Combat axe

[Seppi75]

Seems to be white bronze and bears a cross. I purchased it in southern Poland from a friend. Trying to find the origins and age.
It is small, maybe 16" long total. Definitely very old.

 

[1320]

One screw looks to me like a modern machine cut slotted screw and it seems to share the same patina as the rest of the metal parts on your piece. It could have been added later I suppose.....

 

[bradyboy]

Yep. the slotted screw is a problem
Sorry, not buying this post
No complete picture, no dimensions
no provenance
Why do you think its old
Brady

 

[Tpmetal]

It is possible the head was re mounted. Axe handles break. But I agree the screws are suspicious. Need more info and better pics of the axe head. Also the edges of the head look vary sharp and square, also seems odd. I'm think not a battle axe but more of carpenters tool, could be wrong though.

 

[BosnMate]

He thinks it's bronze. Does a magnet stick to the head?

 

[tamrock]

When I look up an antique European squaring axe, I do see some that are pretty similar. At the mining museum in Leadville Colorado they have some old Cornish axe's with short handles that a mine timberman would use with also axe heads kindof like yours. I'm not thinking it's weaponry, but more of a carpenter's axe. The old time carpenter's of the 18th and 19th very often personalized their tools with marks and fancy accoutrement in order identify it belong to them. Some can be pretty fancy. Maybe thats the reason for the cross? I'm thinking the screw was added as a repair later. It's still a tool that could be useful today.

 

[taz42o]

Those are sometimes called bearded or goosewing axes.

 

[unclemac]

tool not a weapon

 

[baspinall]

tool not a weapon

Yep

 

[fyrffytr1]

It is possible the head was re mounted. Axe handles break. But I agree the screws are suspicious. Need more info and better pics of the axe head. Also the edges of the head look vary sharp and square, also seems odd. I'm think not a battle axe but more of carpenters tool, could be wrong though.

The bands may have been added to reinforce a weak handle and the screw held the band in place? But, what purpose does the screw under the band serve?

 

[Seppi75]

There is no screw underneath the banding... this is a defect in the wood. Probably the reason for the banding and cracking that is underneath the bands.
The head is not magnetic.
Its not the first thing I've looked at, I'm a professional woodworker of 25 years that specializes in the old craft. Working wood by hand.
I've collected woodworking tools from around the world and many of the pieces I've collected have been from mostly Austria and in the 400 to 500 year old range. I know old woodworking tools very well.
I'm not asking for a general census on what everyone thinks it is.
I had seen previously a post about an old axe that seemed to have some educated feedback... but I guess that was an old American axe and not European.

And, FYI... slotted screws were commonly used as fasteners in Europe as early as the 1400's. But were not produced heavily until a thread cutting lathe was invented by In 1770, English instrument maker, Jesse Ramsden (1735-1800) invented the first satisfactory screw-cutting lathe. The British engineer Henry Maudslay (1771-1831) patented a screw-cutting lathe in 1797; a similar device was patented by David Wilkinson in the United States in 1798.

I have hand screwdrivers that were used for woodworking fasteners in the 1700's.

 

[Seppi75]

The axe is about 14" long.

 

[Seppi75]

tool not a weapon

Why do you think this and what do you have behind it?

 

[Seppi75]

"

Yep. the slotted screw is a problem
Sorry, not buying this post
No complete picture, no dimensions
no provenance
Why do you think its old
Brady

See my later post.

What are your credentials?

 

[Oddjob]

Mate you should be looking into German Metal Detecting forums, at best there is just a couple people on here I can think of that may be able to point you in the right direction. I have found 7 bronze axe heads and 2 bronze spear points in my time in Europe. One has the same cross on it and I found that in Lithuania, all my bronze came out of Lithuania or Latvia. But I have never found any information on it at all.

I would suggest either going to a German MDing forum or doing a google picture search for Alte Beile or Alte Äxte.

I will tell you that the first thing that will come up will be two books in German, do not buy them, I own them and the trademark is not in either of them.

If you find out come back and let us know, heck I would love to know, I have a nice blade collection and that trademark I have never figured out.