Damaged Boarding Axe?

M ELEY · 16th June 2025, 06:20 AM

I'm beginning to think that you and CC are corret and this could be a 'private purchase' boarding axe repurposed later in it's life. It stiil appears someone took it to a grinding wheel or sanded it!

The langets do seem to match some of the examples I've seen. Good catch, Mark!

mgolab · 16th June 2025, 03:34 PM

Thanks Mark.

Terrible that someone would sand it down.

I am hopeful that the "shield mark" will provide some further clues here. Or perhaps that mark is too far gone to shed any further evidence. I do feel that the shield mark is some sort of inspection or proof mark? and not just a maker's mark. I know that Maryland Committee of Safety muskets bore a tulip inspection mark. Perhaps something along those lines....or a City mark?

If anyone has further thoughts on the shield mark, I would really appreciate to hear insight.

mgolab · 16th June 2025, 06:03 PM

Also, upon further examination, there may appear to be a letter "L" within the shield mark?

16th June 2025, 06:03 PM	#3
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 128	Also, upon further examination, there may appear to be a letter "L" within the shield mark? Attached Images Last edited by mgolab; 16th June 2025 at 06:09 PM. Reason: better picture

16th June 2025, 06:20 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,210	I'm beginning to think that you and CC are corret and this could be a 'private purchase' boarding axe repurposed later in it's life. It stiil appears someone took it to a grinding wheel or sanded it! The langets do seem to match some of the examples I've seen. Good catch, Mark!

16th June 2025, 03:34 PM	#2
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 128	Thanks Mark. Terrible that someone would sand it down. I am hopeful that the "shield mark" will provide some further clues here. Or perhaps that mark is too far gone to shed any further evidence. I do feel that the shield mark is some sort of inspection or proof mark? and not just a maker's mark. I know that Maryland Committee of Safety muskets bore a tulip inspection mark. Perhaps something along those lines....or a City mark? If anyone has further thoughts on the shield mark, I would really appreciate to hear insight.