Antique Ax

slender haft

Photographed at the 2015 Tennessee Kentucky Rifle Show by Jan Riser.

Tomahawk or Tool?

I recently collected this great hammer-poll style tomahawk with a possible PA provenance. The 9.25" hickory handle appears to be original though I suspect it was the seller who shellaced it. Close to the head there are clear fitting marks left from the maker's knife. 

The head is 7" inches long, with a 2.5" blade and an oval eye and iron wedges. It shows good symmetry overall. Although pitted in the body, the edge is less so - perhaps indicating a steeled edge. The blade has an obvious cant to it. This may have been for some functional or ergonomic purpose lost to us today.

I enjoyed the compact nature of this piece and its common shape. It no doubt served someone well. 

Copy and photos supplied by viewer.

Belt or Bag Ax

OAL 9 7/8 inches

head 3 1/2 inches

bit 1 9/16 inches

Copy and photo supplied by a friend of Contemporary Makers.

Spike Ax

OAL 15 3/8 inches

head 4 inches

bit 2 1/4 inches

Copy and photo supplied by a friend of Contemporary Makers.

Double Bit Ax

OAL 19 1/2  inches

head 4 1/2 inches

bit 1 5/8 inches

Photo and copy supplied by a friend of the Contemporary Makers.

Antique Belt or Bag Ax

OAL 10 1/4 inch

head 4 

bit 1 3/8

Copy and photos supplied by friend of Contemporary Makers Blog.

Antique Spike Tomahawk

OAL 11 1/2 inch

head 6 1/2

bit 2 1/4

Copy and photos supplied by friend of Contemporary Makers Blog.

Antique Spike Tomahawk

OAL 11 3/4 inch

head 5 1/8

bit 2

Copy and photos supplied by friend of Contemporary Makers Blog.

Antique Spike Tomahawk

OAL 17 1/2 inch

head 4 3/4

bit 3 1/8

Copy and photos supplied by friend of Contemporary Makers Blog.

Antique Pipe Tomahawk

Pipe tomahawk 

OAL 16 1/4   inch

head 6 5/16

bit 2 1/16

The pipe tomahawk came out of England at the end of World War II where it was sharpened. The haft shows much use and patination with traces of red paint near the head.

Copy and photos supplied by friend of Contemporary Makers Blog.

Cowan's Auction Items

 

Missouri River War Axe with hand-carved handle with knob at end and decorated with carved parallel lines which is further embellished by 26 brass tacks; lines enhanced with red pigment; forged blade with pierced bleeding heart; outside of eye stamped with alternating stars and dot pattern and framed by parallel lines; leading edge of blade further detailed with small hatch marks, length 17 in., length of blade 6.75 in. x width of blade 4.75 in., first half 19th century

Sioux Painted Parfleche Envelope with sinew-sewn closing flap and hide lashings, red wool along edges; painted in red, yellow, blue, and green; old tag inside parfleche reads Sioux, near White River, S. Dak.; length 17.5 in. x height 12.25 in., late 19th century

Copy and photos from Cowan's Auction.

Antique Ax Heads

2 Belt Axes found 10 years ago in an excavation in the vicinity of Fort Mims, AL. 530 Settlers were killed there in 1813 by the Creek Indians, The British supplied them with guns in Pensacola, Fl at Seville Square. Davy Crockett and his fellow Tennessee woodsman joined Andrew Jackson there to fight. These are in remarkable dug comndition, the large one in 8 inches long, the small one is 5 inches long. The large one still retains a small amount of the original handle inside the eye. They both have the same pattern, a very nice piece of historical artifacts.

Copy and photos supplied by Steve Boyleston.

Iron Age Ax with Original Haft

Archaeologists have spent all summer excavating in a Danish bog a small sample of what has turned out to be a mass grave containing skeletal remains from more than 1,000 warriors, who were killed in battle some 2,000 years ago.

Among the numerous bone fragments, they have only found a few arrowheads, the remains of a shield and a very well preserved axe, complete with a shaft, which is very rare.

The discovery of the many Iron Age bones has attracted international attention, partly because  the body parts are macabre per se, but also because the bones are surprisingly well preserved. Furthermore, the find confirms a Roman source’s description of the Teutons’ atrocious war practices.

The site is located in the Alken Enge wetlands near Lake Mossø on the Jutland peninsula.

Copy and photos from Science Nordic.

Pipe Axe

Object types tomahawk pipe

Materials wood, steel, brass
Place (findspot) Found/Acquired North America
Date 1780-1830 (circa)
Ethnic group Made by Northeast Peoples

Description Pipe-tomahawk with engraved brass blade and steel cutting edge.

Dimensions Length: 65 centimetres

Acquisition name Donated by Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks

Exhibition History 2004 7 Jun-Present, BM Room 26; Gallery of North America, Case: "The Northeastern Woodlands" 1977 15 Dec-1978 30 Oct, Museum of Mankind, Room 9; Smoking Pipes of the North American Indian

Copy and photos from The British Museum.

Antique Pipe Tomahawk

Object types

tomahawk pipe

Materials

wood, iron

Place

Found/Acquired North America

Date

1800 (circa)

Ethnic group

Made by Northeast Peoples

Dimensions

Length: 40 centimetres

Acquisition date

1878

Acquisition name

Purchased from Lt-Gen Augustus W H Meyrick

Exhibition History

1977 15 Dec-1978 30 Oct, Museum of Mankind, Room 9; Smoking Pipes of the North American Indian

1982-1987 Jun-Jan, Museum of Mankind, Thunderbird and Lightning: Indian Life in North America, 1600-1900

2002 Oct-2008 Oct, The British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, Bristol, Permanent Gallery display

Copy and photos from The British Museum.

Antique Ax Heads with Hafts by Curt Lyles

Photos supplied by Curt Lyles.