Need help on a small axe/hatchet blacksmith tool

[hbeaton]

Dear Tool Talk Forum,

Thanks so much for having a forum for talking all things tool!

Picked this up recently and after doing a bit of searching on my own, I found this probably is a blacksmith's tool of some sort.

It measures 9.75" long, 4.5" head and 1 inch think on the hammer face. It appears to be hand forged.

My question is what exactly is it? Is it a hot chisel? Hammer/hatchet combo? The hot chisel idea seemed plausible but the hatchet side just seemed too big.

Figured y'all might be able to ID this a bit more. Possibly its age (relatively) too?

Thanks so much for your time. Let me know know if you need other pictures.

Best,
Hunter

[JoeCB]

considering the short handle and battered up head, I would say it's a hot cut tool.

Joe B

[Lostmind]

Or wood splitter?

[Billman49]

Or stone axe...

[keykeeper]

I believe it is just a small hand ax, possibly hand-forged. Hot cut tools generally don't have a cutting edge that extends beyond the width of the body....reason being that hot cut tools are struck by a hammer in use and more force will be directed to the cut if the edge doesn't extend past the width of the main body.

Just my .02 worth.

[hbeaton]

Keykeeper,

We are thinking alike. That's the reason I posted this item. The cutting edge extends beyond the width of the body...if it was a hot cut tool or set or chisel etc then why have an "axe" head on the other side. Giving the due diligence, if it was simply a small hand ax, why this shape with the hammer striking surface on the other side. Most simple small hand axes didnt have the hammer side. Maybe a combo tool that just doesnt fit in one camp or the other?

One thought could be this was made by one blacksmith for another blacksmith for a specific use that was a bit different from simply being a hot cut item?

Guess I will wait to see what others opinions are on this item...

[keykeeper]

Could be it was purpose-built, possibly to smooth wood or remove bark from logs, with one side for a hammer to "help" it along.

I've been blacksmithing as a hobby for some years now, and just don't see a practical use this type work.

Maybe others will know, as you said.

[leg17]

Maybe for shingling work?