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Boarding Axe / Tomahawk
The naval boarding axe was primarily used as a tool. It performed various ship-board functions such as cutting and dragging away fallen rigging, which could hinder or endanger the ship and crew, and helping with fire-fighting duties, as with a modern firefighter's axe. During action it could be used for cutting lines from grappling hooks or cutting through anti-boarding nets, as well as being used as a weapon when boarding another vessel or repelling enemy boarders.
The US vendor stated that this axe was "from an old, private collection in Baltimore - comprised solely of naval edged-weapons and seafaring pieces"
The blade is stamped with the Board of Ordnance mark 'BO' and the handle is either stamped or carved with a Broad Arrow over BO. The blade has traces of black japanning to prevent rust from sea salt. There is also some black speckling on the handle.
The handle has been shortened, though whether during its sea service (to make it a handier weapon?) or afterwards is unknown. Two holes have been drilled through the handle, plus another partially drilled, possibly indicating that it was part of a museum display.
Please see the gallery above for similar examples from the Royal Armouries collection.
Purchased in the US, 21 FEB 2010
DESCRIPTION
Date: Late 18th/early 19th century?
Length (overall):16.5 in (42 cm)
Width (blade): 8 in (20.5 cm)
Weight: 1.8 lb (0.80 kg)
Maker: Unknown
Materials: Ash, iron
Abordage du Triton
par le Corsaire le Hasard.
(The boarding of the English ship Triton
by the French corsair ship Hasard)
An array of weapons are shown, including pistols, daggers, cutlasses, pikes, what appear to be brooms, and axes
(most notably wielded by a man on the left behind the capstan who is about to strike down his foe whom he has hold of by the hair).
Print by Ambrose-Louis Garneray (1783-1857)
NMM (PAD6125)