Please help provide history and value range for a friend on a shipbuilding axe

jblyttle

jblyttle

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Sep 3, 2014
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This is not mine, but I told a dealer that helped me out today that I would get as much info as I could on a piece for him, he loves history and wants to know as much as he can about what passes through his hands before he lets it go. As there are different types of dealers, this is the type that loves old tools and local history and although he needs to make a living does this because he loves it. Please help me provide as much I can for him on this item.

It is fairly large, and in immaculate condition, very light surface rust, pitting or abuse. It is very clean. I believe the mark says H.H. Hathaway New Bedford or close to it.




 
My guess would be B.D. instead of H.H., and sure enough, in the 1859 directory for New Bedford, Massachusetts, there is a Braddock D. Hathaway, blacksmith.

books


https://books.google.com/books?id=nCFEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA105#v=onepage&q&f=false
 
I am not an expert and not a collector. However, I have seen shipbuilding axes for around $300. They were immaculate, basically new and locally produced. I have one that has slight rust on one side, probably fine/near fine condition (bear with me, I'm comparing my knowledge of records to use on classifying axe quality). Yours might be in excellent condition, I wouldn't call it immaculate (no offense, it's still in incredible condition for an axe like this, and if its a desirable piece of local history all the better).

I can't put a price on it since that's not my thing, but an excellent tool to have.
 
Chignecto Woodsman said:
I am not an expert and not a collector. However, I have seen shipbuilding axes for around $300. They were immaculate, basically new and locally produced. I have one that has slight rust on one side, probably fine/near fine condition (bear with me, I'm comparing my knowledge of records to use on classifying axe quality). Yours might be in excellent condition, I wouldn't call it immaculate (no offense, it's still in incredible condition for an axe like this, and if its a desirable piece of local history all the better).

I can't put a price on it since that's not my thing, but an excellent tool to have.
Click to expand...

I accept and agree with the correction on the use of "immaculate". I think that I meant it relative to the age, but the truth is that it should be described as excellent.
 
Excellent condition, and has a maker mark. Two pluses. Mast axes appeal to less collectors than other types of axes from what I've seen.
 
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