Axe for comment

[kronckew]

picked this fairly large axe up quite cheap. looks like it has a nice octagonal striped wood haft with some wear polish, thin languets with slot round headed screws rather than rivets, which appear welded to the head. some patina to the wood and metal. no markings.

getting it from a used tool vendor who billed it as:

"Medieval Knights Heavy War Axe Re-enactment Stage Costume Theatre Prop Display" - covering a lot of bases ;) he also called it a ''horseman's axe''

"The length is 53cm/21" and the width at the head is 27.5cm/10 3/4"

looks kind of "boarding axe" -ish rather than medieval to me.

is it new re-enactment society or poss. a victorian nostalgia piece? or a private purchase boarding axe?

thanks for any comments.

[broadaxe]

Sorry to say it does look like a prop, nice wood though. I would have tried to check if it is hardened (need some feel & experience).

[CutlassCollector]

I agree with Broadaxe. Not much holding the head on - not even a wedge as far as I can see from the picture - except the two welds on the side straps. So probably more decorative than functional. CC