✅ SOLVED An Adze In The Woods - Antique or Modern?

[Wildcat1750]

When I came across this adze only the handle was exposed, so I thought it was a stake. Any thoughts on the age of it would be very much appreciated! It feels very well balanced in my hands.

 

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[whistler84]

That is very nice. U should give it a good vinegar bath!

 

[docweiser]

Question is, how did it get there?

 

[ticndig]

I'd say the head is old but the handle isn't . the handle also lacks the craftsmanship of an older tool.
I'd say it was left there by a relic hunter using it as a digger.

 

[Wildcat1750]

That is very nice. U should give it a good vinegar bath!

Thanks,whistler84! I do plan to clean it up to see if anything is stamped on it.

Question is, how did it get there?

Good Question, docweiser! It was about 20 feet in from a stone wall, next to an abandoned highway in the woods.

I'd say the head is old but the handle isn't . the handle also lacks the craftsmanship of an older tool.
I'd say it was left there by a relic hunter using it as a digger.

I agree about the handle, ticndig. Those can be replaced many times in the life of a tool. The digger theory might be true since there are no house foundations around.

 

[knighthunter]

I'd say the head is modern also. I used one many times when I worked on the railroad. We used them when shimming on wooden ties.

 

[firemanphob]

Someone could have lost it while digging roots to sell.

 

[Johnbrian]

YOU FOUND MY DIGGING TOOL!!!!!!! I've been looking everywhere for that thing! Been doing lots of toking on the magic plant lately so I don't know where I'm at most of the time otherwise I would have found it straightaway! Thank you Thank you!!!






No, not really. I'm just kind of bored so I thought I'd write the above!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Isn't it amazing what others leave behind for us to find in the Northeastern woods.
Dave

“An adze is a cutting tool similar to an axe but with the cutting-edge perpendicular to the handle rather than parallel. They have been used since the stone age. Adzes are used for smoothing or carving wood in hand woodworking. Two basic forms of an adze are the hand adze—a short handled tool swung with one hand—and the foot adze—a long handled tool capable of powerful swings using both hands, the cutting edge usually striking at foot or shin level. A similar, but blunt, tool used for digging in hard ground is called a mattock.”

 

[Rookster]

Nice find.

 

[Wildcat1750]

Someone could have lost it while digging roots to sell.

Maybe I should be searching for those roots too, firemanphob!

YOU FOUND MY DIGGING TOOL!!!!!!! I've been looking everywhere for that thing! Been doing lots of toking on the magic plant lately so I don't know where I'm at most of the time otherwise I would have found it straightaway! Thank you Thank you!!!








No, not really. I'm just kind of bored so I thought I'd write the above!

Think of all the good targets one would miss doing that, johnbrian! I'd be happy to follow along with my pinpointer.

Isn't it amazing what others leave behind for us to find in the Northeastern woods.
Dave

“An adze is a cutting tool similar to an axe but with the cutting-edge perpendicular to the handle rather than parallel. They have been used since the stone age. Adzes are used for smoothing or carving wood in hand woodworking. Two basic forms of an adze are the hand adze—a short handled tool swung with one hand—and the foot adze—a long handled tool capable of powerful swings using both hands, the cutting edge usually striking at foot or shin level. A similar, but blunt, tool used for digging in hard ground is called a mattock.”

Great link, Dave. Thanks for sharing!

Nice find.

Thank you, rook3434! It was a bit heavy hauling around with me for the rest of the hunt...

 

[releventchair]

If lacking a spud , logs can be peeled with an adze. No , not what an adze was designed for.
Taking a strip of bark off one side can help dry a timber to to reduce cracks or rot.
Any pole sized decent timber near the recovery site?

 

[Wildcat1750]

If lacking a spud , logs can be peeled with an adze. No , not what an adze was designed for.
Taking a strip of bark off one side can help dry a timber to to reduce cracks or rot.
Any pole sized decent timber near the recovery site?

Interesting, releventchair. It's mostly second growth forest now with scattered stands of dead cedar trees. There are remnants of barbed wire fences along the stone walls with very old wooden posts showing up from time to time.

 

[releventchair]

Interesting, releventchair. It's mostly second growth forest now with scattered stands of dead cedar trees. There are remnants of barbed wire fences along the stone walls with very old wooden posts showing up from time to time.

I've used a spud , and draw knife to remove bark.
Not recommending such but used an adze to smooth areas with knots.

Traditionally , back when , An axe made cuts along an edge at intervals up to where timber face was to be.
Then a broad axe was used to remove those edges. Hew to the line. (Helps explain the curved handle , and single edge of a broad axe.)
Then an adze came into play to make a timbers edge more flat where surfaces were too far out of level.
The better the skill with the broad axe , the less adze work was needed. And for crude timbers , roughly hewn was good enough!
When we get to peek at old hewn timbers , some are only adzed on two sides.
Floor joists could be just one side and at bottom ends. Ect..

Old hand tools are great recoveries.
Often prized by previous owners at one time. And a sign of industrious folks.
Imagine a wife having the luxury of flat interior walls vs round logs as a sign of a family more than just surviving.

I've seen old timbers of a homes floor joists with the bark on still.
Besides bugs and potential premature rot, it hints of haste in construction.
But , not all folks had the luxury of tools or time or labor for cosmetics..
And not all were craftsmen either.

You hold a tool that cost real money back when.
And money for tools on a homestead was not always a given.

My Grandfather kept his broad axe under his front steps when not in use. (I have it in my possession today , as well as a story about it's work.)
Was it superstition that had him place it there?
Or humidity keeping the handle snug?

Not real sorry about my rambling.
I like old tool recoveries!

 

[Wildcat1750]

...Not real sorry about my rambling.
I like old tool recoveries!

No need at all to apologize for rambling anyway, releventchair - I love this stuff!... the background on how tools were used, the circumstances, the worth, the people, the story about your Grandfather, &c. BTW, now that the handle on the adze is drying out it's not so snug anymore...

 

[releventchair]

No need at all to apologize for rambling anyway, releventchair - I love this stuff!... the background on how tools were used, the circumstances, the worth, the people, the story about your Grandfather, &c. BTW, now that the handle on the adze is drying out it's not so snug anymore...

Heh , heh. A handle can/will do just that.
You can find solutions to tightening it , but it is moisture or a substitute. Or , wedging. But your relic is fine with a loose handle.

Looking at you pic for rough estimate of handle length ,it's a short handle. Maybe better than standing with a foot each side of a log or timber and swinging towards yourself....

I don't know what its last use was for.
With piece being worked elevated for ergonomics sake ,holding the handle near the tools head and the other hand on the heads poll ,or just below....Bark could be worked off with short raking strokes towards the user. Inner bark can be fussy sometimes.
Our modern society frowns on pulling cutting tools towards the user. Even standing alongside the work. L.o.l..

 

[Wildcat1750]

Our modern society frowns on pulling cutting tools towards the user. Even standing alongside the work. L.o.l..

That's how my brother stuck an axe in his leg when he was a kid!