Early trapper's axe head
notes: label: Description
content: This small steel axe head was found in Cayuga County, New York, in about 1883. It is an early form of a trapper’s axe, a tool used considerably in the earlier part of the nineteenth century for a variety of purposes. The axe head has a symmetrically flared bit and a very narrow, nearly triangular, eye, and an unthickened flat poll. The head is additionally largely covered in rust. With its symmetry and lightweight nature, this axe head can be used as an ordinary hatchet when mounted on a long heft or can be used as a small and light broad axe when set on a bent handle. Its symmetry additionally allows it to be set either way on the handle to accommodate both left- and right-handed users. This axe would have been useful for a variety of activities, making it beneficial for an early-nineteenth century trapper or other worker.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Hand Tools
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Dr. J.W. Kales
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MC.038634.01
label: accession number
content: 38634
label: catalog number
content: 38634.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Hatchet Head
label: Other Terms
content: Axe; Hatchet Head; Woodworking; Striking & Prizing Tools; Hand Tools
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal, steel (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 13.5 cm; 5 5/16 in
label: Measurements
content: cutting edge: 8.7 cm; 3 7/16 in