What was this tool used for? I have no idea

[ncass]

My uncle has this vintage axe (?), but we are perplexed as to what it was actually used for. The head is 3g of copper with a **** and an iron handle. It’s about a foot in length and the head is about 4 in long. The questions are what would you use something that small for and what would the copper head actually cut? If anyone knows what this actually is, I’d appreciate the education.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Smashing skulls?

 

[4xdog]

Boy, that thing looks OOOLD. As in medieval.

 

[Firebrick43]

Probably just an amateur blacksmith fooling around.

 

[Tostal]

Possibly an old style Soldering Iron for use when soldering copper, tin, lead etc. joints or seams.
The way the 'axe' head is biased to one side might allow it to have better access in certain applications.
Are those stamped numbers I am seeing in pic #4?

T~

 

[ncass]

Possibly an old style Soldering Iron for use when soldering copper, tin, lead etc. joints or seams.
The way the 'axe' head is biased to one side might allow it to have better access in certain applications.
Are those stamped numbers I am seeing in pic #4?

T~

Yes. It is stamped with 3g

 

[ncass]

Smashing skulls?

Actually, we did think it could have been possibly used to smash bones to get marrow out. It’s the stamped weight on the head that’s throwing me because that indicates it’s somewhat “newer”

 

[ncass]

Possibly an old style Soldering Iron for use when soldering copper, tin, lead etc. joints or seams.
The way the 'axe' head is biased to one side might allow it to have better access in certain applications.
Are those stamped numbers I am seeing in pic #4?

T~

I’m liking your idea. What era would something like this have been used?

 

[CN Spots]

Otzi's gonna want that back.

 

[Tostal]

I found this image on the 'net. It seems that what you have might be a hatchet shape Soldering Copper.
These are sold in pairs (one in use while other is being heated), the weight is for a pair, so your one being stamped 3 possibly means it weighs 1 1/2 lb. (a pair would be 3 lbs).
They can be used to do long seams on e.g. copper sheet.
They can be heated nowadays with a flame, blowtorch, but originally in a brazier or Blacksmiths furnace before the advent of electricity or gas flame. That might give you some idea of it's era, + your example looks 'homemade', probably by a Blacksmith, not mass-produced.

You can get more info/images if you do a google search using the term 'soldering coppers'. (I found lots of images but wasn't able to transfer them to here). Mc Master-Carr and others still sell 'soldering coppers'.
I'm thinking that your soldering copper has a curved 'blade edge' to fit the workpiece, perhaps solder-sealing a cylinder/barrel/fluid container?



T~

 

[Old Man Roger]

Well I would rather it be used to smash skulls. Lol

 

[MOS3522]

It looks a lot like a 1600s era dickfer.

 

[Tostal]

A few images of vintage Blacksmith's Soldering Irons I found for sale on the 'net :-



T~

 

[scooby074]

Where do u live? Was your uncle a viking?

 

[ncass]

I found this image on the 'net. It seems that what you have might be a hatchet shape Soldering Copper.
These are sold in pairs (one in use while other is being heated), the weight is for a pair, so your one being stamped 3 possibly means it weighs 1 1/2 lb. (a pair would be 3 lbs).
They can be used to do long seams on e.g. copper sheet.
They can be heated nowadays with a flame, blowtorch, but originally in a brazier or Blacksmiths furnace before the advent of electricity or gas flame. That might give you some idea of it's era, + your example looks 'homemade', probably by a Blacksmith, not mass-produced.

You can get more info/images if you do a google search using the term 'soldering coppers'. (I found lots of images but wasn't able to transfer them to here). Mc Master-Carr and others still sell 'soldering coppers'.
I'm thinking that your soldering copper has a curved 'blade edge' to fit the workpiece, perhaps solder-sealing a cylinder/barrel/fluid container?



T~

Thank you for all of your help. I really appreciate it.

 

[ecotec]

Zombies?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Just found this one at the flea market today, stuck inside of a SHUR-GRIP No. 8 holder. The markings on the top of the ferrule exactly match this 1922 ad. My understanding is that at least some of these were used by old-fashioned tin knockers in pairs when roofing. One was being used and the other was in the hotpot.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I unscrewed the iron, which was only threaded an inch or so, and soaked the ferrule in Evaporust standing upright in a lid to keep the wood out of the solution, which revealed the patent number.

 

[dutchgray]

I Know in the UK these kinds of soldering irons we in use into the 1950's as that's when most rural areas got electricity and therfore electric irons, obviously their use had been in decline for a few decades before then.