a Fang axe

[Freddy]

I just want to show this piece to the forum members. I recently found it on a German auction site.

This is a battle axe from the Fang tribe. This tribe can be found in an area covering Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Nothing fancy, but very functional. The handle measures 46,5 cm and is 7,5 cm wide near the blade.
According to the book "De fer de de fierté" (Armes blanches d’Afrique noire du muséé Barbier-Mueller) these axes are rare as they were abandonned very early in history (due to the arrival of firearms).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding2074.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding2075.jpg

[Flavio]

Freddy, congratulations for this wonderful and very rare find!!!!! :)

[Tim Simmons]

Very nice, such a strong sculptural form, reminds me of some carving from the South Pacific.

[Lew]

Freddy

A real nice axe but is that a weld line I see running across the blade :eek: :D

Lew

[katana]

Hi Freddy, nice find.....would you mind posting a few more pics ....a top view looking down on the axe so I can see the shape of the haft (handle) in 'cross section' , thanks.


Freddy you made a handle for the other knife you posted.....are you sure you didn't use a table leg to make this one ... :p :D :D

[Freddy]

Lew, no weld line. The blade is made from one piece of metal. But there is a line running in the middle of the blade. From that point to the handle, the blade is a bit thicker. It then tapers towards the edge (which is very sharp).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1782-1.jpg

Katana,

As requested : first a view of the top of the shaft, followed by the bottom (which is round). You might notice the copper ring at the bottom.

The handle is also decorated with some geometrical design.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1783-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1785-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding2076.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding2077.jpg

[Flavio]

Again, BEAUTIFUL!!!!

[katana]

Thanks Freddy,
a very interesting and unusual axe :)

[VANDOO]

A BEAUTIFU AX AND A FORM I HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE. THANKS :)

IN SOME WAYS IT REMINDS ME OF AMERICAN INDIAN WAR CLUBS.

[Luc LEFEBVRE]

Really nice, and rare to find.
Luc

Another exemple from "De Fer et de Fierté"