1870ish axe

[CWC]

I’m looking for an axe to use at living history events, that would be appropriate for the American West circa 1870. I’ve seen some graphics that show antique axe patterns, but honestly I’m drowning in all the options, and the differences between them are so subtle that I don’t think I could properly pick one out and be confident in it’s age. Do you guys have any suggestions on what I should be looking for, and how I can make sure I get an appropriate axe?

I’m specifically looking for a 2 to 3 pound head on a 24 to 26 inch handle, appropriate as a general purpose camp axe. I also don’t care if the ax is actually from the 1870s, but just need the pattern to be appropriate for that era. Thanks!

 

[Hickory n steel]

I’m looking for an axe to use at living history events, that would be appropriate for the American West circa 1870. I’ve seen some graphics that show antique axe patterns, but honestly I’m drowning in all the options, and the differences between them are so subtle that I don’t think I could properly pick one out and be confident in it’s age. Do you guys have any suggestions on what I should be looking for, and how I can make sure I get an appropriate axe?

I’m specifically looking for a 2 to 3 pound head on a 24 to 26 inch handle, appropriate as a general purpose camp axe. I also don’t care if the ax is actually from the 1870s, but just need the pattern to be appropriate for that era. Thanks!

Search this item number on Ebay, I was just looking at this one today and think it would be perfect.
116619990660
you just might be able to score it for a reasonable price, and with a little TLC you'll have a good candidate.
I think it's probably turn of the century to 1920's at the latest, but it looks appropriate enough to me.

The only concern is that if you were in the 1870's your axe would probably not look 100 years old, so maybe you want something that looks a bit more fresh.

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

I’m looking for an axe to use at living history events, that would be appropriate for the American West circa 1870. I’ve seen some graphics that show antique axe patterns, but honestly I’m drowning in all the options, and the differences between them are so subtle that I don’t think I could properly pick one out and be confident in it’s age. Do you guys have any suggestions on what I should be looking for, and how I can make sure I get an appropriate axe?

I’m specifically looking for a 2 to 3 pound head on a 24 to 26 inch handle, appropriate as a general purpose camp axe. I also don’t care if the ax is actually from the 1870s, but just need the pattern to be appropriate for that era. Thanks

Around1890 shapes of axe heads dramatically changed (HnS's suggestion has modern shape and will not do. IMHO)
I buy a lot on ebay and I do not see many heads in your weight and production time category coming from West Coast (smaller, Hunter or Boy's size heads happen but I do not see them being sold by West Coast Ebay sellers). Mostly they are 3lbs and above which means they were hung on 28 to 32 inch handles.
Time correct in your weight category, would be small head made by Pennsylvania Dutch Blacksmith. However, they are usually sold by East Coast Ebay sellers which means small number if any ended up on Oregon Trail. They come with small square eyes and usually had shorter handles than Standard American Eye heads.
I have few suggestions. Find "Axe Addicts" Facebook group and tell them what you are looking for. I have seen many heads with correct shape being traded. sold, just lacking maker's marks. That should be cheapest option
You can also look on ebay but than you going by maker's marks and it will not be cheap or easy to find.
There were some axe makers that dated their axes or had very specific maker's mark that help to put production date around 1870
I have seen dates on (It is not sure shot, cause many of those names were used much later by AA&TCo)
Blodgett
Amoskeag
Underhill
Isiah Blood
D. Simmons Cohoes
Douglas
Also
Early Collins&Co Hartford Cast Steel Warranted without Legitimus maker's mark
some WM Beatty

Please check Josh's Instagram acc. He post some pre-1870 axes
https://www.instagram.com/axeyankee/

1873 Douglas catalog
https://archive.org/details/DouglasAxeMfgCoCatalogue1873/page/n27/mode/2up?view=theater

https://www.instagram.com/axeyankee/p/DEQkgIeRomn/?img_index=1

And George has bunch of them too

https://www.instagram.com/ithinkverydeeply/p/Cw7sc7nLQCV/?img_index=1
https://www.instagram.com/ithinkverydeeply/p/CMuThriD62y/?img_index=1

 

[rjdankert]

American

circa 1870

’m specifically looking for a 2 to 3 pound head on a 24 to 26 inch handle,

Bob

 

[CWC]

I buy a lot on ebay and I do not see many heads in your weight and production time category coming from West Coast (smaller, Hunter or Boy's size heads happen but I do not see them being sold by West Coast sellers). Mostly they are .3lbs and above which means they were hung on 28 to 32 inch handles.
Time correct in your weight category would be small head made by Pennsylvania Dutch Blacksmith. However, they are usually sold by East Coast sellers which means small number if any ended up on Oregon Trail. They come with small square eyes and usually had shorter handles than Standard American Eye heads.

