I'm new to this forum so bear with me please. Our group reenacts Civil War Engineers and we come across some very interesting tools from time to time. In this case its the pictured axe. We found it interesting and might buy it but cannot find much info about the style and its use. I've gone through my books and catalogs and found nothing. Any help would be appreciated. I cannot post attachments yet so the link is to the photo on my unit's FB page.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Help identifying this axe
- Thread starter rayzor30
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2010
- Messages
- 5,431
I went to the link and found this photo, then I right clicked on it to copy the link, which I then pasted here using the Insert Image icon:
I seem to recall that this shape axe was used to cut trees to make turpentine, but maybe I'm mistaken.
I seem to recall that this shape axe was used to cut trees to make turpentine, but maybe I'm mistaken.
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2010
- Messages
- 5,431
An example from
http://www.antiqbuyer.com/All_Archives/TOOLS_ARCHIVE/archive-miscEDGE.htm
Turpentine Axe
These unusual crescent shaped axes were designed to cut a slash into the bark of trees so they would ooze sap for the making of turpentine. The stamp says it us US made.
http://www.antiqbuyer.com/All_Archives/TOOLS_ARCHIVE/archive-miscEDGE.htm
Turpentine Axe
These unusual crescent shaped axes were designed to cut a slash into the bark of trees so they would ooze sap for the making of turpentine. The stamp says it us US made.
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2010
- Messages
- 5,431
Also called a Moon Axe:
"primitive turpentine moon axe turpentine tool tar tool"
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/primitive-turpentine-moon-axe-137898267
A description of how they were used:
"...Once hacked and scraped, you would lay tin on the tree. This was called a gutter. The moon axe would be placed against the tin and hit with a sledge hammer to seal the gutter....
from http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37670&p=411041
"primitive turpentine moon axe turpentine tool tar tool"
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/primitive-turpentine-moon-axe-137898267
A description of how they were used:
"...Once hacked and scraped, you would lay tin on the tree. This was called a gutter. The moon axe would be placed against the tin and hit with a sledge hammer to seal the gutter....
from http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37670&p=411041
Wow- not only was that great info- but it was FAST too. Thank you so much Steve Tall.
I tried doing what I think was the same thing to paste the image and it showed up as a blank area on the post. Thank you for that help too. I'll figure it out eventually.
I'm sure I'll have LOTS more questions as we uncover more unique tools. Thanks again.
I tried doing what I think was the same thing to paste the image and it showed up as a blank area on the post. Thank you for that help too. I'll figure it out eventually.
I'm sure I'll have LOTS more questions as we uncover more unique tools. Thanks again.
Square_peg
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2012
- Messages
- 13,850
Interesting. Never seen one. Must be limited to tarheel territory.
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2015
- Messages
- 295
That is interesting. How heavy are they do you suppose? When I first saw it I thought, "wow so thats why you don't take a high speed grinder to a hewing axe."
Looking at the photos again, the 1st and 3rd ones look like they started out as another axe that had the bit cut off and a new one welded on. The 3rd one is quite clear on that, but the first one theres a small seam just in front of the eye.
Looking at the photos again, the 1st and 3rd ones look like they started out as another axe that had the bit cut off and a new one welded on. The 3rd one is quite clear on that, but the first one theres a small seam just in front of the eye.