This measures about 13 inches overall, including a short simple wood handle fitting into an iron ferrule. It has curved blade extending out about 8 inches that is fitted with a ax head extension just before the blade curves down, extending about 2.75 inches up from the back edge of the blade about three inches from the handle. This gives it a useful double function as a hatchet.

These come in several forms, but the common feature is a hooked blade with inside cutting edge. These were used for cutting brush generally to clear ground or build a road by pioneer or engineer troops, but had a specific application in cutting thinner branches and young trees that could be bundled together to reinforce field fortifications and earthworks for defense or be thrown into trenches or soggy ground to make a path for assault troops. These broadly date 1750-1820 but are excavated in Revolutionary War contexts and several, including one of this form, are shown on page 118 of Neumann’s Collector’s Encyclopedia of the Am. Rev. War. Both wood and metal are very good, with an even brown tone to the metal and just very slight wear at points to the inner cutting edge.  [sr] [ph:m]

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