This was made in Sheffield by Marples & Sons. It would have been a military issue axe to the RAF for use on an airfield or even a Royal Navy fire crew. The axe head has an issue date of 1931, whereas the leather frog is dated 1916 and maker marked R. Stafford.

This is a nice example of a Birmingham export belt axe/tomahawk head, almost certainly cast steel with some rudimentary attempt at polishing the front end of the blade. These were typical of what settlers may have carried in the West (US) and also the Indians.

Excavated from a drain in York (UK) some 50 years ago, this fine piece is three inches high and appears to be of cast, or possibly wrought, iron construction. It may well be a captured Islamic piece brought back from the Crusades or purchased through trade with the East - rather than British. The design is clearly of Persian origin.