An American Type I boarding axe? Or not!

CutlassCollector · 14th February 2024, 11:18 AM

I agree with you Mark and you were right to stay away. I did see it come up for auction and concluded that it was best avoided.

A few years a go there was a spate of fakes complete with the VIM US markings but were easy to spot. This one is slightly different from those, so I did think twice that it may be period. I had some discussion with fellow naval collectors in the US and they concurred.

The Type I was only produced for a very limited number of years so there are very few survivors and all are marked to government ownership. So far there is no evidence that these axes were ever produced for private purchase. Why pay for complex work when a simple spike axe would do the job?

It is a passable shape for a Type 1 but with many differences as Jim points out and it is small across the head only 8 3/4 inches while the Type 1 is generally between 10" and 12". The spike looks as though it has been ground into a round shape.

I agree the pitting, especially on the rear of the eye, looks wrong and is not normal corrosion - perhaps those deep pits are more to do with acid than salt water
There is no top down view of the head which often gives a clue as to whether it was hand forged.

It is always hard to be absolutely sure from photographs alone, but I think you were absolutely right to avoid.

There are only around 10 extant examples of this axe and it is sought after. If it had been considered genuine and with the correct markings by collectors and the US museums I would have expected the price to be over ten thousand dollars!

M ELEY · 14th February 2024, 03:11 PM

Thank you so much Jim and CC for coming in on this one! Great to hear from you both!

I'm glad I stayed clear, as I wasn't a player with all of the questionables involved. Both you and Jim make it clear to me that if there were private purchase axes from this period, they certainly wouldn't have taken the time to come up with such a complicated pattern. Too bad, though, that only a few of these amazing types are still in existence and what an incredible thing to think about stumbling over someday (I think we all have that fantasy of walking into a consignment shop or naval yard and seeing one of these hidden in a barrel or somesuch. But not today!) The chap who bought it spent almost a grand!

CutlassCollector · 14th February 2024, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M ELEY

......what an incredible thing to think about stumbling over someday (I think we all have that fantasy of walking into a consignment shop or naval yard and seeing one of these hidden in a barrel or somesuch. But not today!) The chap who bought it spent almost a grand!

Ouch! And yes Mark, I have that dream too!
I believe there is only one Type 1 in the UK and I got to handle it a few years back when Sim Comfort kindly let me view his collection.

regards, CC

M ELEY · 14th February 2024, 08:15 PM

That's inredible that you got to see and peruse Mr. Comfort's personal collection, David! His pieces have been featured (of course) in everything from Gilkeron's works and in his own monumental volume 'Naval Swords', of which I hope to some day obtain a copy.

CutlassCollector · 14th February 2024, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M ELEY

That's inredible that you got to see and peruse Mr. Comfort's personal collection, David! His pieces have been featured (of course) in everything from Gilkeron's works and in his own monumental volume 'Naval Swords', of which I hope to some day obtain a copy.

Yes, one of the great collectors and happy to share his knowledge. He had a huge collection and one afternoon with him was not nearly enough! I concentrated on the naval axes and cutlasses but I barely scratched the surface.

14th February 2024, 11:18 AM	#1
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 322	I agree with you Mark and you were right to stay away. I did see it come up for auction and concluded that it was best avoided. A few years a go there was a spate of fakes complete with the VIM US markings but were easy to spot. This one is slightly different from those, so I did think twice that it may be period. I had some discussion with fellow naval collectors in the US and they concurred. The Type I was only produced for a very limited number of years so there are very few survivors and all are marked to government ownership. So far there is no evidence that these axes were ever produced for private purchase. Why pay for complex work when a simple spike axe would do the job? It is a passable shape for a Type 1 but with many differences as Jim points out and it is small across the head only 8 3/4 inches while the Type 1 is generally between 10" and 12". The spike looks as though it has been ground into a round shape. I agree the pitting, especially on the rear of the eye, looks wrong and is not normal corrosion - perhaps those deep pits are more to do with acid than salt water There is no top down view of the head which often gives a clue as to whether it was hand forged. It is always hard to be absolutely sure from photographs alone, but I think you were absolutely right to avoid. There are only around 10 extant examples of this axe and it is sought after. If it had been considered genuine and with the correct markings by collectors and the US museums I would have expected the price to be over ten thousand dollars! Last edited by CutlassCollector; 14th February 2024 at 11:24 AM. Reason: spelling

14th February 2024, 03:11 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,076	Thank you so much Jim and CC for coming in on this one! Great to hear from you both! I'm glad I stayed clear, as I wasn't a player with all of the questionables involved. Both you and Jim make it clear to me that if there were private purchase axes from this period, they certainly wouldn't have taken the time to come up with such a complicated pattern. Too bad, though, that only a few of these amazing types are still in existence and what an incredible thing to think about stumbling over someday (I think we all have that fantasy of walking into a consignment shop or naval yard and seeing one of these hidden in a barrel or somesuch. But not today!) The chap who bought it spent almost a grand!

14th February 2024, 08:15 PM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,076	That's inredible that you got to see and peruse Mr. Comfort's personal collection, David! His pieces have been featured (of course) in everything from Gilkeron's works and in his own monumental volume 'Naval Swords', of which I hope to some day obtain a copy.