Now that is cool. To find something used to build our country 200 years ago. Nice find Frank.

Nice Find.

I'd bet you reduced it value substantially by 'conservation work', but if you don't mind it don't matter.


Bill

Thanks for the mention.

There are many methods of conserving iron. I don't care for the chemical staining or wax methods. Since it was in the ground,

I didn't have to deal with the salt problem.  You never get all of the moisture out of the iron so the rust converting primer is the

best way in my view. It is on display in a gallery right now along with several other items.   I guess everyone has there own view of preservation.

  Good luck on that river, Frank...-  

 

nice

very nice find

Frank, I liked your discovery story and I really like the way you mounted the ax head. I was thinking if I found two old ax heads, and with a little modification, I could make book ends with the heads mounted like yours. I think they would be a great accent, sitting on a shelf or table top, to my books on early life in these United States. A simple tool but so important to early homesteaders.

I Just found an Axe head, and was considering my conservation and mounting options, when I came across this thread. Thanks for the pictures and the information.

You know, I never thought of book ends. That sounds like a fantastic idea. They have the weight to do the job. Now you have caused a problem for me. Finding another ax head. lol    Frank

You have to consider weight distribution when mounting. The back end of the ax head should not extend beyond the base.

By the way, I cheated a little I used one of those steel,brass coated,painted deck screws in the side of the base plate to make sure the ax stayed put. Hay, no one's perfect! lol  Frank

Could it have been dropped by a settler? Is it worth anything even though it is so rusty? Very cool find! Did you find anything else around it?

It was found in the town of Bel Air Md.  I surmise it was left by the ones that cleared the lot for the house that house that now sets there. Other things found, lol, How about the $3K ruby & gold ring?   I seem to be lucky fining high value rings.

Frank