Let's identify a very old broad ax

[not2sharp]

This thing has been sitting neglected at the bottom of a box for many years. It is a broken old broad ax head which I suspect may date from the early 19th or perhaps 18th century. Unfortunately, the series of impacts to the poll, which ultimately destroyed the ax, also damaged the marking. The only thing I can make out on one side near the butt is (unknown) WA....(could be "wh")/"*"; and on the other perhaps ".....DON"/over "*". The whole currently measures 10" OAL and weighs 4-3/4 lbs. There are also makings on the blade on the right side of each face. One is a dot/trademark, the other a (text)/dot; unfortunately, neither is decipherable. BTW, by "dot" I mean a deep circular impact that is approximately 2 mm in diameter. The fractured blade weld at the eye clearly shows how this was originally made.

Has anyone seen anything like this before?

n2s

 

[Square_peg]

It's a masting axe. Probably late 19th or early 20th century. It's a shame the poll is so badly damaged.

 

[not2sharp]

It doesn't look like a late 19th U.S. tool. Any thoughts on where this would this have been made?

n2s

 

[Square_peg]

U.S. The northeast.

Here are images from the 1900 Plumb Tools catalog.

Many makers had variants on these patterns. In general they were called masting axes. They were indeed carried on ships to hew a replacement mast. But more of them probably saw duty on land as broad axes or hewing axes.


Here's one I'm restoring. There will be a thread about it eventually.

I like that Plumb included telegraph code words in the catalog for placing telegraph orders.
I.E. - I'd like to check out her Ohio Pattern Broad Axe!