1700s belt axe or hatchet

[lenmac65]

I dug this axe head about a week ago by a pre-1850 cellar hole and posted it on the “what is it” forum. I got some good feedback that confirms my thinking that this is possibly a 1700s belt axe or hatchet/tomahawk. It is about six inches long, has no back edge poll to speak of, and appears to have a seam, perhaps formed when the iron was folded over in the forging process. I also see a small vertical indentation, which I think might be the remains of a blacksmith maker’s mark, similar to the one in the non-dug photo of a 1700s trade axe. The axe shape looks very similar to this Kentucky Style axe I found posted online, which also claims to be 1700s. I have not dug many other items to help date it, though I did find (and post) a 1700s coin spill about 100 feet from this hole back in January (two Fugios, 1754 2-reale, and a 1797 LC). I am pretty excited about this axe, and will hang it in my shed with some other axes, horseshoes, and locks. If anyone on this forum has any thoughts about the age or axe type, I’d love to hear them. Thanks and happy hunting.

 

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[lenmac65]

Very good find and a great candidate for conservation. I might add to others advice on electrolysis......make sure that your positive alligator clip(annode) be completely out of the electrolyte solution so as not to be compromised. Soaking the axe in distilled water for several weeks after will also add to the longevity of the restoration....but that part takes much patientce and waiting.

Thanks for the tips. I am going to try keeping both clips out of the water if possible.

 

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[callmez]

Thanks for the tips. I am going to try keeping both clips out of the water if possible.

I have coated with paraffin and candle wax before and those are good methods. If you get the piece hot, with a torch or maybe an oven would work, you can just rub a candle on an object and it will melt into it.

Specialized products are good too, in certain circumstances, but for something like this with deep rust I think wax is a good bet. Even car wax would be an option, I think.

Good luck! Share photos when you're done!

 

[lenmac65]

I have coated with paraffin and candle wax before and those are good methods. If you get the piece hot, with a torch or maybe an oven would work, you can just rub a candle on an object and it will melt into it.

Specialized products are good too, in certain circumstances, but for something like this with deep rust I think wax is a good bet. Even car wax would be an option, I think.

Good luck! Share photos when you're done!

Thanks for the feedback and tips. I am leaning towards the wax as a sealer. I constructed a simple electrolysis tank, and am just waiting for the charger I ordered. I hope to work on this project in the next couple weeks and post an update. My cleaning and restoration skills are pretty weak, but I have gotten some good advice here, so hopefully it goes well. Thanks again!

 

[Lucho Delbosque]

I dug this axe head about a week ago by a pre-1850 cellar hole and posted it on the “what is it” forum. I got some good feedback that confirms my thinking that this is possibly a 1700s belt axe or hatchet/tomahawk. It is about six inches long, has no back edge poll to speak of, and appears to have a seam, perhaps formed when the iron was folded over in the forging process. I also see a small vertical indentation, which I think might be the remains of a blacksmith maker’s mark, similar to the one in the non-dug photo of a 1700s trade axe. The axe shape looks very similar to this Kentucky Style axe I found posted online, which also claims to be 1700s. I have not dug many other items to help date it, though I did find (and post) a 1700s coin spill about 100 feet from this hole back in January (two Fugios, 1754 2-reale, and a 1797 LC). I am pretty excited about this axe, and will hang it in my shed with some other axes, horseshoes, and locks. If anyone on this forum has any thoughts about the age or axe type, I’d love to hear them. Thanks and happy hunting.View attachment 2058791View attachment 2058792View attachment 2058793View attachment 2058794View attachment 2058795View attachment 2058796

You might find this interesting - I have the same axe, but in slightly better condition. It might let you see what your axe would look like, with some restoration.

 

[Almy]

Beautiful axe head, LD, and nicely restored. That looks like a British royal arrow in the closeup.

 

[lenmac65]

You might find this interesting - I have the same axe, but in slightly better condition. It might let you see what your axe would look like, with some restoration.

Thanks for the post. That is a very nice axe you have. I soaked mine in vinegar to remove much of the rust. I still need to do an electrolysis to take the remaining rust off and seal it. I don’t plan on using a grinder or doing any sanding, as I kind of like the rough look. I have it displayed on a shelf over my desk now. Here is a more recent photo of my axe.

 

[cannonball]

I dug this axe head about a week ago by a pre-1850 cellar hole and posted it on the “what is it” forum. I got some good feedback that confirms my thinking that this is possibly a 1700s belt axe or hatchet/tomahawk. It is about six inches long, has no back edge poll to speak of, and appears to have a seam, perhaps formed when the iron was folded over in the forging process. I also see a small vertical indentation, which I think might be the remains of a blacksmith maker’s mark, similar to the one in the non-dug photo of a 1700s trade axe. The axe shape looks very similar to this Kentucky Style axe I found posted online, which also claims to be 1700s. I have not dug many other items to help date it, though I did find (and post) a 1700s coin spill about 100 feet from this hole back in January (two Fugios, 1754 2-reale, and a 1797 LC). I am pretty excited about this axe, and will hang it in my shed with some other axes, horseshoes, and locks. If anyone on this forum has any thoughts about the age or axe type, I’d love to hear them. Thanks and happy hunting.View attachment 2058791View attachment 2058792View attachment 2058793View attachment 2058794View attachment 2058795View attachment 2058796

Nice find! I've found a half dozen or so. One has a broad arrow. I conserved them all. You don't want to have them flake apart on you.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

Old post FYI.

Hard to really comprehend a 1700’s “coin spill” in the US considering how little coinage was present prior to the 1850’s I could completely anticipate 100 year old coins in circulation in the 1840’s and those being hidden.

Very nice axe though.

 

[lenmac65]

Old post FYI.

Hard to really comprehend a 1700’s “coin spill” in the US considering how little coinage was present prior to the 1850’s I could completely anticipate 100 year old coins in circulation in the 1840’s and those being hidden.

Very nice axe though.

Thanks for the comments. Time sure does fly. Here is the link to my 1700s spill if your interested, assuming my link works: https://www.treasurenet.com/threads/1700s-coin-spill-fugios-2-reale-and-draped-bust.666145/

 

[metalman2024]

Thanks! I would like to try electrolysis, but I don’t have a set up. Plus, I would probably gas or shock myself 😁. Might look into any way, or soak in white vinegar, which I think some have had success with. It would be nice to clean it up a bit, for sure.

I've tried citric acid, it works, just don't leave it in too long, it removes rust well.

 

[metalman2024]

Thanks for the feedback and tips. I am leaning towards the wax as a sealer. I constructed a simple electrolysis tank, and am just waiting for the charger I ordered. I hope to work on this project in the next couple weeks and post an update. My cleaning and restoration skills are pretty weak, but I have gotten some good advice here, so hopefully it goes well. Thanks again!

Howard Wax-It-All is very good and has a pleasant smell, no perfume. A third of the cost of Briwax.

 

[Lucho Delbosque]

Beautiful axe head, LD, and nicely restored. That looks like a British royal arrow in the closeup.

Good eye. It is a British broad arrow mark, and above it is a "C", likely for "Canada", which would put the time of the axe after 1867.