Axe Head

[J23]

Hi guys... J23 here... lurked the site for many years. Live in Upper Westchester NY. Detecting for about 10 years. Love Rev War stuff (who doesn't)... and WW2.
Anyway, just found this axe and wondering if anyone can date it for me?
I looked in peterson's books and it doesnt seem to match Rev War period.... still, it feels very old to me in terms of form.
It's 7" long... recovered in lower NY near known Rev War battlefield. The hole is not rolled, more cylindrical in shape.
Any help much appreciated.

 

[Roger Mn.]

Hi j23
Your axe looks like a roofers hatchet used in putting on wood shingles. It would be hard to date it since they haven't changed the shape much over the years. The newer ones have a bolt to gage the shingle spacing. The little V in the axe is for pulling nails. I would guess your axe to be 50 plus years. Look up roofing hatchets. Nice find.

 

[soupie]

Welcome to the site....I would have to agree,it is a roofing hammer...nice find...
HH Soup

 

[Tnmountains]

Welcome to T-net. I agree with it having a nail puller dates it as the nail had to have a head,,to be pulled.
HH
TnMtns

 

[kuger]

Just FYI,there were hatchets with the nail pulling cut in,from the mid 1800's

 

[Goodyguy]

I would say roofers hammer due to long shank of hammer part.
Hatchet/axe hammer ends are short and blunt

 

[kuger]

I am going with gut instinct and "look",on this one,looks hand forged

 

[Goodyguy]

Judging by your ruler the cutting edge is no more than 2 1/2" from top to bottom.
Way short by hatchet or axe standards, more in line with a roofers tool.

Actually I believe it is what was called a "shinglers hatchet" circa 1845 due to the position of the nail notch and overall shape.
Roofing hammers and lathe hatchets have the nail notch much further forward. Also lathe hatchets were not curved on the blade end.

GG~

 

[phantomfinder]

Cool find , WTG

 

[ModernMiner]

 

[Goodyguy]

As you can see the shingling hatchets had a curved edge and the nail notch was further back.
The lathing hatchets have the notch closer to the edge (except for one) and the edge is straight not curved.
Either way the designs seem to overlap causing a difficult ID.

I still say if manufactured the head in question is circa. 1845
If hand forged then 1700's to 1900 approx.

 

[soupie]

Great info gentleman...
Never knew these were made way back when...
Nice find
HH Soup