Old Ax Head Help

J

jamk

Joined
Jun 22, 2015
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4
Today I purchased an ax head at a local thrift store but I don't know anything about it. Is anyone familiar with the Bret Co. I found a French Naval boarding ax online that also has a makers mark that says BRET. This ax has a round eye and a distinct makers mark. I think it might be a French Trade Ax.

What do you guys think?

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Is that one in the photos yours? It's got deep pits that have been cleaned but some surface rust. Also has grinding marks on it. I don't see any signs of a weld around the eye so it could be drilled or machined out. Is there taper in the eye?
 
Thanks guys for all the help. I will be digging into the Bret website to learn more. To Guitarist 7.62 - I picked up the head today and haven't cleaned it or anything yet. there is a seam on the back side of the eye...could be a weld or casting seam. There is a taper in they eye. Do you know if it is better to have the weld or non-welded type?
 
I welded type means it was forged, they start with a peice of flat steel bend it over to make the eye the weld it together. They used to make the the body of the axe out of lesser steel, and forge weld in a high carbon bit. If it's been forge welded then who ever made this must of had at lest some knowledge of what he was doing.
 
Thanks for the great info. Here is a picture of the back. The axe has a defined weld on the back.

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Take a look at the plumb or dumb thread, different axe head but has a very similar mark on the bottom of the eye. I highly doubt their the same axes, and that's not what I'm trying to imply, but they seem to be manufactured similar. If it was forge welded it would be on the bit portion not the back.
 
My axe does share a similarity with the axe weld area on the plumb or dumb axe head. I would agree that similar manufacturing methods were probably used. Based of the style of axe head and Bret markings I would say that this is an older axe, unless its a reproduction for historical re-enactors...which is possible.
 
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