Civil War era Axe Head?

acm3

Full Member
Jan 2, 2016
119
181
Warrenton, VA
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro and
Garrett pinpointer
Bounty Hunter Pioneer 505
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
I know very little about axe heads. I have permission to hunt a 50 acre property that is part of the site where the Battle Auburn (1&2) took place. JMU did a dig for the historical society several years ago on the property next to where i am hunting. They found a axe head at that CW camp site (along with other items) (see pic below of JMU find - has the white ruler in the pic) and it looks the same as the one I just found a few hundred yards away. Any idea how I can tell the age of an axe head? would you be able to tell if the head was handmade vs. machine made?

Mine find out of the ground has my Garrett pinpointer and blue ruler in it and then pics after i cleaned it (think i was a bit to aggressive cleaning it with a brush....yikes).

The JMU find a few years back is the pic with the white ruler in it (got pic from internet).
 

Attachments

  • datauri-file-2.png
    datauri-file-2.png
    65.5 KB · Views: 208
  • datauri-file.png
    datauri-file.png
    189.2 KB · Views: 193
  • IMG_2951.JPG
    IMG_2951.JPG
    940.3 KB · Views: 207
  • IMG_2952.JPG
    IMG_2952.JPG
    1.1 MB · Views: 186
  • IMG_2953.JPG
    IMG_2953.JPG
    743.6 KB · Views: 172
  • IMG_2954.JPG
    IMG_2954.JPG
    694 KB · Views: 154
  • IMG_2955.JPG
    IMG_2955.JPG
    989.6 KB · Views: 144
  • IMG_2956.JPG
    IMG_2956.JPG
    967.4 KB · Views: 163
  • IMG_2957.JPG
    IMG_2957.JPG
    831.4 KB · Views: 238
Upvote 4

Worm-Slicer

Hero Member
Jan 6, 2013
633
1,099
SouthwestVirginia
🥇 Banner finds
2
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Not sure from looking at the pictures, but all Civil War axe heads you can see a seam on the inside back part of the handle hole where the metal was hammered together by a blacksmith. I can't see it in the photos from the top part, but if that's not there, I'm no expert, but i would be inclined to think later era.
 

williedigit

Sr. Member
Oct 24, 2015
463
1,335
Wilmington NC
Detector(s) used
AT PRO and WHITES SILVER EAGLE also MINELAB 305
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I know very little about axe heads. I have permission to hunt a 50 acre property that is part of the site where the Battle Auburn (1&2) took place. JMU did a dig for the historical society several years ago on the property next to where i am hunting. They found a axe head at that CW camp site (along with other items) (see pic below of JMU find - has the white ruler in the pic) and it looks the same as the one I just found a few hundred yards away. Any idea how I can tell the age of an axe head? would you be able to tell if the head was handmade vs. machine made?

Mine find out of the ground has my Garrett pinpointer and blue ruler in it and then pics after i cleaned it (think i was a bit to aggressive cleaning it with a brush....yikes).

The JMU find a few years back is the pic with the white ruler in it (got pic from internet).

Dido nice ax head found mine 2' in the ground with my at pro ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1454279622.776626.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1454279648.837539.jpg with the small head near some large oaks ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1454279720.806912.jpg
 

CTwoods

Sr. Member
Dec 9, 2015
315
311
east central Connecticut
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
The surfaces now show a heavy "grain" pattern, due to surface rusting away.

If you were to find a hand wrought iron flat bar and bend it back and forth until it breaks, you will see the same hidden grain patterns in the poor quality early iron.

The axe; it is old, and hand wrought.
 

OP
OP
acm3

acm3

Full Member
Jan 2, 2016
119
181
Warrenton, VA
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro and
Garrett pinpointer
Bounty Hunter Pioneer 505
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Thanks CTwoods. I thought i might have caused those "grain" patterns with my wire brush. It was a nice find and happy to have it on my shelf.
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top