A Rare Dutch Axe From Between 16th and 18th Century

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Ernest DuBois

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Mar 2, 2013
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Normally I don't get in a rush and post up an axe to the forum's site before it's in a functional condition but in this case because the axe is unusual not only for its age but place origins as well I thought maybe there's some scope for input and assessment. Not only this but there is a concurrent theme going on about how to resolve the problem of an overly enthusiastic chemical emersion cleaning I would like to see commented on in this instance since for me too such an abuse would normally be cause enough to let the axe go to the one without an objection but in this case the attraction was strong. I could go on and on and on, you know it, but here is the axe in many aspects speaking for itself.
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Top view
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Bottom view
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Edge view
A view of the views lets us see that the top of the blade is substantially thicker than its underside indicating the construction technique among other things. What are we to make of this taper - toe to heel - at the edge with the corresponding variation in the bevel geometry?
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Here are some of the indications I've made out of the axe's unconventional composition. A very interesting and complex eye construction I'm still puzzling on.
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7LyEh
 
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Ernest, that is an interesting axe for sure. That difference in edge reminds me of the axes you had a hand in recreating and the Finnish piilu, the general bit shape and drop in the back of the poll of the Norwegian building øks, and that spur or spine of something reminiscent of farther east.
I think I can see the inserted bit and where the poll is forge welded shut at the very back?

The eye shape is throwing me off a bit.

I do see why it caught your eye for sure.
 
Neat old axe,Ernest.
My connection is SO lousy that i can only see the first two photos.
However,even on the very first one,the transition of eye to blade,that squared notch,is pretty much the schematic of that famous Terje Granas break-down,seems like a fairly standard older technique to me...
 
Thanks,Agent_H,those are some of the coolest Norsk axes,that's a lovely historical research database,makes for some great meditative axe-gazing...:)
What Directly bears on const.detail of Earnest's axe is the sq.corner of the front of eye.
That same underside notch on these breidoks then curves away,vs another sq. corner on Ernest's,but the method is obvious,it's a cleft-weld of some sort.

Back to that historical Hordaland database,i often think of it when i encounter that erroneous and offensive term "boutique axes".
It is a common mistake folks make when they assume that those modern Scandihoovian axes are a projection appealing to some yuppie tastes...Those are truly ancient forms,determined by logic stemming from forging and woodworking solely...(it is the "boutique" mind that lacks the background to percieve that!:)

There!I got it off my chest,finally!:)
 
A couple of times now the reference to Scandinavian and most particularly Norwegian axes gets brought up and who could disagree or discount it especially taking the classic Agder-bile into account. In fact I might even send a shot on up to Tjere because he was asking about known axes with comparable characteristics existing outside of Norway and I know this is his favorite style to make. The collar also a very Norwegian look to it now it's been mentioned. Still the construction strikes me as far more refined than most of the old Norwegian carpentry axes, but not necessarily the axe as a wholeBy the way Jake here is one of the articles with the schematic I think you are meaning.

Another curiosity with more direct connections is the famous tool collection from the Skokloster Slot in Sweden, the tools all made by Jan Arendtz of Amsterdam in 1664.
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Foto: Roald Renmælmo
You see the similarities between the axes with the difference that the Arendtz axe is substantially socketed and made for a different use. And this example for the sake of the form involved
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The curious thing about the squared-off notch at the front of the eye as seen in the sixth and final shot from the first entry is it seems to be closed off by two thin flaps from either side folded in on each other as a sort of cover or masking. The eye is a strange diamond shaped and completely symmetrical affair and the poll seems to my unknowledgeable eye to be made by upsetting and forge welding the ends of two separate leaves or wings forming the sides of the eye. Seams are visible inside the eye at front and rear so it's like the eye formation occurred with no folding involved. To one degree to that other one these are fairly known and common construction methods perhaps. What is so strange and unique is the taper in the height of the blade - toe to heel, as opposed to the unremarkable and standard taper in the length of an axes blade - a characteristic, lets call it the dynamic cutting edge, I know only from the Swedish and Finnish timber surfacing axes, (of course American felling axes also possess this dynamism as we all know)'
Agent_H said:
I think I can see the inserted bit
Click to expand...
You see it good then, there is indeed an insert of high carbon content steel for its edge and I will soon grind and hone it finding out just what kind of character the edge possesses.
 
