UPDATE: Clean Pics!!! Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

[Brendan M.]

Hello, TNet Friends!

As my bud Chris (a.k.a. Mr. Magoo) mentioned in his post (http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,438158.0.html) we hit the North Country woods on Tuesday, racing to get in a couple more hunts before the big freeze. It rained on and off all day, but we persevered, covered in mud and bugs, but thankfully both of us came home with goodies to show for it.

We hunted a remote, tick-infested slope near the Hudson that was heavily used between the French & Indian War and the Revolution. As I carefully traced the edges of a spot that once held a structure I hit a strong, deep signal and my heart began to race, because I knew in a spot like this, it was going to be an oldie. About 9 inches down I hit iron, saw some rust, and pried up my find of the day: A colonial British square poll camp axe. It's a big, heavy one, too!

Upon closer inspection at home I noticed a heart-shaped maker's mark on the blade; although I haven't confirmed myself, I've read in others' postings that the heart mark is common from the 1777 Saratoga campaign. I read that Gen. Burgoyne had ties to one of the India Companies, and the goods he procured for his troops frequently bear this mark. Exciting stuff!

The photos are of the uncleaned axe. I have it bubbling in an electrolysis bath right now, and will post pictures after it's all restored and pretty again.

Thanks for looking!

--Brendan

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[Jon Phillips]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Cool!

 

[Mr. Magoo]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

A great find buddy. Can't wait to see it after cleaned! Thanks for a great time!

 

[Whitebeard]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Interesting find, I have found what I think to be a trade axe some years ago but not shure about it.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

That ought to clean up nice! Can't wait to see it!

 

[aka da Prof]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

!! way cool!! I live on the 'Sullivan Trail' and still haven't come up with any of their artifacts-- they camped every 7 miles, so it's been said--

 

[Brendan M.]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

!! way cool!! I live on the 'Sullivan Trail' and still haven't come up with any of their artifacts-- they camped every 7 miles, so it's been said--

Thanks! As for the "Sullivan Trail," are there any maps from the period you can use? A nice overlay using Google Earth is pretty much my main research method...

 

[Brendan M.]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Interesting find, I have found what I think to be a trade axe some years ago but not shure about it.

Thanks. Nice axe! I'd love to help you ID it, but I'm still learning about blades myself. It's not an exact match with the examples I have in my reference books, but who knows. Are there any maker's marks on it?

 

[Steve in PA]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Good find, that one should clean up nicely

Thanks for not calling it a "trade axe"

 

[Brendan M.]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Good find, that one should up nicely

Thanks for not calling it a "trade axe"

Hahaha...You hear that term a little too often, eh?

 

[BOB@NORTHEASTMETALDETECT]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Hello, TNet Friends!

As my bud Chris (a.k.a. Mr. Magoo) mentioned in his post (http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,438158.0.html) we hit the North Country woods on Tuesday, racing to get in a couple more hunts before the big freeze. It rained on and off all day, but we persevered, covered in mud and bugs, but thankfully both of us came home with goodies to show for it.

We hunted a remote, tick-infested slope near the Hudson that was heavily used between the French & Indian War and the Revolution. As I carefully traced the edges of a spot that once held a structure I hit a strong, deep signal and my heart began to race, because I knew in a spot like this, it was going to be an oldie. About 9 inches down I hit iron, saw some rust, and pried up my find of the day: A colonial British square poll camp axe. It's a big, heavy one, too!

Upon closer inspection at home I noticed a heart-shaped maker's mark on the blade; although I haven't confirmed myself, I've read in others' postings that the heart mark is common from the 1777 Saratoga campaign. I read that Gen. Burgoyne had ties to one of the India Companies, and the goods he procured for his troops frequently bear this mark. Exciting stuff!

The photos are of the uncleaned axe. I have it bubbling in an electrolysis bath right now, and will post pictures after it's all restored and pretty again.

Thanks for looking!

--Brendan
hi Brenden--you found a great axe. it's listed in swords & blades of the rev war on pg. 264. made from 1750 to 1763. pic attached. Bob at northeast metal detectors

 

[{Sentinel}]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Nice one, I agree with Steve, it will clean up and display nicely!

 

[Brendan M.]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Started cleaning it some today after an overnight in the electrolysis tank. It turns out the maker's mark has an "MH" inside of the heart. Does anyone know anything about that?

 

[wwwtimmcp]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

hey I found this it may be of help.


