Strange unknown knife for id

Mark · 16th November 2005, 03:01 PM

What do you think is the age of that aluminum axe? Before electolytic extraction methods were perfected (making it possible to extract aluminum from dirt, essentially), it was really considered a precious metal. I forget when that change happened -- maybe early 20th cen.? An interesting story is that the cap of the Washington monument is a little pyramid of aluminum about 18 inches high, which was a very major part of the expense of the total project, and had to be specially commissioned from the scientist was was then developing the electrolytic extraction process.

Perhaps this is either a product of that era, or the cultural value of aluminum was established by that era.

Freddy · 16th November 2005, 06:51 PM

Here is the promised photo. The decoration on this axe blade is crude. The maker even tried to sharpen the edge. Also the way it is fastened to the shaft is very crude. It looks like it was riveted to a piece of iron (?) which goes through the shaft.

I have no idea about the age of this piece. Probably it is something which was collected in Congo during the first half of the 20th century. I got it from a reputable African art dealer.

Tim Simmons · 16th November 2005, 07:01 PM

Aluminium history, world production did not really take off untill the 1920s. Look here, www.world-aluminium.org . Tim

Freddy · 16th November 2005, 07:52 PM

Here's another axe with aluminium blade (I think).

My guess is that it comes from West-Africa. Very strange blade, but the way it is set into the blade and also the decoration on the axe handle point in the direction of Mende in Sierra Leone.

total length : 37,5 cm
blade : 13,7 cm x 10,5 cm

Tim Simmons · 16th November 2005, 07:54 PM

Very, very nice!!!

Freddy · 16th November 2005, 08:11 PM

Here's a 'normal' Mende axe :

With a common iron blade and some copper decoration.

Total length : 43 cm
Axe blade : 15 cm

Tim Simmons · 16th November 2005, 08:18 PM

The geometry on the aluminium blade with the dark wood appeals to me most of all. looks like quite a special thing, I like the other one to but not as much. You got some nice stuff

Tim.

16th November 2005, 07:52 PM	#4
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	another one with aluminium Here's another axe with aluminium blade (I think). My guess is that it comes from West-Africa. Very strange blade, but the way it is set into the blade and also the decoration on the axe handle point in the direction of Mende in Sierra Leone. total length : 37,5 cm blade : 13,7 cm x 10,5 cm

16th November 2005, 03:01 PM	#1
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	What do you think is the age of that aluminum axe? Before electolytic extraction methods were perfected (making it possible to extract aluminum from dirt, essentially), it was really considered a precious metal. I forget when that change happened -- maybe early 20th cen.? An interesting story is that the cap of the Washington monument is a little pyramid of aluminum about 18 inches high, which was a very major part of the expense of the total project, and had to be specially commissioned from the scientist was was then developing the electrolytic extraction process. Perhaps this is either a product of that era, or the cultural value of aluminum was established by that era.

16th November 2005, 06:51 PM	#2
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Here is the promised photo. The decoration on this axe blade is crude. The maker even tried to sharpen the edge. Also the way it is fastened to the shaft is very crude. It looks like it was riveted to a piece of iron (?) which goes through the shaft. I have no idea about the age of this piece. Probably it is something which was collected in Congo during the first half of the 20th century. I got it from a reputable African art dealer.

16th November 2005, 07:01 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	Aluminium history, world production did not really take off untill the 1920s. Look here, www.world-aluminium.org . Tim

16th November 2005, 07:54 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	Very, very nice!!!

16th November 2005, 08:11 PM	#6
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Here's a 'normal' Mende axe : With a common iron blade and some copper decoration. Total length : 43 cm Axe blade : 15 cm

16th November 2005, 08:18 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	The geometry on the aluminium blade with the dark wood appeals to me most of all. looks like quite a special thing, I like the other one to but not as much. You got some nice stuff Tim.