Axe

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Illustrations:

Modern

Pictorial Dictionary of SCA Heraldry (3rd edition):

• Adze
• Axe
• Axe-head
• Pick

Adze
http://mistholme.com/dictionary/axe/	http://mistholme.com/dictionary/axe-head/	http://mistholme.com/dictionary/fasces/

Pennsic Traceable Art Project

Parker's Heraldry:

Axe, (fr. hache): there are various kinds of axes and hatchets. It is impossible to classify them, or give the whole of the varieties; but the following will be found the chief forms which appear. The handle of the axe is sometimes called the stave, or an axe may be hafted (fr. manché), and the blade is often referred to.

1. The common axe or hatchet, is usually represented as shewn in the margin. In the arms of the TURNERS’ Company it is represented somewhat differently.

• Gules, three axes argent–AXALL.
• Azure, three axes argent, handles or–AXTELL, Devon.

2. Adz or Addice: this has the blade set transversely to the flattened handle, and is sometimes called the carpenter’s axe. http//karlwilcox.com/parker/wp-content/uploads/parker/027b.png

• Argent, three addices azure, handles or–ADDICE.
• Azure, three carpenter’s axes argent–WRIGHT, Scotland.
• Gules, a chevron between three carpenter’s axes or, hafted argent–PENFOLD.

3. Brick, or Bricklayer’s-axe: a charge in the armorial insignia of the Company of BRICKLAYERS and TILERS, of London. The metal portion only of the axe in exhibited, and this is made broad with the sides hollowed, as shewn in the margin. [[1]]

• Azure, a chevron or; in chief a fleur-de-lys argent enters[i.e. between] two brick axes palewise of the second; in base a bundle of laths of the last–BRICKLAYERS’ Company, incorp. 1508.

4. Chipping-axe: this occurs in the arms of the London Company of MARBLERS (afterwards united to the MASONS), and is the axe which is still used by quarrymen in chipping the stones before they leave the quarry. [[2]]

• Gules, a chevron argent between in chief two chipping-axes of the last and in base a mallet or–Company of MARBLERS.

5. The Slaughter-axe. The axe used by butchers for killing animals. Such an axe occurs in the arms of the BUTCHERS’ Company. [[3]]

• Azure, two slaughter-axes addorsed in saltire argent, handles or between three bull’s heads couped as the second armed of the third, viz. two in fess and one in base, on a chief silver a boar’s head couped gules, between two block brushes (i.e. bunches of knee holly or butcher’s broom) vert–COMPANY OF BUTCHERS, London and Exeter.

6. The Pick-axe seems to be the miner’s pick-axe, also called the hew; somewhat similar to it is the double Coal-pick, and the tool ca* Argent, three pick-axes gules–PICKWORTH. > Argent, on a cross engrailed sable a compass dial in the centre between four pheons or; a chief gules charged with a level staff enclosed by two double coal-picks or–FLETCHER, co. Derby, granted 1731. See also Mill-pick.

7. Battle-axe (fr. hache d’armes), is variously represented. The common form is given in the margin, and it is found very frequently employed as a crest. [[4]]

• Azure, a battle-axe or, headed argent, the edge to the sinister–HEYNGESTON.
• Argent, a battle-axe, head downwards, held by a lion rampant guardant proper, within a border azure–CRACKNELL, Devon.
• Azure, three battle-axes or, staves argent–BAINBRIDGE.
• Azure, a battle-axe in pale or, headed argent–OLDMIXON, Somerset.

8. The Broad-axe seems to be so called only from the breadth of the blade differing in no other respect from other axes. File:Http//karlwilcox.com/parker/wp-content/uploads/parker/029b.png

• Sable, three broad axes argent–Sir John PORTER.
• Gules, three broad axes argent, a demi fleur-de-lis joined to each handle with inside or, between as many pierced mullets of the last–Thomas TREGOLD.

9. The Danish axe was probably so called because it occurred in the royal arms of that kingdom, in which it is drawn like a Lochabar axe, but some apply the named to an axe whose blade is notched at the back. There is a form without the notch borne by HAKELUT, and called a Danish hatchet. The Indian tomahawk occurs in the arms of HOPKINS, granted 1764. [[5]]

• Sire Walter HAKELUT, de goules, a iij haches daneys de or, e une daunce de argent–Roll, temp. EDW. II.
• Sable, three Danish axes argent–DAYNES, Devon.
• Gules, five Danish axes palewise in saltire argent–ROGER MACHADO, [Clarenceux King of Arms, temp. Henry VIII.]
• Gules, a Danish battle-axe argent, held by an arms in armour proper–HINGSTON, Devon.

