The lot features an original 19th Century French Boarding Axe, also known as a Hache du Borde, with a beaded drop from the Sioux Native American Indians. The axe shows a unique cast and forged steel head which shows a curved wide front blade along with a flat front side and inside false edge. The false edge flows into an artful step. The axe originally showed a forge added reverse spike which had been cutoff, which is obvious from the old striations at the back which show a rich even patina, also shown is an artful stepped design. The haft is a later added fancy curly maple with unique design having a mellow patina and eleven solid brass metal shank trade tacks in a ‘T’ and cross pattern. The base of the handle shows a Great American Bison Buffalo Indian tanned hide with early glass trade seed beaded geometric pictorial design having a white background with two American flags, typical of beadwork from the early to mid-Reservation period. The other beads include such colors as greasy yellow, red white hearts, cobalt, semi-transparent red, and medium green. The drop shows a forked end which is accented by beaded fringe. The drop is trade thread sewn and is held to the handle with a brass covered metal tack. From a Billings, Montana American Indian and Western collection. The head of the tomahawk measures 5 1/2" long with a 3 1/2" long blade and 1 1/4" wide with the handle measuring 17 1/4" long and the beadwork measuring 7 3/4" long by 2 5/8" wide.

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