French & Indian War - Revolutionary War Axe head, recovered at Fort Ticonderoga

This is another nice piece being offered, it is a French & Indian War - Revolutionary War  soldier’s axe It measures  6 1/2” x 4” x 2 1/2” and weighs 2-pounds, 7-ounces.  It was recovered many years ago at Fort Ticonderoga, New York.

This style of axe is a style that became quite popular amongst Americans by the middle of the 18th century, although many similar styles were manufactured in England. With all of the fort building and clearing land, there was a dramatic shortage of tools on both sides.

Located on Lake Champlain in northeastern New York, Fort Ticonderoga served as a key point of access to both Canada and the Hudson River Valley during the French and Indian War.

On May 10, 1775, Benedict Arnold joined Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont in a dawn attack on the fort, surprising and capturing the sleeping British garrison. Although it was a small-scale conflict, the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga was the first American victory of the Revolutionary War and would give the Continental Army much-needed artillery to be used in future battles.

There is a nearly identical example of this axe in the Fort Ticonderoga Museum. It was recovered during excavations of the parade ground at the fort (see pictures). Soldiers also fought with axes during Revolutionary War, including in hand-to-hand combat, naval battles, and trench warfare. There are examples in “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution” by Neumann & Kravic (see pictures).

This example is in solid condition, no chipping or flaking and has been lightly coated for preservation. As seen in the pictures, this axe has seen extensive use – the head is pushed in which is very unusual because of the heavy iron – the first one I have seen with this oddity.  

With the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding this year, interest in the Revolutionary War and its relics is significantly increasing. This renewed enthusiasm is driving the demand for virtually all Revolutionary War artifacts, further contributing to their scarcity and rising prices.

I am witnessing a notable uptick in purchases of these items, which reflects the growing celebrations for the anniversary and the heightened value of Revolutionary War memorabilia.