Similar tomahawks are known to date to the mid-late 18th century and into the early 19th century. This example was made c. mid-20th century by the well-known maker William Buchele, who was also the author of the book "Recreating the American Longrifle". Buchele was a talented craftsman who created many examples of American longrifles, tomahawks/belt-axes, and scrimshawed powder horns. The head on this example is mostly iron with attractive filework and light scroll engraving. There is an inlaid brass arrowhead design on either side of the blade, engraved suns on the eye, and engraved chevrons on the brass bowl. The smooth haft has some brass wire reinforcement near the top, an inlaid German silver moon with pearl circle inlays on one side, a German silver circle with two arrow points inlaid on the other side, and a German silver mouthpiece plate. There is a lanyard loop hole drilled in the lower half of the shaft. The head including the bowl measures 6 3/4 inches long and the haft measures 18 1/8 inches long. It is accompanied by documents showing a Mr. Smith purchasing the tomahawk and two rifles from Buchele in the late 1960s.

Very fine, the iron showing an attractive, custom aged plum-brown patina with a few scattered patches of light pitting/casting flaws. The brass shows an attractively aged patina and the German silver is bright. The shaft is also very fine with minimal handling evidence. A very attractive piece by the skilled 20th century artisan, William Buchele!