Small cache of old iron axes

[Ennismill]

found 3 about 6 months ago at this site. Went back yesterday and found 4 more all in a line, like a plow had spread them out. Pretty neat tools. I don’t know much about age or style. Trying to learn what they are. I have cleaned the first 3 up already. Just started on the last 4.

 

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[Inspector]

Nice saves, they are pretty cool, congrats

 

[sataro]

Congrats on some nice finds!

 

[arrow86]

That’s really cool would love to know how they all ended up in the same spot , what’s the circular indentation on all of them ?... somebody’s stamp ?have you looked up the styles and figured out how old they are ? Those would be cool to restore and add some nice stained wood handles for display

 

[Whyme]

Pretty cool finds! Congrats! I'm curious about the round indentation too.

 

[G.A.P.metal]

Indention might be makers mark like this

Your broken ax might be a Tomhawk something like this

I think you have some very good finds there and i`d look for more !
Gary

 

[Plumbata]

First thing I thought was they were different scraps repurposed as log rail splitting wedges by the thrifty KY pioneers. Then I see you found them all in a row... Kinda sounds like they may have been driven into a tough log which didn't split and were abandoned/forgotten, with the log having rotted away long ago. Or maybe that's just me being a bit imaginative, heh.

 

[Al.relics]

Great finds, that spot may have been a blacksmith's shop?

 

[G.A.P.metal]

I think your pieces are examples (maybe not all of them) of a Belt or Camp Axe.
From the Book "Swords & Blades of the American Revolution"
" Sir William Johnson estimated his need for approximately 10,000 in the Indian Trade just during the year of 1765 " (at the cost of only three shillings each) .
The VII Scottish battalion Co. 42nd Regiment (Black Watch ) all carried a wrapped belt axe.
Our American Rifleman 1779 all carried a cloth wrapped belt axe held in a loop sewn to his brown leather wastebelt.
Early Sources of Manufacture:
As French,Dutch,English and Swedish were founded here each Quickly recognized the need for axes and began importing on a major scale from northern Spain.
2 to 5 pound each referred to as" Biscay" axes or hatchets. Holland was another important source call "Utrecht" axes.
In America as might be expected demands in the new world led to modifications Smaller size, Weight and Balance led to smaller heads on the belt axe... popular used by 1720s weight under 2 pounds....large headed axes still held their place at the home and camp for heavy chopping.
Gary
Thanks for this book "Gare" much knowledge... i do appreciate it !

 

[creskol]

Very Nice! I enjoy seeing things like that being saved! Great old pieces of history!

 

[RW]

Really cool. Trying to imagine what trade might have used such small heads back in the day. Even smaller than shingle axes.

 

[Ennismill]

Had a few a few minutes today so I went back. Found 4 more. I’m starting to believe this may have been an iron shop. If you look at these pictures these pieces I’m finding don’t look finished. The cutting end is blunt and the pin end is still rounded off. Neither sharpened. Everyone has the same mark, I’m assuming a marking by the maker. Still don’t know a lot about them. They don’t have a hole for a handle so they must be split handle attached. Every one I’ve found is a different design. m

 

[Trezurehunter]

Those are some nice old iron relics.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Cool old relics!