Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk? (Need to ID a Mark)

[romeo-1]

This was found this morning at an old site I've been working. Found very close to where I found a large trade axe a couple weeks ago. The blade style strikes me as being a small trade axe but I've never seen this particular style. It is small enough to be a crude iron tomahawk...and there was a lot of trading with the natives in this area.

Any ideas?

See below for new picture showing mark.

 

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[Iron Patch]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

Could be a broken Spike axe but your's sure would have a small blade by comparison. (and if broken it's a pretty clean break, so feeling that's not it, but was the only possibilty in my book) Maybe a little later version? My feelings are starting to turn bad it's more recent, and nothing too interesting, but we'll see.

 

[Iron Patch]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

.

 

[romeo-1]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

I see that there was such a thing as a hammer poll tomahawk...similar to this modern replica...

 

[Iron Patch]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

I see that there was such a thing as a hammer poll tomahawk...similar to this modern replica...

I think we should go with the assumption it's broken on both ends (if thinking early) and focus on the middle and socket type. (if that's the right term) And isn't that squared type more modern? Will have look look.

 

[romeo-1]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

I see that there was such a thing as a hammer poll tomahawk...similar to this modern replica...

I think we should go with the assumption it's broken on both ends (if thinking early) and focus on the middle and socket type. (if that's the right term) And isn't that squared type more modern? Will have look look.

The eye is actually tear drop shaped...hard to tell from the photo due to the corrosion.

I'm going to clean it up a bit more and see if I can tell if the iron was folded...

 

[Hill Billy]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

Cool iron find romeo!

 

[Tnmountains]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

Pretty good link for trade axe's.

http://furtradetomahawks.tripod.com/index.html

 

[romeo-1]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

Pretty good link for trade axe's.

http://furtradetomahawks.tripod.com/index.html

Thanks, been there but nothing quite matches exactly. I spent the better part of two hours removing the scale rust and I am now pretty sure that it is 18th century at least.

 

[Monty]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

Looks a lot like a roofing hammer except I don't see the nail pulling ears. I think it is too thick to be a tomahawk. Monty

 

[romeo-1]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

Looks a lot like a roofing hammer except I don't see the nail pulling ears. I think it is too thick to be a tomahawk. Monty

That's the first thing I thought when I first found it but I've found many roofing hatchets and this appears to be much older. It also differs stylistically.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

If you think there may be a possibility that it is marked, I suggest soaking it in the compound called EvapoRust. It is more costly to do this than electrolysis but the compound is non-toxic, has no harmful fumes, is biodegradable, and combines Only with iron oxide. It will not remove any of the iron underneath (unlike electrolysis, which typically gives uneven cleaning results and usually removes some base metal).


Regards,


Buckles

 

[Lucas]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

Not fur trade. And some books on fur trade artifacts make me laugh more than the Sunday comics.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

Was the head corrugated or is it smooth?

 

[romeo-1]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

Was the head corrugated or is it smooth?

It's smooth but heavily pitted and scarred from corrosion. I've got it in the zinc and lye now so I should have a better pic soon.

 

[romeo-1]

Re: Small Trade Axe? Tomahawk?

The plot thickens...Buckleboy's hunch was correct, it is marked. I can't make out the mark so I'll just post a picture and see if anyone recognizes...

 

[Lucas]

http://indiantradecollectors.freeforums.org/

Your axe is not fur trade but the guy who runs the forum is a axe ID guru. Knows the marks pretty good.

 

[romeo-1]

http://indiantradecollectors.freeforums.org/

Your axe is not fur trade but the guy who runs the forum is a axe ID guru. Knows the marks pretty good.

Thanks...done!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Romeo,

I am about to make a post on Evaporust as an alternative to electrolysis. I'll post it in the Cleaning and Preservation forum within the hour.

Cheers,


Buckles

 

[Roger Mn.]

I think it's a roofers hatchet. Sharpened many times.

http://www.google.com/images?q=roof...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CC4QsAQwAA