French miners axe ???

S

samek

Joined
May 7, 2003
Messages
208
Hallo axe fellows!
I found an interesting axe (hatchet?) head at fleemarket yestreday. I didn't know what it is at all. At home I found identical axe on internet, but only and just this one, so I don't have confirmation, that my axe is realy »early & unusual antique FRENCH PATTERN MINERS AXE«
https://vintagetoolshop.com.au/collections/axes-hatchets/products/y299
I am looking for more information. How old, where from, for what porpouse. Measures: length: 25 cm, cutting edge 6,5 cm, weight 0,77 kg.
I want to make a handle in original shape and size, but I don't know the size and shape.




Please, help!
 
Neat axe.
Can't help you,not in any concrete way.
However,if i had to guess-based on common sense and the photos of many older French axes i've seen in the past,i'd say that the handle was straight,and not overly long.
The tradition of those days had tools hafted by the user,in France the handles were rarely finished in a very "fine" manner,many older ones you see were left pretty "wild",not exactly very symmetrical,allowed to be polished by use vs any finishing with abrasives.
Two-sided tool like that would pretty much dictate a straight haft,any curvature making the use of the hammer-poll awkward.
 
Some resources that might be more or less helpfuL.

Hache du mineur
Foreign web sites: https://www.forum-outils-anciens.com/t2676-Pouvez-vous.htm?q=hache and further, Museum of The Old Techniques out of Grinberg, Belgium where they archive forgers marks

Typically the miners axe, for whatever reason, was not much more than a forged strap forming a crude eye with a blade sandwiched in-between, often even with nothing more than a couple rivets.

This form with the bill on there like that occurs a lot in various types of French and Belgian axes so in and of itself not indicative of any particular trade's axe.

Just to add on some grip speculation, this eye being elongated means one kind of transition, eye to grip or another. Symmetric, it's an option but so is the iconic French articulation which could be done without diminishing the double function. Typically it would be with ash, but believe me, the French adhere to no dogmas about a best wood.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top