Very early claw face hammer, hatchet / shingle hammer

[I'mMattman]

I've had this for quite some time now, picked it up at an estate sale. After some research and forensics, I can date this tool to sometime between 1720-1800. This puts it in the second colonial dominion era. The earliest known example of this design if from around 1750, and this one likely predates that. In those days there were no steel factories in what was to become America, so the carbon steel was most likely salvaged from ships. They did have naturally formed Bog Iron deposits here, this is where the iron for the body likely came from.

It has definitely seen better days. However, the natural erosion of the metals gives it an x-ray of how it was actually forged. The claw face and cutting edge of the ax are carbon steel, while the body is forged layers of Iron. The handle is the original hickory, but one of the coolest things about it are the form fitted steel shims are still in place. Whoever created this, was a master blacksmith for sure.

 

[tontotheindian9]

That's pretty intense!

 

[Farmer J.]

That's a lovely old relic, and very interesting. I love the way the wrought iron partially delaminates and shows the grain and direction of forgeing on things of that era.
The date range you give seems right to me. I wonder if it may have been originally part of a ships carpenter's on board tool kit and arrived in America , or if it was indeed forged right there in the new colony and is one of the early items actually made there. I don't know much about that but suppose blacksmith shop would be something set up pretty quickly in the new settlements.
Thanks for posting it, and it's a nice change from factory made mass produced items. I am going to look around and see if I can find any others from that period of similar design.

 

[mike93lx]

Wow, very cool.


I'd probably start with a 36grit flap wheel to clean it up and a nice piece of pine for the handle

 

[I'mMattman]

Naw, I've got to keep the patina. I have been tempted to soda blast it and put a coat of oil on it to stop the deterioration, but for some reason I always stop myself.

 

[mike93lx]

Naw, I've got to keep the patina. I have been tempted to soda blast it and put a coat of oil on it to stop the deterioration, but for some reason I always stop myself.

Shiny metal is pretty metal! Just joking.

I'd leave it be, maybe a little oil. I'd never use any kind of abrasive on it

 

[I'mMattman]

Shiny metal is pretty metal! Just joking.

I'd leave it be, maybe a little oil. I'd never use any kind of abrasive on it

Any recommendation on oil? I was thinking just mineral/butcher block oil, so it won't discolor the wood.

 

[mike93lx]

Discolor? Are we looking at the same handle?

Those are probably just fine, although I'd likely try some BLO

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Cool piece. Love your instincts. I might be tempted to clean the handle and restore some oils with something gentle like Murphy's or BLO and also use something to retard further deterioration of the head, but I'd probably want to talk to an expert first. How fragile is it? Does it crumble or flake off if you touch it? Have you thought about consulting the Smithsonian's Museum Conservation Institute? It's like a backdoor to the museum, or their education function. The how to the what. Or contacting their staff? They're very approachable.

Museum Conservation Institute | Museum Conservation Institute

www.si.edu

 

[Jacobs976]

I'd recommend a light coat of 3 in 1 oil for rust prevention. I've used it on my conflict sword from 1812 and my hewing axe from the mid 1850s that still has a nearly perfectly intact handle. Also use it on 1900-1920s handles without issue. On wood it acts like any wood oil so a little bit won't hurt it as long as the wood isn't deteriorated too much.

Would also recommend being gentle with the metal, delaminated iron is a bit tricky sometimes. Pulled a pickaxe out of a creek that was probably from around 1910 and it had delaminated the top layers completely so it flaked apart when working on it. Ended up with the core of the pick which was interesting on its own but it wasn't in any way significant age or historically so it wasn't an issue.

 

[Farmer J.]

This one very similar on Worthpoint.

RARE Antique Wm G. IDEAL NEW YORK Nail Puller Hatchet Axe Kelly Raven AA&T type | #1814251847

Rare Antique or Vintage Wm. G. Co. IDEAL New York embossed logo Nail Puller Hatchet or Axe done in the Kelly Black Raven or American Axe & Tool Nail Puller Claw style, in outstanding used condition -

www.worthpoint.com

For those unfamiliar with the process of making this and forge welding the carbon steel cutting edge within the wrought iron here's a link describing how it was done to recreate some axes using the same method although a different design of axe and a bit older than this one.. My Blacksmith son can do it, a neat trick! As part of his qualification he did a bit about preserving old iron like that, and comments: "Once it's started to delaminate and rust there's not much you can do except stabilise it and keep it dry".

The making of the ship's axes - The Sutton Hoo Ship's Company

The making of the ship’s axes There is always a slight mix of both excitement and apprehension when I am asked to forge a new style of axe, so when David Pryor, of the ship’s company, emailed me out of the blue this was especially true. Not only have I had a fascination with all […]

saxonship.org

 

[I'mMattman]

Cool piece. Love your instincts. I might be tempted to clean the handle and restore some oils with something gentle like Murphy's or BLO and also use something to retard further deterioration of the head, but I'd probably want to talk to an expert first. How fragile is it? Does it crumble or flake off if you touch it? Have you thought about consulting the Smithsonian's Museum Conservation Institute? It's like a backdoor to the museum, or their education function. The how to the what. Or contacting their staff? They're very approachable.

Museum Conservation Institute | Museum Conservation Institute

www.si.edu

Info much appreciated! It's actually very solid, not fragile at all. The handle is loose, however it won't come out of the head. Shims are still tight as well.

 

[I'mMattman]

I'd recommend a light coat of 3 in 1 oil for rust prevention. I've used it on my conflict sword from 1812 and my hewing axe from the mid 1850s that still has a nearly perfectly intact handle. Also use it on 1900-1920s handles without issue. On wood it acts like any wood oil so a little bit won't hurt it as long as the wood isn't deteriorated too much.

Would also recommend being gentle with the metal, delaminated iron is a bit tricky sometimes. Pulled a pickaxe out of a creek that was probably from around 1910 and it had delaminated the top layers completely so it flaked apart when working on it. Ended up with the core of the pick which was interesting on its own but it wasn't in any way significant age or historically so it wasn't an issue.

Good info thanks!

Haha, I have the same pickaxe, found it in a bedrock hole on the Feather River. It was looking great until the fire in Paradise, after digging it out of the ashes, I have an extremely delaminating core that crumbles when you look at it... Might snap some pics and post.