Trying to identify this old small hatchet

[coibeans]

Was wondering if anyone has any ideas as far as the age and use of this very small hatchet.

Measurements are:

9" handle
4" long head
head is 1.75" tall at the butt
It weighs 17 ounces

No markings anywhere on handle or head.

Found in an old abandoned cabin.

Thanks in advance for your time!!!

Ryan

 

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[Megalodon]

Beautiful old hand-forged hatchet. Would have made a nice hatchet for kindling.

 

[coibeans]

Thanks Megalodon.

 

[releventchair]

A prize recovery! Congrats.

It hints of a Kentucky belt, or Fort Meigs axe . But not quite.

Size reference is hard to tell from pictures , but "Bag" axes were once carried on some shooting bags.
Other small ones could be used for trapping.

A blacksmith could make pretty much whatever a customer wanted.
Your piece looks hand forged.

 

[coibeans]

Excellent. Very interesting to me. Thanks you for your insight!

Ryan

 

[Hawks88]

Hi Ryan. That’s a real nice find. Congrats and welcome to tnet from Niagara Falls.

 

[Joe-Dirt]

Nice, my guess would be mid 19th century to the early 20th. Someone will post the axe head display board thing, which is quite useful. Nice save

 

[vpnavy]

1st - I noticed this was your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard Ryan! You didn't list your state (or country) in your profile. So, you might consider jumping over to Sub-Forum: Select Your Area.... for information (i.e., clubs, hunts, finds, legends, maps, etc.) directly related to your state (or country).

2nd - I pulled these from other TN threads...

United States Department of Agriculture

A Practical Ax Manual Brief History of the Ax. Here are a few pictures - a bunch more on the website


Axe Head (Mar 18, 2010)



Hammer (Better Pics) (Feb 20, 2008)

​

 

[Joe-Dirt]

There it is, toldja!! Thanks VPNavy!!

 

[coibeans]

Thank you VPNavy! That is neat reference tool. So I'm in NC, which is interesting when I look at the chart. I'' definitely check out the regional posts for my location. You guys have a very nice group going on here. Very organized.

Thanks again eveyone!

Ryan

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

The Virginia and the North Carolina examples look very similar don't they?
Looks like it's seen a lot of wear, wish the ones we find in the ground looked as nice as that example.

Instead the examples we find look like this...
Dave

 

[coibeans]

It was in really good condition. I worked on it for a good bit. I'll see if I can find a before picture. What blew my mind is how solid that handle was on it. It was in a completely dry and protected cabinet in the old cabin, but still. Yeah, I noticed on the chart how many of the southeastern states to look a lot alike.

 

[cellerfeller]

What a great find - reminds me of pre 1800 trapper's belt or bag hatchet or Indian trade hatchet. Take a look at the info at Trade Axe & Tomahawk Collector's Association website for some very good photos and information about the development of the belt axe TRADE, BELT BOARDING AND BAG AXES