10. The Lochabar axe has a curved handle and a very broad blade, and represents perhaps a Scotch axe. [[6]]

• Gules, a Lochabar axe between three boar’s heads erased argent–RANKEN, Scotland.
• Argent, two Lochabar axes in saltire heads upward, between a cock in chief and a rose in base–MATHESON, Benetsfield.
• Note the lochaber axe is no longer registerable per the PicDic

11. Pole-axe, or Halbert, (fr. haillebarde): the axe with a long pole, often called the halbert or halberd. It was used by the men at arms in processions and on great occasions for keeping back the crowed. [[7]]

• Argent, two halberts in saltire azure–ECCLES, Scotland.
• Gules, two pole-axes in saltire or, headed argent, between four mullets of the last–PITMAN, Suffolk.
• Gules, three pole-axes or–Sir Walter HAKELETT, temp. Edward I.
• Azure, a halbert or, the edge to the sinister, its lance-head argent–HEYNGESTON.
• Ermine, two halberts in saltire sable–MAGDESTON, Lincoln.

[[8]]

Precedents:

Precedents of the SCA College of Arms - http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/precedents.html
Morsulus Heralds Website - http://www.morsulus.org/ (to search the LoARs and Precedents)

Use the above links to be sure any precedents listed below haven't been superseded by newer precedents.

Registerability:

(Restricted, Reserved, SFPP, OOP)

December 2017 - lochaber axe no longer registerable

Cristine Tailleur. Device. Argent, a chevron rompu purpure between two square weaver's tablets vert and a Lochaber axe, a bordure sable. "The curved haft of this depiction of the Lochaber axe does not appear to have any documentable period source, either in heraldic/artistic depictions or in extant weaponry of any pole axe. To date, the only heraldic depiction of a poleaxe with a curved haft is the Danish axe, as seen in late-period depictions of the arms of Norway. We will give the submitter the benefit of the doubt in registering this device, but absent documentation, we will cease allowing other poleaxes with curved hafts after the May 2018 LoAR." https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2017/12/17-12lar.html#131

Conflict:

July 2020 - cleaver vs. double-bitted axe

Guillem Cosinier. Gules, a cleaver sable. "...On the basis of appearance, we will also allow a DC between cleavers and double-bladed axes. We decline to rule at this time if such a DC exists between cleavers and axes generally."

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2020/07/20-07lar.html#65

December 2016 - axe vs double-bitted axe

Víðarr Vápnabrjótr. Device. Argent, an axe reversed blade fracted sable and in chief three spiders gules. This device is returned for conflict with the badge of Friedrich Ethelred aus Schloss Trier: Argent, a double-bitted axe palewise sable. There is a DC for adding the secondary charges but no DC for the number of heads and no DC for the fracting.

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2016/12/16-12lar.html#153

February 2002 - no difference for tincture of hafts:

"under current precedent, there is no difference for changing the tincture of the hafts of the axes" February 2002 LoAR

November 2001 - Double-bitted axe vs double-bitted axe

Double-bitted axes vs double-bitted axes: "nothing for changing the type of axes" http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2001/11/01-11lar.html

Collected Precedents:

• 2nd Tenure of Elisabeth de Rossignol (April - August 2011) - AXE
• 1st Tenure of Elisabeth de Rossignol (May 2005 - July 2008) - AXE
• The 2nd Tenure of François la Flamme (October 2004 - May 2005) - AXE
• The Tenure of Shauna of Carrick Point (May 2004 - August 2004) - Axe
• The 1st Tenure of François la Flamme (August 2001 - April 2004) - AXE
• The Tenure of Elsbeth Anne Roth (June 1999 - July 2001) - na
• The 2nd Tenure of Da'ud ibn Auda (November 1993 - June 1996) - na
• The Tenure of Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme (June 1992 - October 1993) - AXE
• The 1st Tenure of Da'ud ibn Auda (June 1990 - June 1992) - AXE (first part), AXE (second part)
• The Tenure of Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane (September 1986 - June 1990) - Axe
• The Tenure of Baldwin of Erebor (August 1984 - August 1986) - Single HTML Document
• The Tenure of Wilhelm von Schlüssel (August 1979 - August 1984) -
• The Tenure of Karina of the Far West (December 1975 - June 1979) -
• The Early Days (June 1971 - June 1975) -

In the Ordinary

(includes addices, adze, battle axe, broadaxe, fasces, francisca, francisque, hachet, hatchet, labrys)

• Axe - 1 - Argent
• Axe - 1 - Azure
• Axe - 1 - Fur
• Axe - 1 - Gules
• Axe - 1 - Multicolor
• Axe - 1 - Or
• Axe - 1 - Purpure
• Axe - 1 - Sable
• Axe - 1 - Vert
• Axe - 2
• Axe - 3 or more
• Axe blade - see Head - Weapon
• Axe head - see Head - Weapon