Home

What's New

Web Site Creation

Want Ads

Articles

Search This Site

Send Feedback

Antique Tools
Planes
Levels
Rules
Miscellaneous Tools
FINETOOLS List

PNTC

Other Sites

About This Site

Site Map





" Axe Book Review
by Peter Harper, B.Ed, M.A.
Member: Pacific Northwest Tool Collectors Association
Early American Industries Association
Axe Makers of North America by Allan Klenman Whistle Punk Books, Victoria, B.C., 1990
(Author is a member of M-WTCA)
Once in a while a book comes along that opens up for us what has hitherto been an obscure field, exposing the parameters for all to see and providing springboards for further research. In the case of the axe, the tool that had won the west lapsed into obscurity because it had become commonplace and fell under the shadow of the power saw. Allan Klenman has changed all that.

In what must have been a labor of love over many, many years, Klenman has managed to provide us with a very rich and informative survey of axe manufacturing in North America between 1850-1960. Although the author calls this an arbitrary choice of time frame, the dates do coincide with the first made-in-America steel axes, and the demise of this industry just over a century later.

The first two chapters are very brief and cover the manufacture and uses of axes. I understand the difficulty of organizing the material in a volume so broad as this one, but nevertheless feel that more could have been made of Chapter Two, especially pages 13 and 14. How did those loggers chop trees down? Why are the corners of the falling axes so rounded? Of course, Chapter Two could become a book in itself. However, one should not assume that readers of pages 13 and 14 have any background knowledge of the subject. A three or four page addition is needed in this part of the book.

In Chapters Two and Three, the author provides detailed case histories of various individual axe manufacturers and conglomerates in the U.S.A. and Canada. This survey is where Klenman comes into his own, making a valuable contribution to individual history, and providing a clear directory of "what axes were made by what people." Axe collectors can use this as a clear map through the mine field of mergers, takeovers, and other corporate maneuvers. However, this is no ordinary, dry as dust survey. Klenman has enriched specific case histories with anecdotes and interesting tidbits of information from his vast storehouse of personal knowledge of the subject.

Illustrations in the book are confined to axe labels, trade marks, and information taken from tool catalogs. Again here is very helpful data to be used by collectors for identification purposes.

At the end of the book there are some 25 pages of appendices featuring very comprehensive chronological and alphabetical listings of manufacturers and their labels. One is struck by the sheer enormity of the numbers of manufacturers, which, in turn, shows how ubiquitous the axe was across this continent. For some, these appendices will be the most important aspect of the book, providing, for the first time, a catalog of the "Axe Makers of North America." This book is destined to become the bible for axe collector and a useful reference for historians.

Alan Klenman's new book is a landmark publication that should be on the bookshelf of those who are woodsmen at heart, and those more serious individuals who collect tools, and through research, help to preserve our heritage. The book is well worth the price.

I used eric sloanes book, a museum of american tools to date mine. best of luck on a way cool artifact.

 

[wwwtimmcp]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

I also found this, it is almost identical to the ones I have found. (mine are better)

http://www.indiantradecollectors.com/here-is-the-square-camp-poll-axe-british-marked-t129.html

happy hunting to all.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

That's an amazing find Brendan!

Can't wait to see what it looks like after it's 'bath'!

Dave

 

[LI Tom]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Hi Brendan,how's life upstate and how's the hunting up there?It's hard to believe those damm ticks are still active in December so far north!

 

[Brendan M.]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Hi Brendan,how's life upstate and how's the hunting up there?It's hard to believe those damm ticks are still active in December so far north!

Hey Tom!

Life's great up here. Couldn't love it more. And the hunting ain't too shabby, either. After a couple of lightly hunted seasons (dad duty takes priority) I've still got a nice collection of colonial relics, including a cannonball, a bunch of musketballs, grapeshot, buckles, a musket piece, this axe above, and my first BANNER find:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,427732.html

Had you seen that post yet?

How are things by you?

As for the ticks, we were surprised they were still around; we even had a decent snowfall back around Thanksgiving. Those things are tenacious!

 

[aka da Prof]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Thanks! As for the "Sullivan Trail," are there any maps from the period you can use? A nice overlay using Google Earth is pretty much my main research method...
[/quote]

no maps but plenty of N.Y.S. road side markers (not that they are correct). The village sites and springs they could have camped at are right on the original road and rather easy to locate and I have checked a few with lots more to go to. There is a local rumor of a 'buried 3 lb. cannon' that was left some where around this area, of course it's not documented and just an old story, some dowsing might help with that.
The 2 reale that matches yours came from a known Seneca village where 'the first cabin was built' (so the sign says)

 

[Lanny in AB]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Nice find!

All the best,

Lanny