"Panther Run Spike Tomahawk" For the life of me.......

HARDBALL said:
. . . I see plenty of beautiful NEW Spike Tomahawks (using the drop the handle down into the Eye hole) design. All these makers say their design is (based/modeled/copied/etc.) after HISTORICAL design. . .
Click to expand...

I suppose you could contact these makers and ask them about the original they based theirs on and about the handles. They might even have pictures. Just a thought.


Bob
 
Hi RJ,

Yea, I was thinking about doing just what you suggested. In fact, I did contact Adam Thiele regarding his beautiful Spike Tomahawk. Adam didn't really have a picture of "authentic" (in Adams case) Hungarian 11th. to 13th. century hawk other than this Poll/Hammer Tomahawk :

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=05473be375aa21097a865e6656ab5b16&oe=5894A3EF

I figure it wasn't too much a stretch that some 11th. Century Blacksmith making Weapon's said "Hey, lets try a SPIKE on this end!"

https://img1.etsystatic.com/108/0/6997449/il_340x270.899648015_jd1u.jpg


HARDBALL
 
Based on information from the book American Indian Tomahawks (by Harold L. Peterson), I will theorize that the spike tomahawks were generally wedged because that's how the British made their light hatchets (with the eyes typically being too narrow for a good slip-fit handle). According to Peterson, it seems that the British introduced spiked tomahawks to the Native Americans, their popularity peaked around 1750, and they "began to disappear shortly after 1800."

Chapter VII -- The Spiked Tomahawk
... The use of hatchets and axes with spikes on their polls as fighting weapons -- and particularly as naval boarding axes -- was common to all nations of western Europe, but the British appear to have been responsible for the introduction of the light hatchet, with a spiked poll, to the American Indian... its area of use was within the English sphere of influence.

quoted from
https://archive.org/stream/americanindianto01pete#page/28/mode/2up/

Some photos of (reportedly) historical specimens, that show the narrow eyes:

55724230.jpg


3e76b810.jpg


Photos from http://tatcalite.tripod.com/id16.htm
 
Hi Steve,

Thank you for contributing to my thread/inquiries on Spike Tomahawk and especially the link to the "MEMBERS" page of TATC (which I have completely forgotten about/haven't seen) in years. The MEMBERS pages have some AWESOME photographs. As far as Peterson's thoughts on the English introducing the Spike Tomahawk to the Natives.......errrrr......I'm going to have to reserve judgement on that conclusion. I'm thinking Explorers from either Spain or France were more likely to have introduced the Spike Tomahawk to Native Indians. My research continues! Thanks Steve.


HARDBALL
 
Ummmm, if real, this Spike Tomahawk appears to have a "drop down from top into the Eye" method for securing the Haft.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/C-1760-1770...949593?hash=item43fdaf8dd9:g:hU8AAOSw5cNYlU8n


Link DISPLAYED FOR VIEWING PHOTOGRAPHS ONLY.



Also this informative response from a wonderful Historian/Blacksmith friend of mine regarding this subject (in part) :

Over the years I have had a good many original Trade Axes in general and Spike Axes in particular pass through my hands to photograph and study. I have also made copies of many of these as well.
In all cases the Eye of the Axe is tapered (drifted out) so it is of larger diameter at the top than the bottom of the Eye. This allows the handle to be made larger at the top, whether by splitting the top and inserting a wedge to expand it to tighten it, or by making the handle larger at the top and dropping the handle in from the top to prevent the head coming off in use. Either way the end result is the same from a functional stand point. The ability of the handle maker and the tools he has available is the deciding factor as to which method is used. The handle (or haft) of the Axe is the most fragile part of the Axe and is therefore usually the most often replaced part. This makes it very difficult to judge if it is original to the Axe head in its present state, experience in handling many examples can help, but not always. There has been one original Biscay-type Trade Axe that passed through my hands many, many years ago (over 30 years ago) that I can say was most likely intended to be made to have its handle drop in from the top. The Eye of that particular Axe (it was a 1 lb size) was made with a very pronounced taper on the forward side (a full ½” wider at the top than the bottom) making it almost impossible to wedge the handle in, in a satisfactory manner to completely fill the Eye. This is the only one I can remember off hand that had that much of a taper to the forward side. One thing I will add, is that I don’t feel it is any easier making handle that slides into the Axe head from the top, rather than wedging. Both require careful fitting in order to insure a tight fit. This is from my own experience, neither one is any faster or easier than the other.


HARDBALL
 
Last edited:
Hi Square_peg,

Yea, as you no doubt know, even IF the Tomahawk Head is old/vintage, most of the Hafts are not.

HARDBALL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top