Axe for ID

[fernando]

Originally Posted by fernando

... Still is interesting to read those lists of armament equipping the ships, where axes existed in large quantities.
One such example is Nau (ship) Santo Antonio e São José, a vessel with 182 feet length and a crew of 611, while having 60 axes in 04 August 1781, had its quantity amazingly increased to 100 units in October 1785...

On the other hand is easy to realize when the use of this tool/weapon started to decline.
We can read in ArmasBrazil...
http://www.armasbrasil.com/SecXIX/No...machadinha.htm
that, during the (Portuguese) empire (1822-1889), the number of machadinhss that were distributed was already more modest: 40 units to large ships and 12 to smaller barges. They were removed from the vessels in 1892, based on their obsoletism, being replaced by firearms and actual fire axes.