Adopted by the French Navy as specified in an extant document for such, dated 1835, in the archives of the French artillery. 22” length with heavy spike back axe blade struck with the anchor touchmark of the French Ministry of the Marine on each side. The head secured with leaf-shaped side straps flanking its iron belt hook. Oval section oak haft. Untouched condition throughout with original “Brunswick black” coating to the iron and black japanning to the haft. Minor handling blemishes only. We found one other example only, which sold for over $1400.00, in condition noticeably inferior to this.
