Civil War or later axe

[rich pierce]

This is one of my favorite “using” antique axes. I’m not sure how late these were made with a wrought iron or mild steel body and a high carbon steel bit. Possibly as late as WWI?  You can clearly see the line between the body and the steel bit. Looking from above, no sign of a weld where the eye meets the cheeks so it appears “factory” made, not “hand forged”. It’s my regular splitting axe for ash and cherry and maple which is most of out firewood here.

[jbigley]

Now THAT is nice! --JB

[rich pierce]

Construction the same as my much earlier felling axe but that one shows signs of being “hand forged” not made in a mill.
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=59977.0

[Pukka Bundook]

Rich,
I had a double bit like that, but think I gave it to someoene "axeless".
Yours  a grand axe.   I have a Swedish axe I found in the bush here, well pitted but a good edge and it gets used an awful lot.

Lovely thing a good axe!

[Rado]

Does the almost mandatory"wrought iron or mild steel body and a high carbon steel bit" construction apply to Tomahawks as well?
Im thinking about ordering a hammer polled reconstruction and Im not sure what to look for when it comes to authenticity.

[rich pierce]

Does the almost mandatory"wrought iron or mild steel body and a high carbon steel bit" construction apply to Tomahawks as well?
Im thinking about ordering a hammer polled reconstruction and Im not sure what to look for when it comes to authenticity.

Yes, steel was very expensive and labor in Europe was cheap, so most tools were made of wrought iron with steel welded on. This included picks, sledge hammers, anvils, chisels, drills, plane blades, and so on. I’m referring to items made before 1780.

[Rado]

Thank You RP.
Oh well, this wont be cheap.

[rich pierce]

Thank You RP.
Oh well, this wont be cheap.

There should be old axes all over Europe that fit the bill. I see them on eBay. Lots from Bulgaria fur some reason.

[Rado]

Ive seen some French ones. These would fit quite well but they are either too big (not planning to chop down large trees) or in a way too poor condition.
I ve also seen some with a pretty modern looking producer stamp on them, but made as a iron-steel sandwich.