Berdiche-hallberd stamp-hallmark
 

Hello everybody,

has anybody ever seen this stamp before?

I bought some time ago this heavy berdiche head but don't know how old it is and the origin. Germany ?

Kind Regards

IHS is a acronym/abbreviation of the greek name IHΣΟΥΣ =Jesus.
there is also another interpretation of IHS, better applicable to weapons

-In Hoc Signo (vincere) - In this sign you shall conquer".

best jasper

Yes, a Christian symbol referencing Jesus. The cross and crossed bones also indicate this. Likely a wood cutting tool, especially if the blade is offset/off center from the socket, which seems to be a case here. Jesus was a carpenter, so this could be why such stamp was used.

Waoh !!
Really interesting ! Thank you !!

( better an halberd head than a carpenter tool but.. :)

any idea about the land of production/ use of this type of stamp ? North Europa ?
And it's age ?

Kind Regards

Google "Austrian Goosewing Broad Axe" and you'll see many similar. There's one currently listed on a popular auction site with deep cross mark similar to yours. They were mounted on short wooden shafts and used as wood cutting hatchets. Yours is Austrian or possibly German, 18th-19th Century. Well made and with interesting and quite rare mark.

35 years ago I was told by the Jesuits that IHS stands for IESUS HRISTOS SALVATOR (Jesus Christ Saviour).

Thann you really much Alex!! I LL look the Google link.
Kind regards !!

There are several very similar variations to IHS, and this is correct translation that applies to this mark.

I also discussed the axe with someone who knows more about them, and based on form he thinks it is earlier, possibly 17th-18th C and also possibly used to be a weapon before being modified into a hatchet.

Should we compare francantolin's example with a Doloire shown in George Snook's publication ... and read what he says abouth these axes.


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Thanks a lot Fernando !!

I found these informations,
seems to be an Austrian axe ''tool''/ weapon called Doloire: