September 26, 2018 O'Connor's Americana Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2018
Tomahawk measures 10-/1/4" overall with 6-7/8" head featuring a 3" leaf-shaped spike and a 3-3/4" cutting edge. Each side has a 4-1/4" strap forged to the head. Clearly and deeply struck "I.B." on the left side of the blade. Original hickory or ash haft tapered and with conical iron spike of 2-7/8". The straps are retained to the haft by two iron pins traversing the haft, conical spike also pinned to haft. Excellent condition with original heavy dark and undisturbed patina. Haft is excellent. Tomahawks such as this one, have been attributed to Joel Bailey of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Joel Bailey was born in 1732 and died in 1797. He worked in West Bradford Township and when he died, his inventory lists "1 Branding Iron IB". On pages 22 and and 23, Bailey is listed as a gunsmith in "Furniture and its Makers of Chester County, Pennsylvania, by Margaret Schiffer. There is also a list of his complete shop inventory at the time of his death showing the "IB" branding iron. Complete with a copy of these excepts as well as a biography of Bailey and the owner's description of this tomahawk.