Some folks asked me about my axe and related old tool collection...so I uploaded some pics and posted. This is not extensive. Its about half of my collection. Ive spent years and made contacts with various antiques dealers trying to find axes. I love them simply because they are so utilitarian and indispensable...If you could only take one tool...youd be wise to take an axe.
Left to Right:
A mid 19th French axe, huge, about 16 inches across
A 14th-16th century axe, German
A 17th or early 18th century New England/Canadian trade axe (heavy sucker)
A 18th century axe
A paper cut out of a jamestown axe I replicated
Next Row...
A 16th or 17th century German axe, hewing
A 17th or 18th century hewing axe, Eastern Europe
A Canadian hewing axe, cast steel, probably 19th century
A 19th century axe, hewing
A replica of 18th century version...my handy dandy hatchet
A similar hand forged axe, date unknown. Could be 17th or 18th century, not sure
Bottom Row
A hand forged multip purpose scy-axe, probably 18th or 19th
A railroad brush cutter 19th century
A french "shoulder axe" (bloody name escapes me at the moment)
A nice adze from Transylvania 18th century
A 17th or 18th century light adze or hoe, English
Second picture is my froe, hand forged from a piece of spring steel. Great for splitting planks. Its almost 18 inches long. And one of my hand hewing axes which I mounted on a longer handle...and it works great. But I had to do a lot of repair on this hewing axe as it was in bad shape. I dont usually use my antiques, ie put them to use as I feel they earned retirement and would prefer to build new ones, but this guy was repaired via poor weld so I felt the liberty of redoing the job and giving it a second chance.
And finally below...the "bearded axe" (yours truly a bit glazed after hours of work)
Now shown are a few of the axes Ive forged and a very rare 12th or 13th century axe which Ill try to remember and photograph.Well enjoy and feel free to ask me any questions.
cheers
Drew