The above video show the restoration of a farrier's axe. A farrier's axe was the instrument used to humanely destroy injured horses during WW1, it consists of a spike (for slaughter) and a blade for cutting off the horse's hoof.
Each horse's hooves were marked with an identifying number. If a horse was killed the handler had to return the hoof to prove that it was indeed dead and hadn't been lost or even sold. The identifying number also provided information as to which type of horse would need replacement.
Comments