Original British Revolutionary War Military Belt & Bag Axe Tomahawk ## for Sale

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Original British Revolutionary War Military Belt & Bag Axe Tomahawk ## For Sale

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Original British Revolutionary War Military Belt & Bag Axe Tomahawk ##:
$200.00

This is an original tomahawk made 1760-75 in as-found unused condition. It has not been cleaned or sharpened. It is not a reproduction or copy. Please do your research of the historical references below before buying. I\'m always happy to answer questions. My single negative response is from a false identity buyer who shill offers for a large seller with $0.99 starting sales.Small axes like this were carried by 18th century colonial American farmers, militia, trappers, and Native Americans as tools and weapons. In the 1750\'s newly formed British Light Infantry units in colonial America were issued belt axes, carried below the bayonet scabbard on cross belts, replacing a sword, or in their packs. American patriots often carried them, having discovered their usefulness for fighting in wilderness areas during the French and Indian (Seven Years 1756-63) and Revolutionary Wars (1775-83). Beginning in 1600, India made thousands of axe heads of all kinds in the 1700\'s for the British East India Company. The British marketed India made iron tools in colonial America from 1600 until 1775. At the start of the Revolutionary War, the American colonial states stopped British sales of tomahawks and axes. But India had thousands of heads and handles in inventory unsold and unused. After the Revolutionary War, America\'s fledgling foundries began making their own axes to meet domestic demand.There is an old wives tale that India is currently forging fake axe heads and selling them as original 18th century. I have seen photos of an Indian warehouse full of already made grease preserved axe heads covered in grime. These are in fact 18th century surplus.I located a very small cache of antique military type tomahawks with handles in centuries old storage there. They remained from an over-run, unfulfilled or canceled 18th century supply order from British colonial merchants in America prior to 1776. These were hand forged in the mid 18th century with a beautiful age darkened Brazilian rosewood 16\" flat handle (for belt carry) and exactly the same in construction and form as products from the Philip Skene Foundry in colonial New York State, as well as other colonial merchants. Colonel Skene was a Scottish officer in the British army stationed in colonial America during the French & Indian (Seven Years) Wars, then became a prosperous merchant, owning a sawmill, iron foundry, and most of the property in his small town in upstate New York. At the start of the Revolutionary War, he lost his assets and returned to England in 1777. He purchased a Colonels rank, and served as aide to British General Burgoyne through the war. Skene supplied weapons like this, spike tomahawks, axes, cannonballs, and other forged products to the British and to colonial militias from 1759 until 1776.An axe of the exact same type was found in the archaeology of VA ship Dragon 1777-80), sunk by traitor Benedict Arnold\'s British troops. That one was attributed to the Zane foundry in Frederick County VA. After collecting and studying 18th century blades for many years, I believe it is accurate to state that these type of axe heads were sold all over colonial North America just prior to the Revolution in 1775. Handles were locally fitted, it seems. Manufacture of these axes stopped about that time because of import and sales restrictions on British merchants in America at the start of hostilities that year. As happened to Skene, their assets were seized by local colonial American Revolutionary governments. These were part of the inventory that belonged to the maker at that time. These are mid-1700\'s axes and handles destined for colonial America. You will receive the item photographed for this listing.Theoriginal antique4 1/2\" long head is a duplicate of known 18th century Skene (NY) and the Zane (VA) foundry tomahawk heads. It has not been cleaned or sharpened and is coated in its original old grease. It is forged with file and wheel grinding traces.To further support my research, you can \"Google\" Philip Skene tomahawk for more photo images and information on this enterprising Revolutionary War Loyalist, merchant, and soldier.The original rare Brazilian rosewood handle is soaked in old grease with some mildew staining. I recommend Kramer\'s Best Antique Improver if you care to clean and restore it. Rosewood is a dense wood rich in oils and lasts forever if stored indoors.NOTE: The last photos show similar axes from various colonial American archaeology sites, foundries, and old collections in my collection. The heads are exactly the same and handles vary. Conditions are not as nice as my offerings because of storage and archaeology conditions.Please study the photos carefully for visible condition. I will supply a signed Letter Of Authenticity with each purchase. Enjoy the photos and thank you.