unusual to me axe find

[jim mclemore]

I'm new to Bladeforums

I signed up as I found a unusual to me 5.1 lb axe head at the flea market today

The poll/butt is round not square, as it is pitted I can not detect any markings on it.

It evidently was not used much if at all the top or poll is not hammered.

The cutting edge appears un sharpened

I can't post pictures at this time

any ideas to help a newbie?? Thanks

 

[Ugaldie]

Is it simmilar to this one?

 

[Miller '72]

Is it simmilar to this one?

Beautiful

 

[jim mclemore]

The shape is similar, but the thickness around the back is double yours

No markings the heat treatment is apparent neat the edge

As I saidI,m a newbie, tell me about yours

 

[phantomknives]

that would be a basque axe, very good stuff, did you find it in spain?

 

[Hickory n steel]

It almost sounds like a michigan that someone rounded the poll on a long time ago, does it look at all like this head here ?

 

[jim mclemore]

I,m working on pics maybe by Monday

 

[Ugaldie]

J jim mclemore is the axe taper fit? You can find big variations between Basque axes, is it something simmilar to this one?

P phantomknives part of Basque lands are under Spanish and part under French administration. You can find Basque axes not only in Spain but in France too

 

[jim mclemore]

I have had difficulty adding photos to the blog but hopefully these work. Let me know if there is a particular photo or angle that you would like to see.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I have had difficulty adding photos to the blog but hopefully these work. Let me know if there is a particular photo or angle that you would like to see.

This would be south American.
Collins made lots of them and for export to South America though this one isn't marked and doesn't appear to be one of theirs.

 

[Steve Tall]

An example from Collins

photo from thread by Operator1975

 

[Steve Tall]

A similar pattern is still being made:

from an earlier thread
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/collins-legitimus-3-1-2-lb-tomahawk.1529254/

 

[Ugaldie]

Collins based in the patterns already in use in South America. What you are showing here are the first Basque pattern, J jim mclemore 's one is the oldest example of both.

Take a look to this

http://www.furtradetomahawks.com/biscayne-trade-axes---9.html

By the way there is not any confussion between Basque, Spanish, French and even parts of South America with the Biscayne term. The only confussion resides between the English speaking authors.

 

[phantomknives]

I wonder if they're better quality than the American pattern heads at this point

 

[jblyttle]

The head can't be super old as it was drop forged. It obviously wasn't made yesterday, but it can't be the oldest example.

 

[jim mclemore]

oldest?? this mean I'm rich??? Drop forged this mean I'm not rich??

Flea markets are fun. As is it not abused, did they sell them without handles, or most likely it broke early in its life and never replaced.

I woundlt want to swing that 5 pound head

Thanks guys

 

[jblyttle]

oldest?? this mean I'm rich??? Drop forged this mean I'm not rich??

Flea markets are fun. As is it not abused, did they sell them without handles, or most likely it broke early in its life and never replaced.

I woundlt want to swing that 5 pound head

Thanks guys

Few axe heads will make you rich lol. It's just a sign of how it was made, which is a rough guide to when it might have been made.

 

[Ugaldie]

I was refering to the pattern, oldest Biscayne, not when was it made. Today you can still find different period Biscayne pattern produced by different makers, but not the oldest one