The one that got away...

Gavin Nugent · 2nd February 2010, 08:31 AM

Geez mate, you should have let me know, being in my neck of the woods, I could have carried that for you until you were ready.

I look forward to seeing how the discussion transpires.

Gav

M ELEY · 2nd February 2010, 09:15 AM

Thanks, Gavin. I should have thought of that-

Dmitry · 2nd February 2010, 04:50 PM

No need to lament just yet. This is not a boarding axe. The blade and the pick are paper-thin. There is no taper at all.

The one that should be lamented is this -

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I bought it.

M ELEY · 2nd February 2010, 10:02 PM

Now that WAS a steal, Dmitry!

Congrats on that one. As a person of limited income for collecting, I can appreciate a bargain and every once in a blue moon, one comes around.

Actually, now that you point it out, the blade on the axe does look a little on the thin side. Still, an old piece. There is such a fine line when it comes to these, as ship-board fire axes literally evolved from their fighting predecessors. I feel better now. Again, good job on landing that beautiful sword! Now, I can lament not seeing your sword auction-

Dmitry · 2nd February 2010, 10:21 PM

Let's save these photos for posterity.
Look at the pick end again, and imagine if you'd drove it into, say, an oak door. Do you think a flat-planed blade would be easy to pull out, provided it didn't break upon impact?
Paraphrasing the great Levine - "Read the axe, not the story". In this case the seller was right - it is a fire axe, [probably used to hang on a wall of a janitor's closet].

M ELEY · 3rd February 2010, 08:18 AM

Again, I now see your point and agree fire axe, but wouldn't a fire axe be made to chop down doors as well? You mention a "flat-planed" blade. Are you referring to the fact that the blade isn't tapered or bearded? Again, early Brit boarding axes had blades with this shape to them, straight-bladed almost wedge shape-

Dmitry · 4th February 2010, 12:57 AM

Look at the blade from the top down, it's almost paper thin; then compare it with the axes in Gilkerson. The pick has to be wedge-shaped on all angles to avoid getting it stuck.
Why it's a fire axe, and it's so thinly-sliced; perhaps because it's a modern implement that only exists for the sake of the fire inspector..
Fire Extinguisher - check
Bucket with sand - check
Fire Axe - check
etc.
Perhaps it's old movie prop..

Compare this beefy axe to the ebay one.

2nd February 2010, 08:31 AM	#1
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Geez mate Geez mate, you should have let me know, being in my neck of the woods, I could have carried that for you until you were ready. I look forward to seeing how the discussion transpires. Gav

2nd February 2010, 04:50 PM	#3
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 611	No need to lament just yet. This is not a boarding axe. The blade and the pick are paper-thin. There is no taper at all. The one that should be lamented is this - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT I bought it. Attached Images Last edited by Dmitry; 2nd February 2010 at 05:23 PM.

2nd February 2010, 10:21 PM	#5
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 611	Let's save these photos for posterity. Look at the pick end again, and imagine if you'd drove it into, say, an oak door. Do you think a flat-planed blade would be easy to pull out, provided it didn't break upon impact? Paraphrasing the great Levine - "Read the axe, not the story". In this case the seller was right - it is a fire axe, [probably used to hang on a wall of a janitor's closet]. Attached Images

4th February 2010, 12:57 AM	#7
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 611	Look at the blade from the top down, it's almost paper thin; then compare it with the axes in Gilkerson. The pick has to be wedge-shaped on all angles to avoid getting it stuck. Why it's a fire axe, and it's so thinly-sliced; perhaps because it's a modern implement that only exists for the sake of the fire inspector.. Fire Extinguisher - check Bucket with sand - check Fire Axe - check etc. Perhaps it's old movie prop.. Compare this beefy axe to the ebay one. Attached Images Last edited by Dmitry; 4th February 2010 at 01:23 AM.

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2nd February 2010, 09:15 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,219	Thanks, Gavin. I should have thought of that-

2nd February 2010, 10:02 PM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,219	Now that WAS a steal, Dmitry! Congrats on that one. As a person of limited income for collecting, I can appreciate a bargain and every once in a blue moon, one comes around. Actually, now that you point it out, the blade on the axe does look a little on the thin side. Still, an old piece. There is such a fine line when it comes to these, as ship-board fire axes literally evolved from their fighting predecessors. I feel better now. Again, good job on landing that beautiful sword! Now, I can lament not seeing your sword auction-

3rd February 2010, 08:18 AM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,219	Again, I now see your point and agree fire axe, but wouldn't a fire axe be made to chop down doors as well? You mention a "flat-planed" blade. Are you referring to the fact that the blade isn't tapered or bearded? Again, early Brit boarding axes had blades with this shape to them, straight-bladed almost wedge shape-