QUALITY**Victorian Henry Thomas Underwood 56 Haymarket London Head Gamekeepers/ Forestry Axe With Folding Saw Blade**FROM THE DAVID HAYDEN-WRIGHT COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE KNIVES**Sn 20818 Other Blades

**QUALITY**Victorian Henry Thomas Underwood 56 Haymarket London Head Gamekeepers/ Forestry Axe With Folding Saw Blade**FROM THE DAVID HAYDEN-WRIGHT COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE KNIVES**Sn 20818 - 20818

Henry Thomas Underwood is recorded at 56 Haymarket between 1822 until his death in 1860. Knives continued to be marked ‘Underwood’ until 1925 when the company ceased trading. Before his death in 2006 David Hayden-Wright was a renowned collector of English knives and edged weapons, his many years of experience led him to write his famous collector's bible 'The Heritage of English Knives' which contains 100's of quality descriptions and illustrations of knives and edged weapons. This Victorian axe no doubt a Head Gamekeepers or Forestry piece is in excellent condition and is from the renowned collector & author David Hayden-Wright’s preeminent collection of antique knives. This axe is illustrated and described on page 60 of Hayden-Wright’s book ‘The Heritage Of English Knives’ (the illustration of this Bowie from his book is reproduced in image 1). The steel tang has Walnut scales which have with chequered panel grip sections and steel bolsters. It has a wedge-shaped oblong head struck with the maker’s details, ‘Underwood London’, a tapering rear pean with flat face. The shaft is recessed to snugly fit a folding 7 ¾” steel fine cut tooth saw blade with reinforced back strap edge which the author describes as being ‘as per a tenon saw’. The ricasso of the blade is marked 'Underwood London'. Unfolded the axe and shaft measures 10 ¼” in length. When the saw blade is extended it measures 17 ¾” overall. The price for this quality Victorian piece includes UK delivery. Sn 20818

£695.00