Unidentified hatchet?

[blanchardd75]

Hey guys, my father has a hatchet that he found stuck in the ground of a barn about 20 years ago. He reckons the pick style end was used to kill cows and it's 70 ish years old. I know nothing about it and have never seen this style, any help would be appreciated.

 

[blanchardd75]

Sorry for the blurry pic

 

[triggahappy]

is it wedged to the haft? what is the length? Looks to me like some sort of tomahawk hung on a hammer handle

 

[blanchardd75]

is it wedged to the haft? what is the length? Looks to me like some sort of tomahawk hung on a hammer handle

No it's not wedged, it didn't have a handle when he got it, and you are correct. He doesn't know much about axes so he hung it on a hammer handle, but it works for him. The length of the head is probably eight inches from the pick end to the cutting edge.

 

[triggahappy]

I think you've got a super cool piece! some kind of lugged tomahawk, someone who knows more will come along and give you a better answer

 

[blanchardd75]

I'm going to Necro this a bit to see if anyone can tell me anything more

 

[Steve Tall]

from Fur Trade Axes & Tomahawks site
http://furtradetomahawks.tripod.com/id4.html

Similar to an "ice hatchet" (marked "Underhill E.T. Co.") listed in a Bigelow & Dowse Co. catalog from 1907.

 

[mako20ft]

That was my guess as well. It's a variety of ice pick and/or bit. I don't think (having grown up on a Dairy Farm in Northern Indiana) that something that small and short would be useful for culling cows or hogs.