Trade Ax?

[The Rebel]

Found this yesterday, but need an ID if this is a Trade Ax or not. The shaft hole seems small, so wonder what this was used for,. besides cutting wood, lol.

 

[ARC]

IMO.. no... This imo is a vintage "camp axe".

But... this is not a conclusive opinion... you could clean it up and look for any markings.

 

[Gare]

My Feeling is ARC called it correctly

 

[river roamer]

Interesting find

 

[Nathan W]

Looks very old, what type of place were you hunting?

 

[Sandog]

Nice one. Could the small hole possibly mean that it was a hatchet rather than an axe?

 

[KSDirtfisher77]

Look into vintage axe/hatchet patterns. There is a huge data base about shapes & sizes. You can probably track that head down to location & range of dates it was used & produced.

 

[ARC]

Nice one. Could the small hole possibly mean that it was a hatchet rather than an axe?

There are technically 2 types... a "hatchet... and hand axe".... when talking about early pieces they fall into both categories and has been the subject of some debates amongst those of us who have handled and dealt with these.

So... Like there are "trade axes"... belt axes... etc etc etc. then trade hatchets ... belt hatchets etc etc...
Its all in what one calls it.
All are the same... EXCEPT.... when talking about larger items... then they are always called an "axe".

 

[billb]

Great find
Congratulations

 

[Digger RJ]

Found this yesterday, but need an ID if this is a Trade Ax or not. The shaft hole seems small, so wonder what this was used for,. besides cutting wood, lol. View attachment 2076068 View attachment 2076069 View attachment 2076070

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[releventchair]

Congrats!
It's a keeper for sure.

Might post date fur trade. Hints of French axes in France is all I found of something near , but a blacksmith could build what ever a customer wants (ed).

Could it have been traded later? Sure. Anything could if a source existed.
It doesn't look like an imported in large amounts types. But stuff traveled , who knows? Individuals traveled and influenced designs from home countries. And tools just plain evolved too.

Here's some help going down the rabbit hole.

FUR TRADE AXES AND TOMAHAWKS

DESCRIPTION, IDENTIFICATION, TYPES AND HISTORY OF FUR TRADE TOMAHAWKS

www.furtradetomahawks.com

 

[oldmxrat]

I hope you post a pic after an electrolysis bath, congrats!

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Not a trade axe or like any trade axe I have seen, I agree with ARC, looks like a camp axe.

 

[The Rebel]

Thanks guys. Found it at a small site on the side of the road. A few hoe's, plow part & scythe turned up.

I've had it soaking in vinegar and just bought some white vinegar to soak it in.

 

[Almy]

I think I can see a lap weld in it, and if so that usually makes it pretty old. If so, it likely was handmade by a blacksmith. The shape is odd and the poll is unusually large.

 

[The Rebel]

Last few days I've been soaking it in white vinegar, apple cider vinegar and now it's in a hot water and molasses bath. I've also scrubbed it with a brass wire brush as well as using my Dremel steel wire brush.

It's cleaning up well and will post more pics in a few days.

Still looking for a better Id.

 

[dognose]

I don't think its a "trade axe", but a "camp axe" as ARC stated.

The hafting area looks more of an elongated oval, not the type of hafting hole I would expect in a trade axe.

I don't see what i would consider a blacksmith made fold over the hafting area. But cleaning that area up some may make this more determinable.

Here are a few pages from a tool book on axes.

Its not a broad axe but this is interesting reading on axes.

 

[cajundetector]

Found this yesterday, but need an ID if this is a Trade Ax or not. The shaft hole seems small, so wonder what this was used for,. besides cutting wood,

 

[cajundetector]

Looks like what was called a “masting axe”. Wish I had mine so I could send a pic but it’s in my office. It’s very close in appearance to yours. Found in my area where cypress logging was prevalent. Pretty sure it’s well over 100 years. Congrats.

 

[The Rebel]

Here's some cleaned up pictures