Metal detector Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I don't blacksmith, I am a metal detector who has an account here just to make use of the members expertise. I found this hatchet metal detecting and I want to know 1) is it possible to place a date on it? 2) what type of work was it used for? 3) was it made by a blacksmith? 4) is there a specific name of its shape and style? 5) any other information that you can pass on thanks for the help Now that we"re at it, how about these things? does anyone know what these things are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 In what part of the world were they found? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou L Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 It looks like it could be Colonial but I’m far from an expert. Plus, that style has been made continuously since then...I believe. I would fully assume it was hand forged because I don’t believe that style was made in production but I’m willing to be wrong. Im also a metal detector and would love to pull that out of the ground. I’m guessing it was one of those ugly sounding “rusty iron” hits that screams NAIL....but you just have to dig everything when you start out on a site. Better than yanking pull tabs out of the ground all day though! It would help to more knowledgeable folk who are bound to come along if you tell us about where in the world you found it. Location may help. How deep was it also? Foundations nearby? Known settlement? I always use the history of a site to get a preliminary date one what I find. Lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAG Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 It has the shape of a broad axe. They are used to convert logs into timber,. They are still made and sold today. But your find looks much older. The place, and location of the find, and the depth will help the folks here to reach better identifications. Is the axe beveled on one side on and other side is flatl? (like a broad axe)? SLAG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 If you clean it up with electrolysis you might even find a forge weld line and maybe see a difference in the metal where the higher carbon bit is welded in as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuEulear Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I have one that is similar but in much better condition do not know if it is a correct term but i prefer to it as my broad hatchet or hewing hatchet the blade is chisle ground and right handed and perfect for removing large sections of waste stock when carving middle sized (firewood) into useful implements like glutts and mauls pair one with a club and froe and you have a nice start on a basic colonial carpendry kit du Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Is it likely, given the size of the rings that they are cooperage hoops used for setting the staves prior to fitting the barrel bands? Where the found with the axe head? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I have one like that but it is in very nice condition. It's a Simmons Broad Axe Cohoes NY number 6. The writing is clearly visible. Definitely hand made by a blacksmith if with the help of a mechanical hammer or not I can not say. Some were sharpened flat on one side to aid the manufacture of planks or square beams. Eventually someone would sharpen them both side and turn them into an ordinary axe. There are some broad axe tragic who collect them and know everything about them. The photo below is not mine. Mine has no handle and sleeps on my desk. Bought for a song at the markets. (And my singing stinks) https://www.facebook.com/HistoricalSocietyTownofColonieNY/posts/the-rise-and-fall-of/498167230343134/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cohoes,_New_York Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerald Boggs Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 3 hours ago, Daswulf said: If you clean it up with electrolysis you might even find a forge weld line and maybe see a difference in the metal where the higher carbon bit is welded in as well. If you don't have the set-up for that, you could also use vinegar, it would probable be a three day soak. As for it's age, who knows? The style has been made for a long time and is still being made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I'm guessing the hoops are from the hub of a wooden wheel, the rest of which has rotted away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Plain circular bands do look like wooden wagon wheel hub bands, most often real wrought iron where I am at. Which of the over 100 countries that participate here on the WORLD WIDE WEB you are in I can't tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Somewhere that has Jefferson quarters, apparently. Whether or not they're accepted as legal tender in those parts remains unknown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Nickels, old style too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Why did I say quarters? Oops. Meant nickels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal detector Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 Thanks for the help everyone , I found this in north west Illinois. I metal detected a historic farm where the first pioneers of this county first build wooden shacks. The "Simmons Broad Axe Cohoes NY number 6" picture that Marc1 posted looks like an exact match. This is very exciting because the first pioneers came to this county from New York and settled here in 1830's.There is no way to prove that it was lost by the early pioneers but it matches up with the history of the place I detected. Thanks for the help guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 If you do some careful rust removal (e.g., electrolysis), you might be able to recover traces of currently illegible lettering. Might be worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 20 minutes ago, Metal detector said: found this in north west Illinois. We won't remember this, hence the suggestion to add your location to your profile. This thread will help you get the best out of the forum. https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/53873-read-this-first/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotoMike Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 1 hour ago, Metal detector said: I found this in north west Illinois Which county. I'm in northwest Illinois, Carroll Co. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal detector Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 Whiteside county in Erie along the rock river Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotoMike Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Welcome along. I'm up in Savanna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 Note "made by a blacksmith" and "made in a factory" are not mutually exclusive. Tons of tools were made by blacksmiths working in factories; sometimes even in prisons---see the history of Ohio Tool for an example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.