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Early 1800 Missouri War Axe Tomahawk

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
Early 1800 Missouri War Axe Tomahawk
This is a fantastic early, circa 1820, Missouri War Axe Tomahawk from the Central Plains region. The rare piece could be earlier Mandan or Assiniboine and features a hand-forged iron head with a large four-point morning star cut out at the center and three smaller four-point cutouts inlaid with copper near the blade. As with almost all documented, authentic early examples, the haft has a serrated cut “staircase” bottom end with minimal early brass tack decoration. The haft is secured to the head with an old leather gasket and brass tacks at the top. This is an early pattern of Missouri War Axe as described by Meriwether Lewis and Clark on their 1805 expedition up the Missouri River basin, where Lewis described this style of Missouri War Axe tomahawk having a large, wide head with blunt cut, un-sharpened blade edge and shorter handle. The entire tomahawk has a nice, mellow patina with minor nicks dings and expected wear from honest use. The bottom edge of the blade has some file cut marks, possibly an early representation of “kill” marks. Provenance: From the ex-Ted Levy Collection Santa Rosa, California. The head measures 8 ½ inches long by 5 inches wide across the bottom of the blade. Total length of 17 ½ inches.*