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I've seen them on such, but as yet haven't found one in good repair with a seller willing to ship to the US.

In regards to the subject axe, I wonder if it's from a specific region or a melding of influences. I see a lot in common with some of the earlier documented Hults Bruk "yksors," the collar looking quite a bit like the Gullspång pattern in their earliest hosted catalog.

I have a Wermlands, much, much newer than the the the subject axe, but I *love" it as a general utility axe.
 
All I'm saying is this general form of the blade, looking on in profile like that, the beard dropping down in that particular fashion forming an arch of a circle in the transition from vertical to horizontal becomes a kind of defining feature, something similar to how the particularity of the lugs of a Jersey pattern help us in identification and categorization but then in this instance the features are altered to create completely different axes while still remaining within the confines of the general form. To me this is an essence of craftsmanship or hand work across the board, maintaining discipline while at the same time exercising creative dominion over the subject at hand.
One subtlety of form I like in this axe is the upwards sweep of the line at the bottom. It's not straight there but gently curved, don't know if it's apparent in the pictures to the uninitiated.
 
Ernest DuBois said:
Edge view
A view of the views lets us see that the top of the blade is substantially thicker than its underside indicating the construction technique among other things. What are we to make of this taper - toe to heel - at the edge with the corresponding variation in the bevel geometry?
Click to expand...

The tab at the front of the eye is cut from the cheeks before the toe is drawn out. The toe may in fact have been the thickest side of the cheek/bit prior to this.
 
Ernest DuBois said:
By the way Jake here is one of the articles with the schematic I think you are meaning.
Click to expand...

Yes,Ernest,thank you,that is that study by Terje that i meant in earlier post.

I really love that this subject-the construction details-came up,and value everyone's input extremely.
I myself was always very unsuccessful at correct interpretation of visible weld-seams;it's almost like some retardation or a blind-spot with me...:(
But it Is a rather challenging pursuit.From above data as well as many other sources we know that the "piled"(layered) nature of older material alone has seams that may come to the surface about anywhere on the object,and it's extremely difficult to say if a given seam was a deliberate joint or just a weld in the non-homogeneous iron of the period.
But,yeah,good stuff this!!!:)
 
Square_peg said:
The tab at the front of the eye is cut from the cheeks before the toe is drawn out. The toe may in fact have been the thickest side of the cheek/bit prior to this.
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I think so and I guess, though the smid could say it, the welding happens first, the tab cleft from the unit produced by the weld and then bent 90 degrees.... For the rest the construction looks like it follows roughly the sketches from the text by Terje.
If you think that the construction method of your axe is a deviation from those well established patterns ie poll, eye, central transition, blade/beard, and bit composition, which I often do, you're maybe kidding yourself and there is normally an easier answer. I'm sure there is one of those exposed seams like you say it Jake of the layering kind, showing through down low on the beard more or less chasing that sexy curve there.
Well, probably I'll refrain from slicing up my axe to get a better look but are there any suggestions for a remedy to this awful surface exposure? I really hate it but am afraid I'll be stuck living with it like that. Initial experiments with wire brushing just produces a nasty shine.
 
jake pogg said:
I really love that this subject-the construction details-came up,and value everyone's input extremely.
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Here's another example of a similarly constructed axe that Old Axeman owns and re-hung. The shape is strikingly similar minus the tab. Some of the construction might be revealed by these pics.

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Several of the seams are visible. The 3rd photo shows hints of how the carbon steel bit was welded in. The welds at the poll are obvious.
 
I found this head under a pre- 1776 Penn. building that had a log cabin section hidden and covered over. I was working this job about 50+ yrs ago. I finally just recently cleaned it, sharpened it, and hung it. If you live long enough you might get around to some of the important projects!
 
The reason that I keep re-posting up and re-posting up some photos not of my own taking and which I exercise no rights over is that for one thing these axes are not so well known and can be hard to track down for the uninitiated. For that other thing it's an attempt to establish a a pattern of distinguishing features with more or less known origins, yes to take a rational approach in trying to make some sense. This photo coming from a member of a Dutch forum and who is something of a lurker to this one as well. I take it without his permission knowing that he will be surprised to see its appearance here. This axe he found and it is in his collection here in the Netherlands to this very day and I really love this axe.
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Here is a reference from that same Dutch forum indicating a similar axe and including some rather sketchy speculation.
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