The Axe Head Showroom

[cadmaster]

Need some help identifing the age of a hatchet head my dad found with me while moose hunting back in the early 90's it is hand forged by the looks of it. It was found on a large rock on the shore of a small shallow lake, where there was a old water course entering the lake (the water course is now mostly swamp), near Elk Lake Ontario. Nearby I found the piece of iron rod. it looks like a hand forged spike. one edge of the spike is flattened from hammering and the other has a slight flattening on 2 sides to give it a bit of a point. It was sitting in the moss with just the end sticking up in the air. the moss was at least 12" thick. There was a totally rotted piece of tree attached. Where the spike was found there appeared to be the possible outline of a cabin in the moss. there was a difference in growth height of the moss. The nearby area was logged about 10 years before we were there, but they left a green strip around bodies of water. the pine trees appeared quite old but were small diameter.

There is a makers mark on it on the hatchet head. I cannot make the mark out but it could be HB or something similar.

Looking at where the hatchet hole was created by folding the iron around something it appears that the forging is starting to delaminate somewhat due to rust. You can actually see a line on the otherside where it looks like the join was good but slightly misalligned. on the cutting blade of the hatchet there appears to have been a couple of chips in the bottom end of the cutting edge (maybe why it was abandoned) there was no wood in the hole of the hatchet. The level of rust appears to be consistant all over the hatchet except for a small strip on the side near the rear of the head which appears to be a lighter color. The rear of the head appears to have been used as a hammer (slightly deformed edge) and appears to have been made with a flat spot that is somewhat thicker than the rest of the surrounding iron.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

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[CoolFrayers]

I recently founder this axe along with some hatchets in an Old Barn on the property we acquired. The handle feels perfect, but I don't know a thing about axes, any information anyone could give I'd be grateful Pennsylvania Amish Country

 

[BuckleBoy]

Need some help identifing the age of a hatchet head my dad found with me while moose hunting back in the early 90's it is hand forged by the looks of it. It was found on a large rock on the shore of a small shallow lake, where there was a old water course entering the lake (the water course is now mostly swamp), near Elk Lake Ontario. Nearby I found the piece of iron rod. it looks like a hand forged spike. one edge of the spike is flattened from hammering and the other has a slight flattening on 2 sides to give it a bit of a point. It was sitting in the moss with just the end sticking up in the air. the moss was at least 12" thick. There was a totally rotted piece of tree attached. Where the spike was found there appeared to be the possible outline of a cabin in the moss. there was a difference in growth height of the moss. The nearby area was logged about 10 years before we were there, but they left a green strip around bodies of water. the pine trees appeared quite old but were small diameter.

There is a makers mark on it on the hatchet head. I cannot make the mark out but it could be HB or something similar.

Looking at where the hatchet hole was created by folding the iron around something it appears that the forging is starting to delaminate somewhat due to rust. You can actually see a line on the otherside where it looks like the join was good but slightly misalligned. on the cutting blade of the hatchet there appears to have been a couple of chips in the bottom end of the cutting edge (maybe why it was abandoned) there was no wood in the hole of the hatchet. The level of rust appears to be consistant all over the hatchet except for a small strip on the side near the rear of the head which appears to be a lighter color. The rear of the head appears to have been used as a hammer (slightly deformed edge) and appears to have been made with a flat spot that is somewhat thicker than the rest of the surrounding iron.

Any help would be appreciated!

View attachment 1301195 View attachment 1301196 View attachment 1301197 View attachment 1301198 View attachment 1301199 View attachment 1301200

Looks like a 1700s Trade Axe to me!

 

[G.A.P.metal]

 

[Giant056]

Here's an old hachet head I found in the woods today, I'm doing electrolysis on it now

 

[pickaway]

Heres a couple ax heads I found recently on a old home site. Any idea on age?

 

[BuckleBoy]

Heres a couple ax heads I found recently on a old home site. Any idea on age?
View attachment 1427994 View attachment 1427995 View attachment 1427996

My guess is mid 1800s.

 

[neodetectorist]

I have this posted on "today's finds" but found this thread as I was getting info on it.
What caused the remaining wood in the ax to be petrified?
Age? Properties changing in wood due to the iron?
Any guesses on age of this?

 

[BuckleBoy]

I think the wood just gets hard because it's sheltered by the iron around it. Not that it's petrified--just that it hasn't been expis d to as many elements and therefore hadn't rotted yet (lack of as much air getting to it being the chief reason). I've dug gun barrels with the ramrods still inside before. [QuUOTE=neohiodetectorist;5488134]I have this posted on "today's finds" but found this thread as I was getting info on it.
What caused the remaining wood in the ax to be petrified?
Age? Properties changing in wood due to the iron?
Any guesses on age of this?
View attachment 1479109 [/QUOTE]

 

[TWray]

Here’s a few I’ve found

I haven’t been detecting long but here’s a couple. I threw in a couple hammers and wedges to make a showing. They’re not much to look at. They may not be that old as far as know. I plan or giving them a bath to see if there’s anything left under the crud. Thanks for viewing.

 

[eyemustdigtreasure]

I haven’t been detecting long but here’s a couple. I threw in a couple hammers and wedges to make a showing. They’re not much to look at. They may not be that old as far as know. I plan or giving them a bath to see if there’s anything left under the crud. Thanks for viewing.

Yeah, clean them up, as you have some real nice axe heads! These axes/tools represent several types of jobs, that they were designed to do....
Have fun getting info on them - then posts the results for us, will you? Thanks!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Thanks for sharing! I grew up not far from Roanoke VA

I haven’t been detecting long but here’s a couple. I threw in a couple hammers and wedges to make a showing. They’re not much to look at. They may not be that old as far as know. I plan or giving them a bath to see if there’s anything left under the crud. Thanks for viewing.

 

[NewAtThis]

Hello! I found this today in my backyard. It doesn't look very old to me, but I don't know much about axe heads. I do know that it's my first axe head, so I'm excited about it. It's 15mm x 9mm (6"x3.5") and weighs almost two pounds, which seems small, so maybe really it's a hatchet head. And from this post "http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/351457-what-type-ax-head.html", I'd guess that it was a Hoosier style axe head. If anyone has any thoughts, I'd love to hear your input.

Thanks!
Steven

 

[NewAtThis]

Hey, everyone. I got my hatchet/axe head cleaned up. Here are the new photos. I'm very happy with cleaning results (vinegar and scrubbing) but I sadly don't see any makers marks on it. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I wonder if it's modern or a bit older. Thank you!

 

[stonebottles]

Here are some of my trade axes

 

[jt101319]

Claw hatchet/carpenters hatchet

Found this today searching deep woods for an old colonial settlement.
Cleaned her up a bit.

 

[Tnmountains]

Found this today searching deep woods for an old colonial settlement.
Cleaned her up a bit.
View attachment 1603023

 

[Jason Crozier]

Found these this spring and cleaned with white vinegar and then seasoned with cooking oil. Bullet
Hole in large head is half way through, Adds character

 

[Georgivs]

Here are a few of mine along with various horse & mule shoes, an old hoe (insert joke here), and a stirrup.

 

[A2coins]

wowza I should send mine to you great collection