Revolutionary Fascine Knife

Billman · 26th September 2011, 05:25 PM

Axes of the same pattern as Naval Boarding axes, with a spike at one end are very similar to the certain patterns of tomahawk traded to the Indian tribes of North America and Canada by English and French settlers and fur traders. I have a Quebecois friend who discoverd one in an archaelogical dig earlier this year, and is probably 17th possibly 18th century.

In doing some research for him I found an almost identical one was still being made by Leborgne of France in the 1920's.... as a fireman's axe (hache de pompier) and was also being made up to the end of the 20th century (and although not listed in their current catalogue, they would still make it upon request to a minimum order quantity....)....

See No 428

Put one of these in the ground for a few years.....

Dmitry · 26th September 2011, 08:49 PM

I'd like to see those billhook photos, or a link to the ended auction.

Who is the dealer that's selling fire axes as boarding axes?

Thanks!

David · 28th September 2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmitry

Who is the dealer that's selling fire axes as boarding axes?

Just to head this one off at the pass gentlemen, please keep accusations such as these to private messaging if you are going to name names....Thank you.

M ELEY · 30th September 2011, 04:09 AM

The predecessor to the boarding axe was indeed the trade spiked tomahawk axes of the early fur trade. Gilkerson mentions this, as does Hartzler's volume on frontier axes. I've even seen a true N. American Type III boarding axe that had old Native American brass tacks and wire branding that was the real deal (meaning, it started out life as a naval piece, but somewhere along the lines, got traded out as a tomahawk).

Sorry, David. I was not trying to create a stir, nor was I going to openly name that source here-

broadaxe · 30th September 2011, 03:52 PM

To set things clear, boarding axes were carried to sea way before the "discovering" of America. Check this rather famous manuscript from the 13th century, on the right.

Dmitry · 30th September 2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadaxe

To set things clear, boarding axes were carried to sea way before the "discovering" of America. Check this rather famous manuscript from the 13th century, on the right.

A great image! Thanks for posting it. What is the source?
It appears that a fellow on the left is shooting an arrow with a grenade on the business end, and his friend is slinging one.

M ELEY · 1st October 2011, 08:57 AM

I must say I am surprised at the early date of this display depicting a classic boarding axe! Had I not seen it, I would have supposed the boarding axes you spoke of from earlier periods would have lacked the spike and been more of the "battle axe" type. Awesome documentation piece as well. This once again makes me question whether some of the earlier "tomahawks" with longer butted hafts might have served in a naval capacity.

26th September 2011, 05:25 PM	#1
Billman Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 129	Axes of the same pattern as Naval Boarding axes, with a spike at one end are very similar to the certain patterns of tomahawk traded to the Indian tribes of North America and Canada by English and French settlers and fur traders. I have a Quebecois friend who discoverd one in an archaelogical dig earlier this year, and is probably 17th possibly 18th century. In doing some research for him I found an almost identical one was still being made by Leborgne of France in the 1920's.... as a fireman's axe (hache de pompier) and was also being made up to the end of the 20th century (and although not listed in their current catalogue, they would still make it upon request to a minimum order quantity....).... See No 428 Put one of these in the ground for a few years..... Attached Images Last edited by Billman; 26th September 2011 at 05:38 PM.

30th September 2011, 03:52 PM	#5
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 334	To set things clear, boarding axes were carried to sea way before the "discovering" of America. Check this rather famous manuscript from the 13th century, on the right. Attached Images

26th September 2011, 08:49 PM	#2
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	I'd like to see those billhook photos, or a link to the ended auction. Who is the dealer that's selling fire axes as boarding axes? Thanks!

30th September 2011, 04:09 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,204	The predecessor to the boarding axe was indeed the trade spiked tomahawk axes of the early fur trade. Gilkerson mentions this, as does Hartzler's volume on frontier axes. I've even seen a true N. American Type III boarding axe that had old Native American brass tacks and wire branding that was the real deal (meaning, it started out life as a naval piece, but somewhere along the lines, got traded out as a tomahawk). Sorry, David. I was not trying to create a stir, nor was I going to openly name that source here-

1st October 2011, 08:57 AM	#7
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,204	I must say I am surprised at the early date of this display depicting a classic boarding axe! Had I not seen it, I would have supposed the boarding axes you spoke of from earlier periods would have lacked the spike and been more of the "battle axe" type. Awesome documentation piece as well. This once again makes me question whether some of the earlier "tomahawks" with longer butted hafts might have served in a naval capacity.