Strange Hammer.. Can you help I.D. ?

[brctom1]

This is an old find from MD'ing on my cousins property.
I have never seen one before, and can't seem to find anything like it on the net.
It is approximately 14 inches in length.
Sorry the picture isn't better, it is hanging on his garage wall, and I can't take a better pic right now.
Any help identifying will be greatly appreciated.

Tom

 

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[Mackaydon]

Welcome to Treasure Net !!
Here's one current use:
http://www.combatsportsupply.com/survivalhatchettool.aspx
This tool design was first developed by the British shipping industry to close and open wooden tea crates.
Don........

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I have a very similar antique tool packed away. I was told by an old roofer that it was used to repair slate roofs but I cant verify that. Mine was made in Germany. I used it as modern day "survival" combination tool.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The modern version is called a survival tool. A quick search reveals that many links call it a crate tool but I have to wonder because of what the old roofer said and I have an old book that shows antique crate tools and I dont see it. Just saying.

The book seems to depict pulling crate nails with a puller like these. My book has many makes and sizes as well as box scrapers.

View attachment 607068

The closest I found is bottom right.

 

[daroofa]

It's not like a any slate hammer I've seen/used. They have a point for making holes in the slate instead of a hatchet.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Maybe Ive mistaken it for another type of roof. Im sure he said roof lol. He was an old union roofer from NY.

Read the first reply to this modern cheap version. http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/28/part-hatchet-part-hammer-all-destruction/

"My grandfather had one of these hanging on a wall. Lee Valley can call it whatever it wants, but Pa’s was very old school and he called it a shingler’s hammer/hatchet. He indicated it would be used for old school cedar shingles."

Just want to make sure we got it right because a tool may be called one thing one time period, then something else later such as "survivol tool."

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I may have make a trip to my warehouse. I have a similar tool made in Germany. I researched it a while back. Mine is late 1800's- early 1900 I think. If I could only remember the manufacturers name I could google it and it will come up.

BTW I need a better pic brctom. Maybe yours is modern. Is the handle hollow?

 

[GpSnoopy]

These seem to have different names depending on seller or use. Crating or box hatchet, tomahawk tool, survival tool.

Bridgeport Crating Hatchet (image #434)


Tomahawk Tool from 1953 Bridgeport catalogue


Bridgeport #121 crating hatchet

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Im trying to get the original use but maybe the roofer(s) is(are) mistaken or my memory is going. Obviously at some time period it was used for crates.

Green check crate tool/survival tool

 

[Mackaydon]

BCH,
At your request: http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2011/03/17/garrett-wade-box-hatchet/
Don.....

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

BCH,
At your request: http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2011/03/17/garrett-wade-box-hatchet/
Don.....

Thanks. I had just removed the question because its been proven to be used as a crate tool. Boy they sure make a lot of cheap modern versions and they could claim whatever they want. They also mention its effectiveness against the Hurons. If I ever find my antique German made tool of better quality, Ill post it.

 

[brctom1]

WOW, Thanks for all the input on this !
Like I said, it was found on my cousins property quite a few years ago, and is hanging on the wall of his garage.
I will see if I can get out there tomorrow and get a much better picture of it, and maybe see if there is any Mfg. markings on it and will post what I find.
I will also use a tape measure for dimensions.
I didn't think the fuzzy pic. I have here now would be sufficient, but wanted to try.

A little background:
His property is the location of a railroad bed that was abandoned. I believe he said they tried to build the RR bed back in the late 1800's or early 1900's.
I believe that they were going to dig a large gravel pit just south of his place, and ship the gravel out by rail.

Also, his place is in direct line of the "Palm Sunday Tornado's" that ravaged our county back on April 11, 1965.
The tornadoes left a path of destruction 80 + miles long.

So, it could have been left/ lost by those building the RR, or blown in by the storms in 1965....?

I will try to get those updated pic's on here tomorrow. javascript:void(0);

Thanks again for the replies Mackaydon, bigcypresshunter, GpSnoopy & daroofa !

Tom

 

[chrisplay2004]

I think the ID is correct.
The only missing info is maybe date and an exact match of how it isi made.
I noticed that I might have a wooden handle and the fact that the nail puller and handle part looks like it fits trhough head.
Here is a resized photo...

 

[brctom1]

I think the ID is correct.
The only missing info is maybe date and an exact match of how it isi made.
I noticed that I might have a wooden handle and the fact that the nail puller and handle part looks like it fits trhough head.
Here is a resized photo...

Yes, that is correct.
The handle with nail puller does fit thru the head of it, and it does have 2 pieces of wood on the handle.
The tang is full length.

 

[GpSnoopy]

I found one tool online, looks similar, that also appears like it may have a detachable head. But the description didn't help me find any more examples for confirmation.

 

[j.n.]

I have always heard them called either a roofing hatchet or a roofing hammer depending on what part of the us you hail from.

j.n.

 

[Bum Luck]

I can't imagine anyone roofing with that, not even shake shingles. #435 in the above picture is a roofing hatchet.

I've seen these used by farmers for fencing tools, since they can pull staples and hammer new ones in, but I preferred a fencing pliers, much better for the job.

I think that this tool wasn't that popular, because it really wasn't that good for any job.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I dont think the tool was that popular either. It has been proven to be sold as a crating tool in the 1950's by Bridgeport and sold today as a survival tool. At some point it may have been used for roofing but I cant verify this. I dont see it listed in my late TOC tool book under box/crate tools but I do own a fine example made in late 1890's Germany.

Whether is was invented to open wooden tea crates by the British shipping industry and used to fight the Huron Indians has not been proven IMO but it may be true.

If I could just find my example and google the German tool manufacturers name we can read all about it. The OPs example however is a bit different than mine and may have been lost in the 1965 tornado because the wood would be rotten I think if it was lost at the TOC. But it still may be old.

Hopefully it can be cleaned up and we can get the manufacturers name. All good quality tools made during the Industrial Revolution should be marked.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I found one tool online, looks similar, that also appears like it may have a detachable head. But the description didn't help me find any more examples for confirmation.

Wrigleys Nips

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Another thought since crates were reused in the 1800's-early 1900's, I dont think they would be using a hatchet. I also own an interesting box scraper to scrape off the labels proving reuse was common. Maybe its not the proper tool for crating in the early days and thats why its not depicted in my TOC tool book.

There is no doubt it was sold for busting open crates in the mid 20th century although its not the best nail puller or pry bar. Its an all around combination toll that could have many uses but probably wasnt good for any specific job like Bum Luck stated. I used it for building tree stands in the woods and I found it to be a poor nail puller..