RAF Air Ministry marked Escape Axe

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Redcar, welcome to the forum!

These escape axes, in good condition, sell for around £35/£40 today.

Cheers, Ade.

[Unionjack]

The markings on the metal are often very faint indeed. I find a really good wire brushing and a coat of boot polish works wonders.
"Chillington Arpax" is the most common mark on the Civil Defence axes, "Arpax" being a word play on ARP & axe of course.

Fire service axes can be found with NFS (usually on the rubber handle type) and AFS (often on the earlier wooden handled variety.

[flyingspringbok]

I have two in my collection - the red painted one has the markings "Chillington 1939, 21F/1" and the Air Ministry mark along with the previously mentioned markings on the handle. The bare metal one has a "C" in a square, the part number 21F/1 and the AM mark - the handle is smooth and has no markings so am I correct in assuming it is a later model?

[Ryan turner]

Hi there my dad gave me a axe that looks like yours but I have a square with a c in it ,and the number is 27 n/1 with an arrow that points upwards ,I hasn't got any makers marks on .i wanted to know if its real or what it was used for,any information would be very helpful

[big ned]

I have two in my collection - the red painted one has the markings "Chillington 1939, 21F/1" and the Air Ministry mark along with the previously mentioned markings on the handle. The bare metal one has a "C" in a square, the part number 21F/1 and the AM mark - the handle is smooth and has no markings so am I correct in assuming it is a later model?

The Chillington Tool factory is still going in Willenhall, Wolverhampton. They make gardening tools and Flymo blades there. I used to shear steel blanks for them when I had my shearing business.

[Steve T]

Hi there my dad gave me a axe that looks like yours but I have a square with a c in it ,and the number is 27 n/1 with an arrow that points upwards ,I hasn't got any makers marks on .i wanted to know if its real or what it was used for,any information would be very helpful

We need a few pictures please Ryan to enable us to help.

[Ryan turner]

Hi there I have them on my profile I'm not sure how to post them on here

[Steve T]

Use the 'pictures upload' button below the main text box, (you only see this when you do an 'advanced' reply, not a quick one). Click on it, then chose the pictures from your album. Add them to your thread and they will then appear.

[marinus]

I like to contribute a picture of the axe I found in 1981 along "Amsterdamseweg" near LZ "L" to this old thread.



Greetings from the Netherlands, Marinus