Need assistance on small axe/hatchet/hammer blacksmith tool?

[hbeaton]

Picked this up recently and wish to know a bit more about it. Any old tool/blacksmith/hand forged aficionados out there feel free to chime in.

Overall Length 10 x 4.5 (head) x 1 (width of hammer base).

Seemingly hand forged iron. My own searching possibly puts this as a blacksmith's tool, a hatchet/hammer combo. This one though is pretty thick when compared to other examples. The other thing i'm wondering is age? Possibly late 18th century? I understand that an item like this may be hard to pin down a date range simply because the technology and technique for making these didnt change so much from year to year.

Any help is appreciated.

Best,
Hunter

 

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[BosnMate]

Looks to me like a blacksmith hot chisel. Used to cut red hot iron -- the smith held it where he wanted the metal cut, and the striker hit it with a hammer.

Chisel, Hot : 0011.10.1

 

[hbeaton]

BosnMate I think ya got it.

I posted this same query on a few tool forums as well and got similar answers. My item would have been part of a "hot set" chisel tool used by blacksmiths. To differentiate, when working with cold metal, the chisel would be shorter and thicker and with hot metal, the chisel would be longer and thinner.

Furthermore, the fact the chisel then had a wooden handle (hafting) attached makes it a "set" rather than just a chisel. The different color toning on the chisel side about 3/4 inch inch up helps validate what this item was used for over the years.

Very cool item indeed.