Description

Of the ten axes in the Albany collection, only three are complete. All the eyes are slightly pear shaped. And, like those of a modern pickaxe, they are tapered with the opening being larger on the distal end, that is, on the end farthest from the user. Although the collection of axes from Fort Albany is too small to support any definitive statement on the matter, the data do suggest we are dealing with two varieties or types of axes. One is relatively heavy and long bladed; the other is relatively light and short bladed.

For the smaller, lighter axes like this example, the Hudson Bay Company's records state that in 1684 it was trading in three sizes of axes. These weighed "1 lb, 1 1/2 lb, and 2 lb"; they were consistently referred to in the records as hatchets and were ordered from the ironmongers by the hundreds. This one, the smallest complete specimen is 15.7 cm long and weighs 0.7 kg. It has a blade length of 9.0 cm. On the left side of the blade is a rectangular stamp measuring 1.1 cm x 2.2 cm and enclosing the embossed initials "W B".