North Indian axe?

[Tim Simmons]

I won this today on ebay :rolleyes: the price was not too bad. The postage is a little high, that could have stopped other people from trying there luck. That said it is from some sort of on line charity shop. I am feeling sure that it is not the dreaded repro axe we have all fallen for :D . This picture will have to do untill I get it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/LPHBENFHJRQY.jpg

[Battara]

What picture? :confused: - oh never mind..... :o

[Lew]

Tim

The head looks like it has been put on upside down :eek: ;)

Lew

[Tim Simmons]

Not sure about that Lew from this picture :eek: :) . I think this may be from Orissa the "Khond" or "Kondh" I am trying to find other examples and more info.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/8KLEVR9K99UW.jpg

[Tim Simmons]

Found one here. Ouch!
http://www.denner.ca/weapons/eastern/index.html

[Battara]

The head is on the right way - that is the style of this particular (and parculiar) axe.

[Tim Simmons]

Finally arrived and scrubbed up nicely. A clever solution to the stress of a small but heavy axe head impact on the halft. The blade is 16mm thick where it joins the socket. I am pleased with it. The only problem with things like this is they seem to have absolutely no effect on my waist line.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/AXE002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/AXE003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/AXE007.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/AXE005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/AXE006.jpg

[katana]

NICE :)

[Flavio]

Congratulations Tim, very nice !!!!

[Lew]

Tim that is one sweet axe. :)

Congrats

Lew ;)

[Jens Nordlunde]

Hi Tim,

In the book Memorial of the Jaipore Exhibition, 1883, by Th.H.Hendley, such an axe is shown. I did not have time to read the text and I don’t have the book, so I can’t help you further, other than saying it was classified as a battle axe.

Jens

[Tim Simmons]

Thanks Jens any accurate info is appreciated on these matters. I too am starting to question the general Khond attribution. In Tirri's book page 338 there is this zaghnal of the same construction. What I have read of the khond, these pieces do not strike me as fitting the wealth and technical abilities of an aboriginal minority. I know they do not exist in complete isolation, there would be tribal leaders and others that would represent thier communities at the courts of surrounding landlords. As a dress weapon they could be obtained by trade. Maybe a battle axe is the best thing to say. This form does not seem to be the most common. This is a picture of a tribesman a little further north than khond lands. He has what I would think is more apt.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/AXE.jpg

[Battara]

No offense to Tirri, but I would not depend on him for accurate nomenclature, attribution, nor information. Pictures are good though.

[Tim Simmons]

Yes the pics are pretty good. One the other hand Elgood's Hindu arms has the tendency to leave great lumps of South India out of consideration altogether.

[Tim Simmons]

I wonder if these and other small axes from India may be more of a {for want of better words} civil weapon. Like a stout stick or staff. I cannot help making a comparison to herders axes from the 19th century in eastern Europe. In a time of no street lights or tarmac roads and no local police, small decorative weapons would be handy to have around. Not so much to use but the signals they send out. They do not handle as I would want in a real "battle" axe. I think these pictures say a lot. A travellers axe may be a good name. :shrug:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/AXE009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/AXE010.jpg

[Tim Simmons]

The construction with the steel strip down most of the handle is serious stuff. The weapon has a considerable amount of flex. It is just that the handle is quite thin for a good constant grip for me. I have always thought of the term horseman's axe as a bit "what is it, call it a horseman's axe" but a rider could lean from a horse and strike with an axe. The flex in the construction would help extricate the weapon at speed? The grip does bother me. Has anyone got good information and pics.

[Tim Simmons]

Maybe it is a case of the smaller Asian hands and how young is a young warrior thingy. :shrug:

[Sikh_soldier]

Wow!
That is a very nice axe,
how did you clean it up so well?

[Jens Nordlunde]

Is the handle thinner than a steel handle would be?
There are different kinds of wood, and some of them are very strong, yet very flexible - remember some of the wooden bows.

[Tim Simmons]

I had not thought of that Jens. It is the same as the metal axes. So it may be a battle axe. Very clever in a simple way to make a strong and flexible halft like that. If a target was hit in the chest or head at speed the halft would need to flex or it would most likely snap. :eek:

[Jens Nordlunde]

A friend just sent me this picture. He says it is from Memorials of the Jaipure Exhibition 1883. Which, of course, does not mean that the weapons shown are from Jaipur. The axe to the left has a long stiletto hidden in the steel haft, notice also the haft on the second axe from the left – it is a rather thin haft made of wood.

[B.I]

Jens, look at the size of that katar!!!!!!!!

[Jens Nordlunde]

Yes, I have looked at it several times, and I believe it is from Bikaner, although I have never seen on so massive before.

[B.I]

The armouries have one of comparable size. I have an image I will try and find later. From memory, it hasnt the same thick and substantial proportions.

[tsubame1]

No offense to Tirri, but I would not depend on him for accurate nomenclature, attribution, nor information. Pictures are good though.

So it's just a pictorial book with no real usefulness as per the most
important features of weaponry you've quoted ?

[Tim Simmons]

So it's just a pictorial book with no real usefulness as per the most
important features of weaponry you've quoted ?




I think that is a bit strong, a list might be more apt.

[Andrew]

Gentlemen, I'm not eager to go down this road again...

[Mark]

By all means, continue the discussion of the axe, of course. Just remember to stay on topic. :)

[tsubame1]

[QUOTE=Mark]By all means, continue the discussion of the axe[QUOTE]

... that's a nice one even at the eyes of a total beginner.