Maybe I’m limiting myself too much by specifying the weight and length. What would you recommend if all I gave was this scenario: It’s 1870 in Montana and I just rode into camp with supplies I bought in Denver. I don’t need to fell any large trees, but need to do a bunch of camp chores, such as bucking and splitting firewood, sharpening and driving stakes, limbing and smoothing a ridge pole for a tent, clearing some saplings and brush so my horse’s picket line doesn’t get tangled, etc. What type of axe do I pull off my pack horse to get those jobs done?

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

Maybe I’m limiting myself too much by specifying the weight and length. What would you recommend if all I gave was this scenario: It’s 1870 in Montana and I just rode into camp with supplies I bought in Denver. I don’t need to fell any large trees, but need to do a bunch of camp chores, such as bucking and splitting firewood, sharpening and driving stakes, limbing and smoothing a ridge pole for a tent, clearing some saplings and brush so my horse’s picket line doesn’t get tangled, etc. What type of axe do I pull off my pack horse to get those jobs done?I

Sorry I was thinking about families of settlers in wagons moving West before 1869 Transcontinental Railroad opened. They carried water food and every pound counted . I could imagine they would have at least 3 1/4 lbs full size axe and possibly small belt axe. Boys axe seems redundant and unnecessary weight it that scenario.
Now your scenario seems different. What are you doing in Montana? For how long? What time of year.? Riding one horse. or also owning some mules.

 

[Old Axeman]

Hard for me to resist this one ! I think your first choice of a "Boys Axe" is correct. You need a easy to get at axe, carried on your saddle pony. I am not a collector of axes, although I have a lot of axes. I am not a historian of axes. But I am a life long ( or is that long life) practitioner of using an axe. You are getting good advise from the collectors and historians on this site.
.
I would like to hear more about your living history project. It will be just as important for you to use the axe correctly as it is to have the correct axe. So if you are not a very skilled woodsman already, please seek advise on axe use.

In my opinion forget 99% of what you see on the internet with weekend warriors posting video's of themselves and pontificating about how to use an axe. Your best resource on the internet is to watch HISTORIC footage of men who made their living, every day, 12 hours a day, using an axe. There is a lot of HISTORIC footage on this axe forum thanks to members like rjdankert and others.

Good Luck,
Bernie

 

[Hickory n steel]

Around1890 shapes of axe heads dramatically changed (HnS's suggestion has modern shape and will not do. IMHO)

I know it's not perfect, but just figured it would look good enough for the average person not to raise an eyebrow.
Finding something proper is going to take some real work and not be cheap, so I just figured he might want to settle for passable enough.

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

I know it's not perfect, but just figured it would look good enough for the average person not to raise an eyebrow.

Finding something proper is going to take some real work and not be cheap, so I just figured he might want to settle for passable enough.

I totally understand and it is kind of rare find on its own. Op stressed he is involved in living history events. As such they serve educational purpose for public and we need try hard to equip him with period correct tool.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I totally understand and it is kind of rare find on its own. Op stressed he is involved in living history events. As such they serve educational purpose for public and we need try hard to equip him with period correct tool.

If accuracy is going to be very important, don't you think a newly made reproduction axe of some kind would be a better option ?
I'm just thinking that in terms of realism an original piece probably wouldn't work without some real clean up because back in 1870 your axe would be fairly new and not look 150 years old.
I don't know what may be on the market though.

If one can find an original in very clean condition it'll probably cost an arm and a leg.

 

[CWC]

If accuracy is going to be very important, don't you think a newly made reproduction axe of some kind would be a better option ?
I'm just thinking that in terms of realism an original piece probably wouldn't work without some real clean up because back in 1870 your axe would be fairly new and not look 150 years old.
I don't know what may be on the market though.

If one can find an original in very clean condition it'll probably cost an arm and a leg.

Yep, that’s what I’m looking for. I would prefer a newly made reproduction, but a vintage axe restored to near like-new condition would be a close second choice. If went with a vintage it wouldn’t need to actually be 150 years old, as long as the pattern is correct and there are no obviously modern makers marks.

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

Yep, that’s what I’m looking for. I would prefer a newly made reproduction, but a vintage axe restored to near like-new condition would be a close second choice. If went with a vintage it wouldn’t need to actually be 150 years old, as long as the pattern is correct and there are no obviously modern makers marks.

