STRANGE AXE HEAD

[M ELEY]

Fearn has a good point. Many of these older tools were re-shaped over time to be used for a specific purpose. If you note the thickness of the spike end versus the edged end, it may be that this might have been a spike hammer at one time, but flattened into said shape to act as another type of tool. As a collector of spike axes, I had an axe at one time with similar head with thickened spike and thinner down-turned blade that was some sort of rock hammer, but had been reshaped into a ginseng axe for digging up roots. I agree with American or European, with the shape resembling many of the Underhill tool patterns of early-mid 19th century. Haven't seen this exact shape, so this is just my opinion. Hartsler & Knowles "American Indian Tomahawks and Frontiersmen's Trade Axes" is an excellent resource, with some of the tool-type spike axes in the back reference.

[broadaxe]

I must ask for exact measures & weight, + photos of the cross section.
Stubby spike and very short, steep edge may suggest this is a stone dressing/mining/quaring tool.

[Jim McDougall]

any thoughts on the markings?

[broadaxe]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

any thoughts on the markings?

The mark is generic. I see those both on north american tomahawks and middle eastern axes

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by broadaxe

The mark is generic. I see those both on north american tomahawks and middle eastern axes

Well noted. These generic and universal type symbols are known in thier simplicity to often be most likely convergant. However, the placement of them in this particular location on the head corresponds to the many examples of colonial and frontier America I have seen.

Certainly markings exist on many forms of many cultures, but these in this position seem strategically placed, even if not specifically identifiable.

All the best,
Jim