Help Identifying Axe/pick

H

Ham Slam

Joined
Jun 5, 2013
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Hey pretty new to the forum. I bought this ax at an estate sale. The owner told me he thought his Grand Father brought this back from World War I, not sure if that is true, but its all the back ground I have on it. I was wondering if anyone has an idea of what this is background or anything. There are 4 numbers on one side of it. Anyway that in advance for any help.





 
Did I post this in the wrong forum? I figured someone would know what it is.


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John A. Larsen said:
Google "German WWI Trench Axe". Found a photo of the same axe, carried by Pioneers (Combat Engineers). John
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Hey John, thanks for posting. I did your suggested search - very interesting.

Here is an example:

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Bob
 
Well done gentlemen! I wouldn't have even dared to guess on this but John A Larsen hit the nail right on the head.
 
I had seen them before, and Ham Slam, what are the numbers? Sometimes you can identify the unit the item was assigned to by the numbers. John
 
John A. Larsen said:
I had seen them before, and Ham Slam, what are the numbers? Sometimes you can identify the unit the item was assigned to by the numbers. John
Click to expand...

A lot of military stuff has serial numbers. Presumably to allow officials to manage inventory and take delivery of factory orders without having to count each and every one. Bayonets that I picked up over the years inevitably have numbers that don't correspond to the gun to which they were attached. I'm surprised axes (at least those that the Allies used) weren't numbered.
 
massanimal said:
The numbers on the side are 3532


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Without hyphens or alphabetics being involved chances are this one came along some 3531 units following the production of 0001. You'd think there'd be a maker's stamp on it somewhere; Jerry tended to be anal about marking stuff. Perhaps 3532 is a cryptic identifier of who made this, much like DWM identified firearm cartridges only by a number
 
Thos are the numbers from the band not the head. It's hard to read the one one the head because it has two horizontal line struck through it. I think I can get the ones off the head at least pretty close. Thanks again for all you guys help. I'll try to pull the ones off head tomorrow.

When I bought it the guy said his grandfather brought it home from the war. I said "maybe you shouldn't sell it" he said "don't buy if you don't want it but I sell it to the next guy" okay $10 sold...


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