The nature of construction and alloys used, make them prone to pitting; I have never seen those early axes being restored to new condition (later time, mass produced axes are being restored and repainted etc). In case of those early axes, thick patina is much appreciated. Collectors mess with them when they are very pitted or the poll is heavily mushroomed. Sharpening and hand filling mushroomed poll is natural process for any axe user. Those axes are there among axe community members, but you need to manage your expectations: Some are pitted, some had mushroomed polls. They are correct patterns, just not restored to factory condition. On the other hand, axe is new only once; Paint on soft body comes off quite easily and patina starts forming in no time at all, At the same time, cutting edge is being kept shiny by chopping and constant upkeep with sharpening stone. Very rarely somebody stumbles on NOS heads from that era, but the chances of you buying them in that condition and weight category are very slim,
Nobody made those patterns after 1900. so if you looking for historically correct head you need 140 year old head. I have not seen anybody making replicas of those early patterns. (Jake Pogg made few Pennsylvania Dutch type heads but that is not what you are looking for).
What is so special about 1870? That date affects the size of heads being offered. Popularity of Boy's size axes came later.

 

[Hickory n steel]

If you can work some already owned supplies into your scenario that could make things a lot easier.
Then the axe definitely doesn't have to look new, it can have some years on it.

 

[Square_peg]

I’m looking for an axe to use at living history events, that would be appropriate for the American West circa 1870. I’ve seen some graphics that show antique axe patterns, but honestly I’m drowning in all the options, and the differences between them are so subtle that I don’t think I could properly pick one out and be confident in it’s age. Do you guys have any suggestions on what I should be looking for, and how I can make sure I get an appropriate axe?

I’m specifically looking for a 2 to 3 pound head on a 24 to 26 inch handle, appropriate as a general purpose camp axe. I also don’t care if the ax is actually from the 1870s, but just need the pattern to be appropriate for that era. Thanks!

You could reshape a modern axe like one of the old or reproduction axes in this old thread. A home made straight handle would give it additional authenticity.

S

Post in thread 'R&D,18th c.American axe'

Mar 15, 2020

I finally finished hanging that axe you made last year, Jake. Sorry it took so long. I just had so much going on.

I left it a little rough intentionally. The poll steel is obvious. The dark steel at the bit is the high carbon insert. I have no idea what caused the darkening of the steel along the top and bottom. My guess is that it's how this wrought iron body etches.

Here you can see the steel filler in the poll and insert for the bit. The weld is open a little in the eye but it doesn't...

• Square_peg

• 
• 

 

[Hickory n steel]

You could reshape a modern axe like one of the old or reproduction axes in this old thread. A home made straight handle would give it additional authenticity.

S

Post in thread 'R&D,18th c.American axe'

Mar 15, 2020

I finally finished hanging that axe you made last year, Jake. Sorry it took so long. I just had so much going on.

I left it a little rough intentionally. The poll steel is obvious. The dark steel at the bit is the high carbon insert. I have no idea what caused the darkening of the steel along the top and bottom. My guess is that it's how this wrought iron body etches.

Here you can see the steel filler in the poll and insert for the bit. The weld is open a little in the eye but it doesn't...

• Square_peg

• 
• 

That would certainly be very passable.

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

You could reshape a modern axe like one of the old or reproduction axes in this old thread. A home made straight handle would give it additional authenticity.

S

Post in thread 'R&D,18th c.American axe'

Mar 15, 2020

I finally finished hanging that axe you made last year, Jake. Sorry it took so long. I just had so much going on.

I left it a little rough intentionally. The poll steel is obvious. The dark steel at the bit is the high carbon insert. I have no idea what caused the darkening of the steel along the top and bottom. My guess is that it's how this wrought iron body etches.

Here you can see the steel filler in the poll and insert for the bit. The weld is open a little in the eye but it doesn't...

• Square_peg

• 
• 

Timeline fits; That was last resort, not perfect option, I suggested. Do we find Pennsylvania Dutch products traveling west around 1870? That's the question.
If op goes this way, he can easily find and identify original Pa Dutch stuff on fleabay. Those being listed every week (sellers come usually from around Lancaster County or Harrisburg area). Important thing to add; those have square eyes(not standard American) and could be tricky to hang properly.

 

[Old Axeman]

Yes, the eyes are different than the standard American single bit eye. My original Pennsylvania Dutch axes ( pictures are somewhere on this forum thanks to Square_peg ) have what I would describe as somewhat of a rectangular shape with rounded corners. And, they can be tricky to hang properly.