Requesting information on trade axe

CutlassCollector · 2nd February 2020, 12:36 PM

Hi Rick
Your axe has many similar features to boarding axes and even without langets I thought it a possibility so I'm glad Mark has identified it. I have been looking into US boarding axes recently and it has led me to the link with tomahawks.

Existing in the same time period and sharing a lot of features spike tomahawks have much in common with boarding axes, not least the name which is also used for naval axes.
Some think that the boarding axe was copied from the spike tomahawk and others the reverse. In any event boarding axe heads have occasionally been found in Indian graves.

Can you post the measurements of the axe? Is that a metal pin going down into the eye, at one end, to assist in holding the head in place?

Regards.
CC

M ELEY · 3rd February 2020, 04:41 AM

Excellent points, CC. I also forgot to ask the dimensions of the piece. Although it seems strange, some of these trade pieces could even reach the "presentation" quality range, with brass inlays, decorative elements to the haft, etc, when offered for trade.

RSWORD · 3rd February 2020, 02:07 PM

The axe measures 22 5/8" from bottom to tip. The axehead is 11 1/2" across from spike to crescent. The crescent is 4" wide. There is not a metal pin at the eye. The wood has some chips which give this appearance.

Thanks again for all the information.

2nd February 2020, 12:36 PM	#1
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 368	Hi Rick Your axe has many similar features to boarding axes and even without langets I thought it a possibility so I'm glad Mark has identified it. I have been looking into US boarding axes recently and it has led me to the link with tomahawks. Existing in the same time period and sharing a lot of features spike tomahawks have much in common with boarding axes, not least the name which is also used for naval axes. Some think that the boarding axe was copied from the spike tomahawk and others the reverse. In any event boarding axe heads have occasionally been found in Indian graves. Can you post the measurements of the axe? Is that a metal pin going down into the eye, at one end, to assist in holding the head in place? Regards. CC

3rd February 2020, 04:41 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,196	Excellent points, CC. I also forgot to ask the dimensions of the piece. Although it seems strange, some of these trade pieces could even reach the "presentation" quality range, with brass inlays, decorative elements to the haft, etc, when offered for trade.

3rd February 2020, 02:07 PM	#3
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,089	The axe measures 22 5/8" from bottom to tip. The axehead is 11 1/2" across from spike to crescent. The crescent is 4" wide. There is not a metal pin at the eye. The wood has some chips which give this appearance. Thanks again for all the information.