VINTAGE WW2 AIR MINISTRY ESCAPE AXE BY ELWELL, RAF BOMBER / GLIDER AXE 1940's

Description

Very cool original British WWII Era Royal Air Force Crash Axe - Air Ministry and Maker Marked.
Covered overall in slight salt and pepper pitting, this is the real thing: a CRASH AXE used by Air Crewmen to break out of damaged aircraft. Heavy hard Rubber permanently attached handle cover with large curved blade axe head with spike protruding rearward. Measures 15 3/4 inches long, with a 7 1/2 inch long head. This style of axe was used by both British and American bomber crews during WWII and after. This example is not dated but based on markings appears to be 1940's.
Marked on the exposed shaft:
[C]
27N / 1
(CROWN)
A.M.
It is also marked on the hard rubber handle with PATENT No. 515767 on one side, and TESTED 20.000 VOLTS on the other. Getting out of the aircraft would often involve cutting through live electrical circuits, and it was also possible that the aircraft might become tangled in electrical lines. With this rubber handles, the crewmen did not need to worry about being electrocuted.
Air Force Escape Survival Axe World War 2 II RAF
Please inspect pictures for a complete description.