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SIGNED 1769 REV. WAR BELT AXE by RUDOLPH KOCH -- NR
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SIGNED 1769 REV. WAR BELT AXE by RUDOLPH KOCH -- NR
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Rudolph Koch appears in nearly all the reference books on American edged-weapons. This famed & renowned master cutler worked at a strategic American outpost -- Fort Mackinac, Michigan . This Fort was occupied by the British until America regained it by treaty ending the Revolutionary War. In 1812, it was captured by the British -- but recaptured by the Americans in 1814. Koch was known to be very productive around 1769 -- prior to the American Revolution. Other features of his axes are discussed below. But he is recognized for one thing. He balanced his axes -- for swinging or throwing in combat -- by an unusual method. Normally, fighting axes were balanced by "welding" extra layers of iron atop the poll. But Koch balanced by lightening the blade end -- grooving the blade reverse w/ a rat-tailed file. (See photo.) Only then would he add his initials. Beyond the few Koch-signed axes we've seen over the years, we've only seen one head that was (apparently) grooved by another cutler. We travel looking for extraordinary finds in several fields. This came out of an estate auction in Buffalo, NY -- never traveling far in 240 years. We focus on the East & a high percentage of our items -- like this one -- come from the 13 original colonies. Reference Works / Documentation American Indian Tomahawks by Harold L. Peterson is a definitive book in the field. P. 49 reads: "Koch, Rudolph. Fort Michilmackinac. A blacksmith at the post before and after 1769, when he rendered a bill to Sir William Johnson for making and repairing hatchets and axes of all kinds, including pipe tomahawks." Cartouche mark "RK" is clear & deep. (See photo.) Head measures 5 1/4" long x 3/4" thick w/ a 2" bit & a 1/2" eye. Ornately-shaped, hand-carved maple haft is 13 1/2". We were immediately impressed by the handle -- having never seen a real one, but only picures in reference books. The photos show this axe & one on p. 100 of Indian Tomahawks & Frontiersmen Belt Axes by Daniel Hartzler and James Knowles. The caption reads "Relief carved, maple hafted bag axe. Very long, plain head with a flat eye section with a 1/2" eye. ... . Fancy, old 10" haft with a curl at the end that is nicely carved. 4" x 1 1/2"." This haft shows more wear and use-polish than the blade -- a common occurence as belt axes or "Hawks" were carried more than used. The hole at the butt-end is heavily worn by cords or thongs -- and the haft overall appears to have several coats of wax. However, the piece is still solid, tight & sturdy. The head is in exceptional condition -- the bit apppearing lightly used w/ the hammer poll only slightly mushroomed by pounding. An interesting aspect of edged-weapons is that while a piece may be old & original, it may appear unused. Others -- like this example -- show battle-scars & wear, especially in the grip area. Still others appear nearly worn-out from actual period use. Besides the exceptional haft, this axe has 2 other features we've never seen combined. 1st, as mentioned, it is balanced for swinging or throwing in combat. Photo shows 3 grooves w steel was removed w/ a rat-tailed file. In examaning 100's of hawks over the years, we have seen this only once on a non-Koch axe. It was also a quality, Revolutionary War-period hawk. This grooving was intentionally done on the reverse -- the same side as the "RK" touchmark.The 2nd feature shows the same attention to detail -- and is a touch only a master-tomahawk maker would attempt. The photo shows a bar near the eye's bottom inserted by pincers when the steel was still hot. We can't remove the head to check, but are told this sharpens to a point that penetrated the haft as it was driven in. This actually splits the wood inside the head -- & forces it into 2 separate channels. That can still be clearly seen by examining the eye. (This certainly would prevent the head from ever loosening up. This haft is shrunk from age -- but still rock solid on the head.) Also, instead of shims being pounded into the center of the...
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