old ax: genuine or copy?

gioberto70 · 29th April 2023, 11:47 PM

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and I'm writing from Italy. I found an old ax and would like some information. It is similar to a late Gothic ax already published here years ago. The handle has an engraving that looks very old, I assume the owner's name. Does anyone have any more information? Is it authentic or a more recent copy? Thank you

Name: IMG_20230429_191602.jpg
Views: 733
Size: 143.4 KB

Name: IMG_20230429_191602.jpg
Views: 733
Size: 143.4 KB

Name: IMG_20230429_191633.jpg
Views: 739
Size: 66.9 KB

Name: IMG_20230429_191658.jpg
Views: 662
Size: 116.6 KB

Name: IMG_20230429_191721.jpg
Views: 722
Size: 94.1 KB

cel7 · 30th April 2023, 08:41 PM

It sure is old. The handle could have been renewed, hard to say but that is to be expected with axes of this age. The "crack" to the right of the marks is not a break but an indication of how it was forged. That part is folded over and forged together . A technique that you often see with old forged axes.

gioberto70 · 1st May 2023, 10:02 PM

Thanks for the reply. The handle fits perfectly into the iron part, the writing (as you can see from the first letter, a T) seems to be gothic. On the other side of the handle there is another writing, longer but indecipherable, because it is worn. The old age of the handle seems evident to me
I simply cleaned the neck very well because it was very dirty, but I didn't do any treatment to the wood. Should I put an impregnator?

29th April 2023, 11:47 PM	#1
gioberto70 Member Join Date: Apr 2023 Posts: 2	old ax: genuine or copy? Hi all, I'm new to the forum and I'm writing from Italy. I found an old ax and would like some information. It is similar to a late Gothic ax already published here years ago. The handle has an engraving that looks very old, I assume the owner's name. Does anyone have any more information? Is it authentic or a more recent copy? Thank you

30th April 2023, 08:41 PM	#2
cel7 Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 162	It sure is old. The handle could have been renewed, hard to say but that is to be expected with axes of this age. The "crack" to the right of the marks is not a break but an indication of how it was forged. That part is folded over and forged together . A technique that you often see with old forged axes.

1st May 2023, 10:02 PM	#3
gioberto70 Member Join Date: Apr 2023 Posts: 2	Thanks for the reply. The handle fits perfectly into the iron part, the writing (as you can see from the first letter, a T) seems to be gothic. On the other side of the handle there is another writing, longer but indecipherable, because it is worn. The old age of the handle seems evident to me I simply cleaned the neck very well because it was very dirty, but I didn't do any treatment to the wood. Should I put an impregnator?