🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Hatchet head, old or not?

[Fishin-4-a-Livin]

I’m hunting an old plantation that was built in the 1840s and still lived in today.

The current owners have a small collection of things found on the property.

Just wondering if this hatchet head may be from way back in the day.

 

[tamrock]

I really can't say anything, other than it definitely looks to have been around awhile. I really like the design of it and it seems rather unique with that heavy back end and small size. I'm only guessing it was designed for a particular purpose in mind.

 

[pepperj]

For size I'd agree that it's a belt axe.
Looking at the mushrooming on the back of the head it looks like it has had some good use over the years before being lost.
Manufactured (casted) instead of being hand forged-still has a good amount of age to it for sure.
Hand forged would show the folded iron(2 sided molded into one)as this example of one I found.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Due to the curve of the blade, I'm thinking it's a Hand Adze. These were swung with the hand and were a short-handled tool.

A Hand Adze is a tool similar to an axe that has arched blades which are at a right angle to the handle. It was an ancient and versatile tool that was used in the era of Stone Age. It was used for cutting and sharpening wood commonly used in horticulture and hand woodworking. This tool has undergone various variations and modifications in terms of application and shape. It’s still used in areas of the world, carrying out huge work tasks.

 

[smokeythecat]

Pepperj is correct. It is definitely a cast item. That would make the probable date of manufacture in the 19th century. Nice item. All axes are hard to find anymore.

 

[Tpmetal]

Due to the curve of the blade, I'm thinking it's a Hand Adz. These were swung with the hand and were a short-handled tool.

A Hand Adz is a tool similar to an axe that has arched blades which are at a right angle to the handle. It was an ancient and versatile tool that was used in the era of Stone Age. It was used for cutting and sharpening wood commonly used in horticulture and hand woodworking. This tool has undergone various variations and modifications in terms of application and shape. It’s still used in areas of the world, carrying out huge work tasks.

Nope the key factor in a adze as you stated are the blade being perpendicular to the handle and arched. This blade edge is parallel to the handle and wedge shaped and straight, not arched. This would be considered an axe or hatchet.

Edit: i now see what you were after. you are thinking of a hewing axe(though they usually have a longer blade). if the bend as intentional than yes maybe a small hewing axe, but I believe the bend is from abuse judging from the smashed up end. (might not be bent at all looking at other pics and might just be optical illusion in the one pic)

 

[dozer dan]

Just a wag but I’m thinking that’s an early shingle hatchet.

 

[releventchair]

Goes back a ways. How far who knows?

Could have been plantation used depending on plantations last activity. Or era.

Similar (kinda) to crate hatchets. Preparing stuff for shipping / transport , and for opening containers.Those could have one or two notches later not unlike a shingling hatchet.
It's been well used as a hammer. Maybe more than as a blade.
If the wear was reversed and the blade more worn ; it would have made a good kindling axe/hatchet.

Neat piece.

 

[Fishin-4-a-Livin]

I appreciate all the informative answers. I will pass them along to the property owner.

 

[ARC]

Roofing hatchet IMO... vintage... and yes cast.

 

[BAW]

I’m hunting an old plantation that was built in the 1840s and still lived in today.

The current owners have a small collection of things found on the property.

Just wondering if this hatchet head may be from way back in the day.

Not all hand-forged axes were made by folding the metal around a mandrel to form the eye. That form of manufacture was used for polless axes, but ones meant to have a heavy poll, as this one has, were made by punching a hole through the metal billet and then driving in an eye drift to shape the eye.
This example can't be cast iron; the poll would have cracked instead of mushrooming when it was used for pounding, and it is unlikely to be cast steel. This could be determined by running a file or whetstone across the edge and the poll. If the poll and the edge are equally hard, it would indicate a one-piece casting. If the edge is harder than the poll, it indicates that the body of the axe is of wrought iron, with a piece of steel inserted at the edge, which would indicate early construction.
In size and shape it resembles what is sometimes called a bag axe, an all-purpose lightweight axe carried in or attatched to a hunting pouch.

 

[gunsil]

Not many cast hatchets or axes, they are machine made by drop forging, have been for a long time.

 

[tamrock]

When I worked at a mine in the late 70s. The guys that put up the mine props were titled as Timbermen. They all had these longer than normal all stainless steel hatchets made by Estwing. They called those timbermens hatchets. I just looked up vintage timbermans hatchet and found there was such a thing and the head looked pretty similar to what you have. https://museum.wales/collections/online/object/ab8ee9b4-a7eb-323f-b064-922479abee8e/Hatchet/
Were there any old mine operations once in the area you found this hatchet head.

 

[Fishin-4-a-Livin]

Again, thanks for all of the info.

I’ll be going back there to hunt again after the first of the year. Only got to hunt for a few hours this trip. Just cherry picking, didn’t really dig much iron this trip.


The plantation is on the National Historic Register. All of the finds will be donated to the owner. I am very excited to see what I can find.

I did find this, it still had a Buffalo nickel inside.

 

[tamrock]

Again, thanks for all of the info.

I’ll be going back there to hunt again after the first of the year. Only got to hunt for a few hours this trip. Just cherry picking, didn’t really dig much iron this trip.


The plantation is on the National Historic Register. All of the finds will be donated to the owner. I am very excited to see what I can find.

I did find this, it still had a Buffalo nickel inside.

That's a pretty neat little discovery. Guess that soda pop they once were gonna buy wouldn't be after loosing their last nickel.