Accession Number

1986.008.0782

Alternate object names

Blade;Adze;Ax;Axe

Creation Date

circa 1620

Description

An iron adze blade from the wreck of the 1622 galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha. The blade was fixed at a right angle, and perpendicular to, a wooden handle. Its wide, flat cutting edge was used to plane and shape large pieces of wood. This type of adze blade could be removed from the handle for easier sharpening. It is 28.7 centimeters long, overall, and has a cutting edge of 10.4 centimeters.