Unidentified Boarding Axe - possibly French

M ELEY · 4th January 2017, 03:20 AM

Fascinating piece, CC! I can't say I've seen anything like that before. The piece looks so 'minty' I have trouble believing that its of the 19th century. Love the haft with its patterning. As you pointed out, the langets are not in the typical French positioning (front to back with the blade/spike). The hook could have been used as a gaff, I suppose. The form looks to me more like the trench axes of the early 20th-

If it is a boarding piece, I agree with you that it most have been an unproduced prototype.
Mark

CutlassCollector · 4th January 2017, 02:12 PM

Hi Mark,

Yes I think a prototype is the most likely explanantion especially when you consider the second example. The spike hook is gone, the langets have reverted to front and rear, and although the axe is of very similar shape it is slightly smaller and lighter. The belt hook is intact on this one.

Although the museum records do not hold much information - there is no reason to suppose they are wrong. This one is also recorded as being in the possession of the French Navy during the 19th century.

My best guess is that these are prototypes made for the navy to sit alongside the 1872 Cutlass and never made it into production. The cutlass itself was never issued and only a few were made. By then there was even less use for boarding axes than cutlasses.

CC

M ELEY · 5th January 2017, 12:38 AM

Excellent information and documentation on these for what you have. I am now convinced you are right and they are a beautiful pair. it is interesting to see where the boarding ax patterns were "heading" in the late 19th c., towards the standard fire ax patterns and infantry side axes of the 20th. These should be added to the boarding ax page!

4th January 2017, 02:12 PM	#2
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 346	Hi Mark, Yes I think a prototype is the most likely explanantion especially when you consider the second example. The spike hook is gone, the langets have reverted to front and rear, and although the axe is of very similar shape it is slightly smaller and lighter. The belt hook is intact on this one. Although the museum records do not hold much information - there is no reason to suppose they are wrong. This one is also recorded as being in the possession of the French Navy during the 19th century. My best guess is that these are prototypes made for the navy to sit alongside the 1872 Cutlass and never made it into production. The cutlass itself was never issued and only a few were made. By then there was even less use for boarding axes than cutlasses. CC Attached Images

4th January 2017, 03:20 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,146	Fascinating piece, CC! I can't say I've seen anything like that before. The piece looks so 'minty' I have trouble believing that its of the 19th century. Love the haft with its patterning. As you pointed out, the langets are not in the typical French positioning (front to back with the blade/spike). The hook could have been used as a gaff, I suppose. The form looks to me more like the trench axes of the early 20th- If it is a boarding piece, I agree with you that it most have been an unproduced prototype. Mark

5th January 2017, 12:38 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,146	Excellent information and documentation on these for what you have. I am now convinced you are right and they are a beautiful pair. it is interesting to see where the boarding ax patterns were "heading" in the late 19th c., towards the standard fire ax patterns and infantry side axes of the 20th. These should be added to the boarding ax page!