Above are photos of the Type III Modified US Navy Boarding Ax currently in the collection of The Pirates Lair. Note that the original 26" handle has been in-service shortend to 16". Most Type III's in existence today all have the shortend handle, only a very few still retain the original 24" to 28" length, which leads us to believe that shortening the handle was done while it was still in-service, most likely during the Civil War. Sometime in the past the bottom part of this handle was partially split and lost.

Above are the reverse and obverse sides of the boarding ax head. Note that this sample has 3 rivets securing the langets. Additionally one can see the weld modifications on either side of the socket where it joins the spike and the blade. It is believed that this weld modification was to strengthen the head even further.

In the Type III the langets are not integral to the socket or eye of the head, but are part of the rounded cap you see sitting on top of the socket. It appears that the American Navy took some of the features found on French and British Boarding Axes and combined them to form its own unique weapon.

Above are the standard arsenal marks and stamps as found on the Type III Boarding Ax. Found in 3 lines: U.S. for United States, N.Y.W. for Navy Yard Washington, J.T. for John Tarbell a Navy Captain Inspector stationed at the Washington Navy Yard during the War of 1812. Tarbell's initials have been found on various naval ordinance items during this period including boarding pikes! All of the letters were struck with individual dies making the markings to appear ragged.

Note the seam on the head where the socket meets the blade. This area is filled in with some welding which is also found on the opposite side as well as where the spike meets the socket.

This was a standard modification found on later models of the Type III so as to reinforce the blade and the spike when being used. It is conjectured that the Type III's that did not have this modification when initially produced were refitted back at one of the Navy Yards, most likely the Washington Navy Yard.

Above shows the cap of the socket. The cap is made up of the two langets which slip thru the eye of the socket and over the wooden handle and then are riveted together thru the wooden handle. This is an elegant feature found on the French Boarding Ax.

Closeup of the langet still retaining some of the original red lead paint used to coat the entire head of the boarding ax.

RARE American US Navy Type III Boarding Ax Has the later Arsenal Modifications most likely performed at the New York Navy Yard (NYNY) with strengthening weld modifications on the socket along with handle or haft shortened to function more like a hand ax. Spike is the earlier tapering style with flatter 3/8" width. The last true boarding ax of the US Navy and used from the War of 1812, Mexican- American War, and lastly in the Civil War. This particular boarding ax is in very good condition, properly arsenal stamped and marked.

Click Photo!

Length: 15.0" long Head: 10.00" long Blade: 2.75" wide Spike: 3.75" long.

Not For Sale

Private Collection of TPL

Authentic 100+ Year Old Nautical Antique Trunks The Real Deal! Fully Restored Antique Trunks Like Sea Chests, Pirate Chests, Treasure Chests!	Click Here To Review Sample Engravings	The Largest Selection of Antique Trunks on the Net to Choose From!
OPTIONAL - Trunk Wood Engraving Examples and Prices Custom Designed, Handcrafted, and Hand Lettered in Caligraphy on your Antique Chest	Click Here To Review Sample Engravings	Personalize Your 100+ Year Old Antique Trunk in Perpetuity!
Antique Trunks as a Shadow Box and Storage Chest! Customer Photographic Examples of our Antique Trunks Being used as a Military or Naval Retirement Shadow Box and Storage Chest!!	Click Here for Sample Shadow Box Photographs From Customers	Why just get a shadow box or a newly made trunk with no history! One of our 100+ Year Old Nautical Antique Trunks can be used for both a Shadow Box and Storage Chest for your Uniforms, Photograph Albums, and Memorabilia!

The Pirate's Lair
Division of DataCity, Inc.
78 Canterbury Drive
Stafford, Virginia 22554
Phone: 540-659-6209

Click Here and Return to The Pirate's Lair Home Page www.thepirateslair.com
"Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business"
Or
Email the-pirate@thepirateslair.com



Or Click HERE to return to The Pirate's Lair Home Page and Gangplank!