What did I just buy? (Antique shopping in Brussels)

T

Taylor Ellis

Joined
Aug 28, 2019
Messages
3
Hey all. Thank you for having me.
I’m a big knife enthusiast. I mill live edge slabs here in Oregon using an Alaskan chainsaw mill and my brother-in-law does cerkote for the whole benchmade lineup, been caring for years. I’ve also carried a hatchet for years as well as an axe in my truck.
.mill live edge slabs out of just about anything. I’m self-employed as a buyer and seller of antiques among on other things.

I found a stacked-to-the walls antique shop going out of business here in Brussels Belgium while im staying here for two months for medical treatment. I’ve decided to concentrate on European tools when it comes to my antique shopping
When browsing this shop I found what looks to be a boys size sword and this interesting axe with a makers mark I cannot read.

It looks like an Austrian piece? Thoughts?
It was hidden in a backroom of this ancient shop with no price tag. Looking at the way it was forged with the folded steel wrap around for the handle with the bit installed for gap. It makes me think it’s old..

And it looks too thin to be anything but a weapon. Thoughts?

I'm going to buy so ln spear heads and the rest of his old European tools of value ( Which includes a 1/2 dozen 19th century and older axes).

I payed 20 euro for the axe And 20 the sword.
I will take pictures of the bits tomorrow that I buy tomorrow; about a half dozen all mar




















 
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Taylor Ellis said:
Hey all. Thank you for having me.
I’m a big knife enthusiast. I mill live edge slabs here in Oregon using an Alaskan chainsaw mill and my brother-in-law does cerkote for the whole benchmade lineup, been caring for years. I’ve also carried a hatchet for years as well as an axe in my truck.
.mill live edge slabs out of just about anything. I’m self-employed as a buyer and seller of antiques among on other things.

I found a stacked-to-the walls antique shop going out of business here in Brussels Belgium while im staying here for two months for medical treatment. I’ve decided to concentrate on European tools when it comes to my antique shopping
When browsing this shop I found what looks to be a boys size sword and this interesting axe with a makers mark I cannot read.

It looks like an Austrian piece? Thoughts?
It was hidden in a backroom of this ancient shop with no price tag. Looking at the way it was forged with the folded steel wrap around for the handle with the bit installed for gap. It makes me think it’s old..

And it looks too thin to be anything but a weapon. Thoughts?

I'm going to buy so ln spear heads and the rest of his old European tools of value ( Which includes a 1/2 dozen 19th century and older axes).

I payed 20 euro for the axe And 20 the sword.
I will take pictures of the bits tomorrow that I buy tomorrow; about a half dozen all marked


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Cool story for sure! I'm sure people would be glad to help. Unfortunately only the very last photo came through. There aren't any links either so I couldn't upload them for you. Can you try again?
Edit; I can see all the pictures now. Not sure if that was a problem on my end? Either way that's a cool looking old axe for sure!
 
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A17 said:
Calling E Ernest DuBois , there's a cool hewing axe? for you to ID.
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What I think, because it's not too familiar, is that it's a kind of trench cutter. First off because of this great sweeping heel section of its blade. I'm familiar with only one kind of hatchet where the blade sweeps was under like that but see plenty of root, sod, turf, etc... cutters with this configuration. The build is also not consistent with a woodworking axe with the simple sandwiching of the blade between the wrapped eye. I've not ever seen a blade bend like that on a hewing axe and it's not really consistent with a hardened edge either. I have seen blades bent like that on a similar tool I use for ground work which is easy enough to hammer back into shape. You must be aware that there is a whole category of similar tools used for working the ground whether it is by the farmer, the gardener, the forester, ditch digger - there was always lots of that going on around here - or what's it called now, coppice work, turf harvester, that sort of thing are among the possibilities and more probable, in my opinion, than woodworking. Also being there in Belgium, I bet it's pretty close to its original home even. I've seen it often that these sod cutters get misidentified as hewing axes and even the other way around sometimes but my best guess would be this one's for cutting in the ground. It should be added that it is no weapon beyond the degree to which any other object can be considered as a weapon, I mean no more so than a pitchfork.
 
And that's why you call in an expert! I thought it was too "flimsy" to hew stuff, but my logging mind couldn't think of a better explanation. A dirt cutting axe certainly wouldn't need the strength a wood cutting axe would, but I certainly wouldn't have thought of it.
 
Ernest DuBois said:
What I think, because it's not too familiar, is that it's a kind of trench cutter. First off because of this great sweeping heel section of its blade. I'm familiar with only one kind of hatchet where the blade sweeps was under like that but see plenty of root, sod, turf, etc... cutters with this configuration. The build is also not consistent with a woodworking axe with the simple sandwiching of the blade between the wrapped eye. I've not ever seen a blade bend like that on a hewing axe and it's not really consistent with a hardened edge either. I have seen blades bent like that on a similar tool I use for ground work which is easy enough to hammer back into shape. You must be aware that there is a whole category of similar tools used for working the ground whether it is by the farmer, the gardener, the forester, ditch digger - there was always lots of that going on around here - or what's it called now, coppice work, turf harvester, that sort of thing are among the possibilities and more probable, in my opinion, than woodworking. Also being there in Belgium, I bet it's pretty close to its original home even. I've seen it often that these sod cutters get misidentified as hewing axes and even the other way around sometimes but my best guess would be this one's for cutting in the ground. It should be added that it is no weapon beyond the degree to which any other object can be considered as a weapon, I mean no more so than a pitchfork.
Click to expand...

Makes sense both for the shape and the wear.
 
I should never have disparaged dung axes at all, calling them lowly. I use something similar for cleaning out the stall and they are great. I can only dream of having such a fine one as this Brussel model.
I have to admit it, being curious about these 6 other axes mentioned.
 
In addition, for this new visitor recuperating there in Brussels, this link giving all the information on tools and smids etc... is linked to a very interesting open-air museum with its own old tool collection on the outskirts of Brussels, a bit to the north and east in a place called Grimbergen.
 
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It's no executioner's axe, it's a carpentry axe, (timmermansbijl) and the other axe is a typical for the area felling axe or you may be right that it's a topping axe (topbijl). While I understand very little about spears and swords and any of the old-time fighting gear in general I am pretty sure those spear heads are out of the Congo.
 
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