Strange Axe

[shanegalang]

Can someone put a date on this and/ or tell me anything about it? It is really old and possibly given to the early settlers in Louisiana by the Spanish government. There was also evidence of a civil war camp site where it was found. Looks to small for a tool to me, more like a weapon. Thanks for any help. Shane

 

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[romeo-1]

Very interesting...the ears and flared bit say trade axe but I've never seen anything with a ball before. Based on the smaller size it does look more like a weapon than tool.

When you say early settlers' do you mean the Acadians or earlier?

 

[Iron Patch]

Maybe a Shipwright's Mast Axe? Your axe looks like it served as both an axe and a chisel.

http://www.mjdtools.com/tools/list_0047/121868.htm

 

[creskol]

can you post a photo from the top and bottom please?

 

[BosnMate]

can you post a photo from the top and bottom please?

And the hole for the handle.

 

[BuckleBoy]

It looks a bit like a "rifleman's axe" to me (18th c.). The hole for the handle is long and narrow (I have seen this axe in person while diggin with Shanegalang today).


Romeo, the French were in the area c.1690s on. The Acadians came in two waves, c.1750 and 1780s, and were armed by the Spanish with tools and guns.



-Buckles

 

[BuckleBoy]

Maybe a Shipwright's Mast Axe? Your axe looks like it served as both an axe and a chisel.

http://www.mjdtools.com/tools/list_0047/121868.htm

The end is a ball, not really round, but not flat either (so likely wasn't used as a hammer). Post a photo of the ball end, as well as the underbelly where the shaft went into the axe head, Shane. Clean some of the dirt out of the hole so we can see the size and shape.

-Buck

 

[Iron Patch]

Forget my last post... I'll go with a version of a hammer poll axe.

http://www.meadwildlife.org/index.php/our-green-building/mead-area-history/fur-traders/

 

[Iron Patch]

Another variation.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Forget my last post... I'll go with a version of a hammer poll axe.

http://www.meadwildlife.org/index.php/our-green-building/mead-area-history/fur-traders/

18th c. then?

 

[Iron Patch]

Forget my last post... I'll go with a version of a hammer poll axe.

http://www.meadwildlife.org/index.php/our-green-building/mead-area-history/fur-traders/

18th c. then?

You know to be honest my gut tells me it's post colonial... mostly because it reminds me of one of these.

I'm just throwing answers out there.... kinda just getting some brain storming going on the thread.

 

[shanegalang]

Okay, a few more pictures. Whats also interesting to me is the part where the handle goes into the head is just a hallowed out space. It doesn't go all the way thru like the modern ones I have seen.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Okay, a few more pictures. Whats also interesting to me is the part where the handle goes into the head is just a hallowed out space. It doesn't go all the way thru like the modern ones I have seen.

Shane, are you sure it isn't just rusted up on top?

 

[Iron Patch]

Okay, a few more pictures. Whats also interesting to me is the part where the handle goes into the head is just a hallowed out space. It doesn't go all the way thru like the modern ones I have seen.

Shane, are you sure it isn't just rusted up on top?

I'd say the handle broke off and rusted over.

 

[shanegalang]

On closer examination, it appears it could have rusted the top shut. It does appear that there was a smaller hole on top. I will bring it tomorrow and you can get better pictures and see what I'm talking about. Sorry for the blurry pictures, I took them in a bit of a rush and had trouble focusing while holding the item.

 

[BuckleBoy]

No problem, Shane. I was just poking fun at the blurry photos. Macro setting on the camera and a little more light or a lighter background will solve that problem.

-Buck

 

[kuger]

Boy,you got me!I was thinking Poll hatchet....and my gut tells me it is early 19 th cent.

We dig a lot of mid 19th cen. hatches and ax's....a lot!I cant say I have dug one like that

here are a few I had handy,of the types we dig(1850's-1860's)

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Another variation.

It looks like the hammer end was used so much it mushroomed out on the picture you posted. I see a crack in it. I wonder could that be what happened to shanegalag's hatchet?

 

[kuger]

Dumb ?,but there isnt a hole in the "knob",is there?

If it doesnt appear to have been used as a hammer,I wonder if it wasnt a pipe 'Hawk,blank?

 

[Iron Patch]

Dumb ?,but there isnt a hole in the "knob",is there?

If it doesnt appear to have been used as a hammer,I wonder if it wasnt a pipe 'Hawk,blank?

Nope, looks nothing like them. I just flipped through a bunch after going through axes.