Hello, when we were in drought here in Minnespolis in 1970s, my father found an axe/hatchet head that he found on the shore on south side of famous Nicollet island.  I have neutralized the rusting.   I am wondering if anyone can tell me age, purpose and if hand forged.   St. Anthony Falls was settled in 1850s, and a sacred Native American site as well.   Any input would be greatly appreciated.  

 

https://barrett-bettcher.blogspot.com/2024/06/antique-hatchet-found-on-shore-of.html?m=1

It is wrought iron and appears to be made in the wrapped eye method, mainly in the last photo. So, yes it is most likely hand forged. I’m not even going to venture a date on this. (I have made a hand forged wrought iron hatchet myself, just three years ago…)

It would help having more pictures similar to the last two. It’s very difficult to make out much detail in the rest. I could probably understand the find a little better with an in-person inspection. However, my findings wouldn’t mean anything to most people…(I’d be most curious about forging method and materials.)

I am curious if there was any high carbon bit material welded in.

Keep it fun,

David

Definitely looks wrought but I don't see the evidence of a wrapped eye, the pol is thick enough I'd bet on punched and drifted with quite a bit of refinement of the bit end to counter a tendency of wrought iron to split. Or heck perhaps a welded repair after it did split maybe while drifting. 

I don't see wrapping with the apparent thickness of the pol.

Then again without being able to look at it in person the above is supposition and I'm wrong so often I'm almost surprised when I'm not.

Frosty The Lucky.

Because it has a straight body rather than any flair towards the edge it is possible that it is not a wood cutting hatchet.  However, the oval hole for the handle argues for a hatchet.  As a blacksmith, it looks to me that it might have been a handled top tool which is held against hot metal and struck with a hammer.  Think of a chisel with a handle.

"By hammer and hand all arts do stand."

Thanks for the input so far!

I will try and upload some better pix this weekend. Stay tuned

Frosty, the picture below is what was making me think it was a wrapped eye:

I could be seeing things here and there is no evidence of “grain” structure in the picture of the other side. 

George, I have the same struggle that you do with the tool shape vs the eye shape, for some reason I swung the other direction. Maybe, just that there are a lot more products made by smiths than the tools themselves. May never know with a single “tool” found out of context…

It is interesting the think about all round. I made a set hammer with only a HC face, and it really didn’t hold up well to the striking. There doesn’t appear to be any mushrooming on what could be the struck end. Lost new tool? Also, the are areas that don’t show much “grain/fiber” characteristics of wrought iron. Makes me wonder if we are seeing evidence of HC material or at least more highly refined wrought iron on the flat end and at least part of the bit? I guess it could be differences in the corrosion from partial exposure to the water?

What are your thoughts?

 

Keep it fun,

David