🔎 UNIDENTIFIED 1700s belt or trade axe?

[lenmac65]

I dug this axe head about 25 feet from a stone lined cellar hole. The former home does not show up on any maps that I am aware of. Based on some Google searches, the axe sort of looks like a French-style belt or trade axe from the 1700s. It is only about 6 inches long, and doesn’t seem to have a poll on the back edge, which I think is a characteristic of an oldie. The eye is kind of tear drop shaped, and there looks to be a seam there. As for finds to help date it, I only found this thimble nearby. As for coins, I found some late 1700s coppers and a 1754 2-reale in this same site back in January, though about 100 feet or so from the hole.. Based on the axe shape, its construction, and the dates of the nearby coins, I am thinking a 1700s trade or belt axe. What do you think? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

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[Tony in SC]

It is a folded axe, is that something stamped on the Side?

 

[lenmac65]

It is a folded axe, is that something stamped on the Side?

Thanks! There does seem to be a short straight vertical line, but I can’t tell if it is a stamp or mark, or just damage. Folded axe? I had never heard of that, but just watched a video of someone making a folded hatchet - very interesting.

 

[releventchair]

I'm not placing it... The "ears" falling below the bottom edge hint of axe/hatchet or tomahawk. Biscayne is close too but I'm not seeing those ears there either. Neither French or Hudson Bay axes are looking identical either. Though I don't know all thier offerings back when.

It is forge welded.

Here's a site you can browse.
It shows how your piece was folded and worked.
And has varities of edged pieces to browse through.

HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY TRADE AXES

IDENTIFICATION AND HISTORY OF HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY

www.furtradetomahawks.com

 

[lenmac65]

I'm not placing it... The "ears" falling below the bottom edge hint of axe/hatchet or tomahawk. Biscayne is close too but I'm not seeing those ears there either. Neither French or Hudson Bay axes are looking identical either. Though I don't know all thier offerings back when.

It is forge welded.

Here's a site you can browse.
It shows how your piece was folded and worked.
And has varities of edged pieces to browse through.

HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY TRADE AXES

IDENTIFICATION AND HISTORY OF HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY

www.furtradetomahawks.com

Thanks for all the info. I gave it my first read. Interesting and I like the illustrations.

 

[pepperj]

Thanks! There does seem to be a short straight vertical line, but I can’t tell if it is a stamp or mark, or just damage. Folded axe? I had never heard of that, but just watched a video of someone making a folded hatchet - very interesting.

Congrats on the beautiful axe.

Folded meaning.
One piece of iron hammered, as in folded, on an anvil.
It's heated/hammered till the piece becomes one, as the axe head.
6.25" seems to be in the range of a larger belt axe.
Here is mine, same fold, smaller.

 

[lenmac65]

Congrats on the beautiful axe.

Folded meaning.
One piece of iron hammered, as in folded, on an anvil.
It's heated/hammered till the piece becomes one, as the axe head.
6.25" seems to be in the range of a larger belt axe.
Here is mine, same fold, smaller.
View attachment 2057875 View attachment 2057876

Thanks for the insights. That is a nice axe head you found. I have dug 4 or 5, but none like that one.

 

[pepperj]

Thanks for the insights. That is a nice axe head you found. I have dug 4 or 5, but none like that one.

That's an impressive number of axes you've recovered. Same size range, or the larger trade axes?

I found mine on an island property permission we were staying at.
Step off the porch and start detecting-best 6 months I had for no need to travel for hunting.
Want 15 minute hunt-right there.

I haven't found one since-lots of activity all around me, but just can't put the coil over anything related to trade items it seems. It will happen-but it's taking it sweet time.

 

[lenmac65]

That's an impressive number of axes you've recovered. Same size range, or the larger trade axes?

I found mine on an island property permission we were staying at.
Step off the porch and start detecting-best 6 months I had for no need to travel for hunting.
Want 15 minute hunt-right there.

I haven't found one since-lots of activity all around me, but just can't put the coil over anything related to trade items it seems. It will happen-but it's taking it sweet time.

An island permission sounds like a nice vacation/hunting spot. I would love something like that. I have definitely dug three, including this one, a similar sized hatchet, and a bigger felling axe. I also found a larger axe head a few weeks ago that was sitting on a foundation. I suspect some other detectorist didn’t want it. I might have another, but can’t recall. I like decorating my shed with them. Good luck finding another one. You might get one when you least expect it. This one sounded a mid tone with a VDI of 18. It did not sound loud or like iron, so I was expecting a button at best. I was thrilled to dig this one and hope to get more info here. The internet is a great resource, but a lot to wrap my mind around. Sometimes it’s great just to hear the thoughts of the many knowledgeable folks on this site. Thanks again for your insights.

 

[Bamasteve]

Nice recovery. Like you said there’s many knowledgeable people on here who are excellent sources of info on a wide variety of subjects. I’m not one of them but am soaking in as much as I can!

 

[smokeythecat]

That's a great find. It does not appear to be a French Biscayne ax, but more like the typical belt ax of the French & Indian war and Revolution. Many soldiers carried them.

 

[lenmac65]

It is a folded axe, is that something stamped on the Side?

I am now thinking that small vertical slot is part of a makers mark. Here is a close up of my axe and a screenshot of a non dug axe. Mine has some traces of circles, but it might just be rust.

 

[lenmac65]

That's a great find. It does not appear to be a French Biscayne ax, but more like the typical belt ax of the French & Indian war and Revolution. Many soldiers carried them.

Thanks! That’s what I like to hear😁. I thought it looked French style, but not necessarily Biscayne. I do see others similar to mine, like this Kentucky style, which is a bit smaller. I know it’s hard to put a date on these things, but I feel pretty comfortable with 1700s based on some comments here and its construction, style, and the age of other nearby finds..

 

[GlowingArtist]

To me it kind of looks like a direct hold kind of cutting tool with no handle?

 

[lenmac65]

To me it kind of looks like a direct hold kind of cutting tool with no handle?

Thanks for the comment. I do think it is some sort of axe. It’s just that the handle was lost or long since rotted away.