Hi Stephanie, I suspect what you have is a 'tomahawk' style /weld chipping hammer/ made by the Atlas Welding Accessory Co. of Troy, Michigan. I could not find a direct catalog match but Atlas produced many styles of the 'tomahawk' hammer, both with wooden handles and bent wire handles. Atlas was founded in 1939. Given the condition of the tool you have, the construction of it, and the stamping on it, I'd bet it is a 20th century item and it certainly fits the type. There are some similar forms such as a /lathing hammer/ or a /handled caulking iron/ but I don't think it falls into those types. The main reason is, these other tools all make use of their functionality as hammers, as such, they have a hammer head opposite the blade or hatchet and they are usually more robust in their construction. From the photo it also appears that the tool would not be a cutting tool such as an axe or hatchet because the blade is not ground with a cutting edge as would be found on a more modern version of these tools. You may wish to contact the John Verrill, Executive Director of the Early American Industries Association (http://www.eaiainfo.org/) for his expert opinion. His email is: [log in to unmask] All the best, Larry Fisher Museum Planner, Designer, Imagineer p: (401) 253-5335 e: [log in to unmask] LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lfisher160 On 1/19/2011 12:50 PM, Nathalie Andrews wrote: > It could be for applying split lath to hold plaster on walls. > > on 1/18/11 4:42 PM, Regan Brooks at [log in to unmask] wrote: > >> We had a visitor bring in an object for identification and we are not sure >> what it would have been used for. It is a small ax (approximately 10 inches >> long). It has a wood handle and a small metal head. Stamped into the metal >> where the ax and handle come together is łAtlas/ Troy/ ?.C.H./ U.S.A./ J˛. It >> was dug up in a river bed here in Gaston County, NC. The owner was wondering >> if it was possibly a tool carried by a soldier in case they needed to chop off >> tree branches for firewood, or similar tasks. Because the head of the ax is >> small it could not be used for any large job. I have photos if you would like >> me to email them to you. >> >> Thanks for your help. >> >> Stephanie Haiar >> Curator of Collections >> Gaston County Museum of Art& History >> 131 W. Main St. >> PO Box 429 >> Dallas, NC 28034 >> 704-922-7681 x. 104 >> 704-922-7683 (fax) >> >> ========================================================= >> Important Subscriber Information: >> >> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ >> . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a >> one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the >> message should read "help" (without the quotes). >> >> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to >> [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff >> Museum-L" (without the quotes). >> > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). > ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).