Damaged Boarding Axe?

mgolab · 15th June 2025, 01:06 PM

Thanks Mark. I think that analysis makes a lot of sense.

What is throwing me off are the langets. Could this piece be a re-purposed British/American Colonial blacksmith made boarding axe that fell into Native American trade? I know that we have seen examples of early boarding axes where the spike was removed and repurposed as a belt axe.

I suspect the spike was much longer at one stage and in its current state, the head is already 6 inches.

Anyway just a thought.

CutlassCollector · 15th June 2025, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgolab

What is throwing me off are the langets. Could this piece be a re-purposed British/American Colonial blacksmith made boarding axe that fell into Native American trade?

Mark G,
I agree, langets do seem to confuse the issue and perhaps a modified boarding axe for private purchase may be a possibility. Integral side langets much harder and time consuming for a local blacksmith to make.

mgolab · 15th June 2025, 01:56 PM

Thank you CC for the further comments.

Just to add, the haft is very old (my best guess would be late 18th Century) and seems to have a "blackening" to it.

Also, I could never support this statement with valid facts and supporting evidence, but this axe was found in the Delaware River Valley, where there was significant naval action on both sides in 1777 (the Delaware River Valley Campaign of 1777).

M ELEY · 16th June 2025, 05:20 AM

I'm beginning to think that you and CC are corret and this could be a 'private purchase' boarding axe repurposed later in it's life. It stiil appears someone took it to a grinding wheel or sanded it!

The langets do seem to match some of the examples I've seen. Good catch, Mark!

mgolab · 16th June 2025, 02:34 PM

Thanks Mark.

Terrible that someone would sand it down.

I am hopeful that the "shield mark" will provide some further clues here. Or perhaps that mark is too far gone to shed any further evidence. I do feel that the shield mark is some sort of inspection or proof mark? and not just a maker's mark. I know that Maryland Committee of Safety muskets bore a tulip inspection mark. Perhaps something along those lines....or a City mark?

If anyone has further thoughts on the shield mark, I would really appreciate to hear insight.

mgolab · 16th June 2025, 05:03 PM

Also, upon further examination, there may appear to be a letter "L" within the shield mark?

16th June 2025, 05:03 PM	#6
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 95	Also, upon further examination, there may appear to be a letter "L" within the shield mark? Attached Images Last edited by mgolab; 16th June 2025 at 05:09 PM. Reason: better picture

15th June 2025, 01:06 PM	#1
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 95	Thanks Mark. I think that analysis makes a lot of sense. What is throwing me off are the langets. Could this piece be a re-purposed British/American Colonial blacksmith made boarding axe that fell into Native American trade? I know that we have seen examples of early boarding axes where the spike was removed and repurposed as a belt axe. I suspect the spike was much longer at one stage and in its current state, the head is already 6 inches. Anyway just a thought.

15th June 2025, 01:56 PM	#3
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 95	Thank you CC for the further comments. Just to add, the haft is very old (my best guess would be late 18th Century) and seems to have a "blackening" to it. Also, I could never support this statement with valid facts and supporting evidence, but this axe was found in the Delaware River Valley, where there was significant naval action on both sides in 1777 (the Delaware River Valley Campaign of 1777).

16th June 2025, 05:20 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,184	I'm beginning to think that you and CC are corret and this could be a 'private purchase' boarding axe repurposed later in it's life. It stiil appears someone took it to a grinding wheel or sanded it! The langets do seem to match some of the examples I've seen. Good catch, Mark!

16th June 2025, 02:34 PM	#5
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 95	Thanks Mark. Terrible that someone would sand it down. I am hopeful that the "shield mark" will provide some further clues here. Or perhaps that mark is too far gone to shed any further evidence. I do feel that the shield mark is some sort of inspection or proof mark? and not just a maker's mark. I know that Maryland Committee of Safety muskets bore a tulip inspection mark. Perhaps something along those lines....or a City mark? If anyone has further thoughts on the shield mark, I would really appreciate to hear insight.