Maker's Mark?

mgolab · 30th June 2025, 02:35 PM

looks like it is evenly beveled. hand forged, but evenly as possible.

Jim McDougall · 30th June 2025, 03:25 PM

It does seem that some early Spanish spike axes had that disc type head center early in 18th, but as always so much variation. They had shorter and downturned spikes.

The beveled feature at spike stem reminded me of some horsemans axes of S. Germany late 16th into 17th. which went in line with the overall finished and decorative character of weapons in these times.

As always, weapons tend to have as range in size, often aligned with physical characteristics and circumstances. I had thought with this example with the blade more in character with poll type axes and woodsman axes this would be large for spike axe, but that thinking seems incorrect.

Sorry to not be more help with the mark, but most of these seem to have been unrecorded, or with records long since gone.

mgolab · 30th June 2025, 04:13 PM

Thanks again Jim.

Not sure why, but my gut is telling me that the "L" and cross of lorraine is some sort of armorer mark.

mgolab · 30th June 2025, 05:20 PM

could that be a "caravaca cross"?

CutlassCollector · 30th June 2025, 08:21 PM

I'm not exactly sure why but I do have some doubts about this axe. As we know from Mark Miller's website - fake tomahawks are widespread and lucrative.

The blade shape is very close to a shingling hatchet, complete with nail notch and the hammer poll could have been reformed into a spike?
I don't know how to tell if the nail slot has been added later - what makes you sure it was?

30th June 2025, 08:21 PM	#5
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 369	I'm not exactly sure why but I do have some doubts about this axe. As we know from Mark Miller's website - fake tomahawks are widespread and lucrative. The blade shape is very close to a shingling hatchet, complete with nail notch and the hammer poll could have been reformed into a spike? I don't know how to tell if the nail slot has been added later - what makes you sure it was? Attached Images

30th June 2025, 02:35 PM	#1
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 118	looks like it is evenly beveled. hand forged, but evenly as possible.

30th June 2025, 03:25 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,627	It does seem that some early Spanish spike axes had that disc type head center early in 18th, but as always so much variation. They had shorter and downturned spikes. The beveled feature at spike stem reminded me of some horsemans axes of S. Germany late 16th into 17th. which went in line with the overall finished and decorative character of weapons in these times. As always, weapons tend to have as range in size, often aligned with physical characteristics and circumstances. I had thought with this example with the blade more in character with poll type axes and woodsman axes this would be large for spike axe, but that thinking seems incorrect. Sorry to not be more help with the mark, but most of these seem to have been unrecorded, or with records long since gone.

30th June 2025, 04:13 PM	#3
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 118	Thanks again Jim. Not sure why, but my gut is telling me that the "L" and cross of lorraine is some sort of armorer mark.

30th June 2025, 05:20 PM	#4
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 118	could that be a "caravaca cross"?