May 18, 2021 Early Arms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/18/2021
This late 18th or early 19th century rifleman's tomahawk was made in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, probably by one of the well known Kentucky rifle makers from that school. The Allentown Indian head with liberty cap can be found engraved on inlays or incise carved into the stock of many Kentucky rifles from the Lehigh/Northampton County area by John Moll, Peter Neihardt, John Rupp, and Jacob Kunz. The petite and decorative tomahawk measures 5 1/2" overall with a 3 1/4" blade with crescent 1 7/8" cutting edge. Blade is engraved on one side with bust, head and face of an "Allentown Indian" wearing a liberty cap. The other side is engraved with a decorative plume. Blade edges are scalloped with bowl filed and engraved to represent an acorn. There are moldings at the back of the blade on both sides. Eye is nearly round with a slight teardrop at the front. The replaced contemporary oak haft is round and decorated with two inlaid silver diamonds. For a head of nearly identical style, see figure 83b on page 156 of "Indian Tomahawks & Frontiersmen Belt Axes" by Hartzler & Knowles. CONDITION: Head retains a dark grey brown patina and shows some wear to cutting edge. This is the only known original example engraved with the Allentown Indian head. DMG