stamp that you have with a question mark in your first image is a crown over B over 1. This represents a Birmingham based viewer, and his number was 1. Half the crow is missing and often such stamps are incomplete from either being slightly mis-struck or from the stamp itself being damaged.

[CutlassCollector]

Originally Posted by adrian

The stamp that you have with a question mark in your first image is a crown over B over 1. This represents a Birmingham based viewer, and his number was 1. Half the crow is missing and often such stamps are incomplete from either being slightly mis-struck or from the stamp itself being damaged.

Yes, a crown. Thanks Adrian.

[M ELEY]

Awesome information CC and I too am surprised to learn of a boarding piece being influenced by a fire implement and not the other way around (as it is in most circumstances). These mid-century boarding axes were definitely made for deck clearing. Is this one of the axes from your own collection?

[CutlassCollector]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Awesome information CC and I too am surprised to learn of a boarding piece being influenced by a fire implement and not the other way around (as it is in most circumstances). These mid-century boarding axes were definitely made for deck clearing. Is this one of the axes from your own collection?

Hi Mark,
The top axe is from my picture archive, so not mine. There are only two known that were made by Chas Thomas. Richard Thomas axes were a little more common but almost all these model 1859 boarding axes were made by Gilpin with dates ranging from 1861 to 1898. Only these three makers carry British government or Navy marks.

A slightly different shaped axe was manufactured for private purchase or other navys by:
John Yates and Co.
Adams Small Arms Company (famous for revolvers)
Apsam Co. Based in London WC

Here are two of mine. The top is a Richard Thomas 1897 and the lower one is a Gilpin 1861.

[M ELEY]

Truly amazing pieces in your collection! This is also great information and thank you for posting it. I'm archiving it now to my files!

[Richard G]

Is it possible the boarding axe and fire axe the the same thing? The difference being if bought by a navy it is a boarding axe, if bought by a fire brigade it is a fire axe, and possibly if bought by an army it becomes a sapper's axe etc.
Best wishes
Richard

[CutlassCollector]

Originally Posted by Richard G

Is it possible the boarding axe and fire axe the the same thing? The difference being if bought by a navy it is a boarding axe, if bought by a fire brigade it is a fire axe, and possibly if bought by an army it becomes a sapper's axe etc.
Best wishes
Richard

Yes, of course, they are closely related. From the early days of sail, ships needed axes in combat (or storm damage) primarily for cutting rope, clearing debris, dragging fallen rigging over the side and were often used as weapons.

Fire brigades started to appear, in the UK anyway, around the start of the 19th century not long before the rise of steam ships. Fire axes are used for breaking doors down, smashing windows, clearing debris and opening up holes in the roof to let smoke out.

The blade of a boarding axe is thin and primarily designed to cut rope. Fire axes evolved to have heavier blades more for smashing rather than cutting. Sapper axes are generally much heavier and larger and often have a hammer poll rather than a spike. These were used for making or destroying fortifications on a battle field.

So, yes in some ways they are interchangeable. It is amazing just how many variations and types of axe there are!