African Axe for ID and comment #2

[kahnjar1]

....and this one. Not sure about the wire wrap being original..........The blade is bent over to hold it to the haft.
Stu

[Sajen]

Hello Stu,

My guess would be Shona or Zulu, the two coloured wood, the blade form and the wire work, I think that it coming from this area.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25857&highlight=shona
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18330&highlight=shona

Regards,
Detlef

[kronckew]

agree, wirework looks like a rough replacement. Wood is typical "Assegai" wood, a very tough rosewood relative also used for iklwa (stabbing spear) and iwisa (knobkerry) as well as the Isizenze (axe). Wire would normally be fine patterns of copper, brass or iron. The thick bright silver twisted wire is not usual.