Interesting finds from old site

[scratcher]

Here are some of the most recent finds from an old site my brother and I have been hitting. I am not really sure of the exact use of three of the items, and the button-like thing may be a more recent drop. Maybe I'll try the Wii forum later. At first we thought the hatchet may have been a broken spike tomahawk, but could only find one that resembled it online. Now we think maybe tobacco cutter type miniature It does appear broken off opposite the cutting end though. The stirrup is shaped exactly like very old big brothers that I have found nearby. Maybe a charm?? The picture doesn't show it well on the button-like thing but it has an elaborate design of flowers in silver? under the inlay. That's a big honkin' knife!

 

[scratcher]

I think an evil-doer is at work shrinking everything on your site with a ray gun. You'd better find that Large Cent there before it becomes a small cent.

My first thought was to post a picture of the hatchet, stirrup, and knife together without size reference under the title "You gotta see this knife"......

 

[scratcher]

SlipperyJack is correct. It is a classic shingling hatchet. However it is a child's toy shingling hatchet from the 2nd half of 19th C. Way too small to be used as a tool for actual work. I have seen them come up on ebay every once in awhile with a small wooden handle. Some children had complete sets of carpenter tools in miniature to play with.

The square nail pulling notch was common during that time because they pulled square nails. When wire nails came out the hatchet maker's began making V-notches in their hatchets to pull those out. That is why I date this as 19th C. OSHA wasn't around back then so toy axes and other dangerous tools & even tomahawks were made for children as far back as iron was readily available so they could emulate their parents.

See my website for more toy hatchets & more:
http://furtradetomahawks.tripod.com/id17.html
Yep scratcher its me alright!
Mark

Thanks for the great info, Mark, I thought that was you. Upon close inspection I don't think there is a notch in this hatchet to pull nails- it just looks that way in the picture. I am going to run it through the electrolysis tank to make sure, though. That may open up possibilities of a bit earlier production then, maybe? Welcome to TNET, your knowledge of edged tools is sure to be an asset....

 

[nwctrader]

Thanks for the great info, Mark, I thought that was you. Upon close inspection I don't think there is a notch in this hatchet to pull nails- it just looks that way in the picture. I am going to run it through the electrolysis tank to make sure, though. That may open up possibilities of a bit earlier production then, maybe? Welcome to TNET, your knowledge of edged tools is sure to be an asset....

Re: Don't worry scratcher, you'll see it with the electrolysis. The rust carbunkles always fill the notch completely so all you can see is the faint outline of a square notch if you know where to look--half way up the blade length, on the bottom edge. It looks solid until you clean it. I just used electrolysis on a dug one last week very similar to this. I guess I've just seen so many thousands of axes, dug and undug over 25 years that I can pick it out easier.

keep your powder dry,
Mark

 

[scratcher]

Thanks for the great info, Mark, I thought that was you. Upon close inspection I don't think there is a notch in this hatchet to pull nails- it just looks that way in the picture. I am going to run it through the electrolysis tank to make sure, though. That may open up possibilities of a bit earlier production then, maybe? Welcome to TNET, your knowledge of edged tools is sure to be an asset....

Re: Don't worry scratcher, you'll see it with the electrolysis. The rust carbunkles always fill the notch completely so all you can see is the faint outline of a square notch if you know where to look--half way up the blade length, on the bottom edge. It looks solid until you clean it. I just used electrolysis on a dug one last week very similar to this. I guess I've just seen so many thousands of axes, dug and undug over 25 years that I can pick it out easier.

keep your powder dry,
Mark

Thanks, will do. You don't know if this button thing is modern do you?

 

[olekyground]

Very cool button!! good luck next go around!!

 

[nwctrader]

Thanks, will do. You don't know if this button thing is modern do you?

I'm not a button expert but it looks somewhat 'modern' (last 50 years or so) to me.