Original French Colonial Period Blacksmith Hand Forged Trade Broadaxe with Globus Cruciger Blacksmith Markings & Period Shaft

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a remarkable and authentic piece of history - a trade broadaxe that was likely made by a French blacksmith during the 18th century. The axe’s head is in fair condition with some heavy pitting overall, and the shaft fits it well. There are two categories of cutting edge on broadaxes, both are used for shaping logs into beams by hewing. On one type, one side is flat, and the other side beveled, a basilled edge, also called a side axe, single bevel, or chisel-edged axe. The handle appears to be original or at least a period replacement, and the head bears fantastic markings on both sides.

This example appears to be ground dug, as there are signs of very old pitting present on the head. The handle is a period replacement and does appear to have been done long ago. The head of the axe is approximately 7 7/8” in length with an edge width of 12 7/8” with a handle length of 20 1/2”. One side of the blade is stamped with a Globus Cruciger, or an orb & cross symbol, certainly a maker marking that we could not identify. The other side has two distinct markings which could be numbers or letters, we can’t say. A good research project!

This is a beautiful example of a French Colonial blacksmith made broadaxe! Comes ready for display.

Broad axes have been used since ancient times until the end of the 19th century in Europe and North America. Broadaxes were commonly used in manufacture of square timbers for wooden shipbuilding, log building, timber framing, and railroad ties sometimes called axe ties. Some broad axes are of a shape where part of the axe is called a beard so the axe is called a long-bearded axe.

On the basilled broadaxe the handle may curve away from the flat side to allow an optimal stance by the hewer in relation to the hewn surface, and to allow clearance for the hewer's hands. The flat blade is to make the surface flat but can only be worked from one direction and is right-handed or left-handed. The double bevel axe has a straight handle and can be swung with either side against the wood. A double-beveled broad axe can be used for chopping or notching as well as hewing. When used for hewing, notches are chopped in the side of the log down to a marked line, a process called scoring. The pieces of wood between these notches are removed with an axe, a process called joggling, and then the remaining wood is hewn to the line.