In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Fire ax ?

Discussion in 'Axes, Mauls, and Hand Saws' started by cmag, Oct 5, 2013.

  1. cmag

    cmag

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    Picked this up 30 yrs ago, told it was a British fire ax? wood 9 17 13 017.JPG
     
  2. stuckinthemuck

    stuckinthemuck

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  3. stuckinthemuck

    stuckinthemuck

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  4. Pallet Pete

    Pallet Pete Moderator

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    That is really good looking yet ! Do you use it still ?
     
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  5. thistle

    thistle

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    Over the past few years on Ebay I've seen a handful of original british WWII firemans axes that were in fighter planes.Either hard rubber or all steel handle.They can be worth a couple hundred to the seller if really nice.
     
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  6. Scotty Overkill

    Scotty Overkill Administrator

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    How about a Revolutionary War era belt axe.....
    Has the stamping of a Continental star and the word "Philadelphia" on it. It is thin, sharp and pointed at every end. These axes were tucked in the belt and used by soldiers (and militia alike) for hand to hand combat, from what I am told....

    2012-10-07_23-36-04_922.jpg

    2012-10-07_23-36-12_300.jpg

    2012-10-07_23-36-32_874.jpg

    I collect tomahawks and trade axes, and this is probably my most prized one yet.....
     
  7. NortheastAl

    NortheastAl

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    Really nice belt ax, Scott.
     
  8. Scotty Overkill

    Scotty Overkill Administrator

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    Thanks Al. That's one of the highmarks of my collection. I've got around 130 belt axes, trade axes and tomahawks....all of them are authentic, most of them were 'dug' relics....

    I've got one that was found in Rome, NY, it was found near the former Fort Stanwix in the mid-1930s.....
    Its a Huron trade axe, dating to the early/mid 1600's! I'll have to dig my pictures out on the other computer later.....I have most of the axes in storage, awaiting a case that I want to build someday to display them...
     
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  9. NortheastAl

    NortheastAl

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    Wow! That's awesome. That has to be one huge collection. Would love to see the pics.

    I was into the French snd Indian war stuff for a while. Never collected anything. Most of what I did was research for my own enjoyment. Scott, I made a trade ax from a kit. I'll have to take a pic and post it.
     
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  10. NortheastAl

    NortheastAl

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    Here is the trade ax I made. Horrible pic, and the wavy maple shaft shrunk over the years so the ax head has to be brought up to secure it. Might put a piece of leather between the head and shaft.

    image.jpg
     
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  11. NortheastAl

    NortheastAl

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    Here's a better image of the head.


    image.jpg
     
  12. Scotty Overkill

    Scotty Overkill Administrator

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    Here's some of my collection.....I can't find any pics of most of my spike tomahawks (I have around a dozen of them). Most of these are trade axes.....all from the Huron/Ottawa/Iroquois tribes.....all from the 1500's through the early 1800's....
    I carved most of the handles, the pic directly below (the axe on the far left) has what I believe to either be the original handle or a very early replacement....

    100-0007_IMG.JPG 100-0002_IMG.JPG

    Fort Michilimackinac trade axes (top and middle), bottom from Montreal, all 1700's.jpg

    top of Michilimackinac and Montreal axes (forge lines).jpg

    trade axes 1.jpg
     
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  13. NortheastAl

    NortheastAl

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    Magnificent collection, Scott. On the overhead view you can see how they were forged. You may be right on that one with the original shaft. The wood looks correct for that piece.

    Nice stuff there. If you have more pics, it would be nice to see them.
     
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  14. Scotty Overkill

    Scotty Overkill Administrator

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    when I get a chance I'll dig out the boxes from storage and show them off. Also have a box full of antique muzzleloading shotguns, and the broken off stock of a Revolutionary War rifle (patchbox, buttplate and trigger guard all in tact).

    Also have a bunch of colonial cookware (pots, pans, ladles, skimmers, spatulas, etc) and a few other odds-n-ends...I love colonial antiques....
     
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  15. NortheastAl

    NortheastAl

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    I've always been interested in American war and historical artifacts.. I just never collected anything. I have repros of firearms, but no originals. I envy you.
     
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  16. Gasifier

    Gasifier

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    Nice axe cmag! This turned into a cool thread. I will post a couple of tools I have when I get a chance. They are not as cool as the stuff I see here. Just stuff I use for the wood splitting process. And some tree trimming. Nice stuff there Scotty and Al.
     
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  17. cmag

    cmag

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    The details wow
     
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  18. cmag

    cmag

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    Thanks love old tools machines knives open top colt wheel guns.
    Scotty thats some collection
     
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  19. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    I'm sure glad they invented "GUNS" so you don't have to fight with them anymore:p, Thats some scary s#!t...... I think I would be better off with a sword:eek:
     
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  20. fishingpol

    fishingpol

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    Very nice pieces guys. The area that I live in was settled in 1640, and was considered frontier land in the early 1600's New England. There are documented stories of raids in this area and surrounding towns by the Native Americans and the French from Canada. It was serious business, life or death. An axe was a tool, a weapon and an extension of your arm in hand to hand combat. Many colonial settlers had an axe strapped to their belt at all times.

    I don't have any pieces like that, but they are absolutely gorgeous in each of their own way. I appreciate seeing them.