The Biscayan Axe (hache biscayenne)

The Biscayan Axe is by far the oldest and most traded type of trade axe during the 1580-1763 period in French North America.  Some speculate that Basque fisherman were trading these with the natives in and around the Gulf of St.Lawrence as early as the  16th century.  As such, many of the early axes made their way into the interior by intertribal trade and eventually lead to the replacement of the traditionnal stone tomahawk.  A number of adventurers  that were attracted to business, and the close of the century found the first officially recognized American trading post established at Tadoussac, at the mouth of the Saguenay River in what is the province of Québec, Canada. During the first years of the seventeenth century, Samuel Champlain and Sieur de Monts entered earnestly upon trade and colonization at Tadoussac and elsewhere in the St. Lawrence and Bay of Fundy (Acadia) regions.  Many contact period trade axes found in Huronia were in fact Biscayan type axes possibly traded by Champlain or Étienne Brulé in the very first part of the 17th century.  This type of axe should then be considered the first official trade axe to be used in the interior and along the coastal regions during the contact period.  As such, smaller versions of the Biscayan axe would of then been used as  the very first "tomahawks" (implements of war) to be used by natives in New-France.

Here we have two period drawings from the Jesuit Louis Nicolas that were made around 1670.  Notice the axes used by both the Algonquian and Iroquois warriors.  These most likely would of been a Biscayan type axe.  Notice the elongated poll as well as the bottom section of the poll that angles upwards the base of the blade on the Algonquian axe. These are just a few of the characteristics observed from what we believe is a "Biscayan" type axe which was manufactured in the Basques provinces either in southern France or northern Spain. Many reference point to the town of Bayonne as the main manufacturing center of these axes.
	Take note of the decorative handle which is very similar to the one held by the Iroquois warrior below. One can speculate as to whether the handle was wrapped with leather, carved or painted.
Portrait d'un homme de la Nation des Noupiming (Famille Algonquienne) avec hache de guerre. Portrait of a man from the Noupiming Nation (Algonquin Family) with a war hatchet. Drawing by the Jesuit Louis Nicolas c.1670, taken from the Canadensis codex, Montreal, Editions of the gold Button, 1974.
	Here is a small Biscayan type very similar to the one above recovered from a Seneca (Iroquois) site in northeastern Pennsylvania, just north of city of Bradford. You will notice that the width of the blade seems to decrease considerably near the poll and that the blade is somewhat longer and disproportionate to the poll as compared to other typical Biscayans. ( 6 1/2 inches long)
Amérindien iroquois de la tribu des Agnier, dessin à l'encre du jésuite Louis Nicolas c.1670, tiré du codex Canadensis, Montréal, Éditions du Bouton d'or, 1974. Photo : BNQ Amérindien iroquois of the Agnier Tribe (Iroquois), drawing by the Jesuit Louis Nicolas c.1670, taken from the Canadensis codex, Montreal, Editions of the gold Button, 1974.

Here are some references to Biscayan axes from various sources, including the Montreal Merchant's Records Project reel (excerpts and English notes/translations by Marie Gerin-LaJoie (microfilm copy of M496 Montreal Merchants Records Project, Research Files, 1971-1975, 1 roll - Copy Services, Minnesota Historical Society Library) as well as Timothy J. Kent's book  "Ft Pontchartrain at Detroit, Volumes I & II".

1. Here we have the minutes of the Hudson's Bay Company citing Radisson and Groseilliers: 

   Committee meeting 8th February 1671/2. That Mr. Millington bee desired to take care for providing one thousand biscay hatchets, one half of three pounds and one half of two pounds a piece, to bee sure that they bee such as are for trade with indians and not such as are for the inhabitants of Canada.

   And on the occasion of a meeting November 27, 1673 :

   That Mr. Raddison attended Mr. Millington forthwith with a pattern of biscay hatchets to be provided for this country, such as are usually sent from thence for France to serve the Indians in and about Canada, and that Mr. Millington bee desired to give order for two thousand hatchets to be brought from Biscay by the first opportunity.

2. The supplies of the Carignan-Salières Regiment in 1665 included 1,000 Biscayan axes. (Verney, p.136)

3. In 1687, the administrators of New France ordered 128 Biscayan axes.  (N.A.C.,MG 1, Série B, Microfilm F-190, Vol. 13, ff. 3-4)

4. In November of 1719, the Montreal outfitter Monière recorded the following payment in his ledger : "Monsieur Dielle, Blacksmith, for 25 large Biscayan axes @ 50 sols (2.5 livres), 62".¹  (MMR Monière, Vol.1,p. 83; N.A.C.,MG 23/GIII 25:Microfilm M-847)

5. "Monière in 1724 had a consignment of trade goods which he supplied to a trade including 36 Biscayan axes of unspecified dimensions as well as 2 large Biscayan axes priced at 2.5 and 5 livres apiece, respectively".¹ (ibid.,pp.431-437)

6. In 1731 "two of Monière's oufits of trade merchandise included such tools; the invoices recorded a price comparison with other varieties. One of the shipments contained 3 Biscayan axes, 3 small axes with a steel edge, and 1 large axe with a steel edge; these versions cost 2, 2.5 and 7 livres apiece, respectively". ¹ (MMR, Monière, Vol. 4,pp.79-81; N.A.C.,MG 23/GIII 25:Microfilm M-848) The second outfit included 12 Biscayan axes valued at 2 livres apiece"¹  (ibid.,p. 38-43)

7. Monière supplied a trader in the Illinois country with 20 small Biscayan axes in 1734, which cost 2 livres apiece. (ibid., p. 452)

8. Noted in Saint-Pierre's accounts in Charles Nolan Lamarque's account book from 1 September 1735 to 3 September 1736, Montreal: "20 Biscay axes @40s...........40". )".(ANQ-M: Livre de compte de Charles Nolan Lamarque, 1727-1729 et 1734-36, microfilm M-4.)

9. In 1741, "Moniere sent 13 Biscayan axes and 87 trade axes, to the Rainy Lake post ; each of the 100 latter implements were inexpensive, valued at 2 livres apiece".¹ (ibid.,pp. 58-59,61.)

(Top) Here we have  Biscayan type axes in all three sizes: small, medium and large.(Albany State Museum). *Picture by Ken Hamilton - Permission given by Ken Hamilton to reproduce.		(Top) Here is a view of 3 small Biscayans and 1 large one.(Albany State Museum). *Picture by Ken Hamilton - Permission given by Ken Hamilton to reproduce.

Charles Garrad collection, Canada.  Notice the small crease where the base of the poll and blade join, a characteristic which is found on some early Biscayans. Found on a Petun site in Ontario dating between 1637 and 1650).

Take note of the exceedingly high  poll on this early Petun axe. (Charles Garrad collection, Canada.  Found on a Petun site in Ontario dating between 1637 and 1650)

(Here we have a sketch representing a typical biscayan axe with side, top and bottom view.  *Drawing by Tim Kenyon)

(Below) Here we have a few profile sketches of Biscayan type axes found on French context sites.  Please note that some profile sketches may in fact be very similar to those of the common trade axe type. 

1. Timothy J. Kent, "Ft Pontchartrain at Detroit, Volumes I & II", Silver Fox Enterprises, 2001.