Bullova Axe

[Bill M]

One member suggested that this since the blade is separated from its neck, (but I am not sure what that means) that it could be pre-1800 because from 1800 on, they've been making blade assemblies one piece. Chota Nagpur tribes from central India.

Thanks Lew

Other comments?

[fernando]

Hi Bill
Very nice bullova.
I see the meaning of the blade and its neck being made from separate pieces, but i didn't know that 1800 is the frontier between both techniques. That means my own specimen is newer than yours :shrug:
Its amazing that your piece is the fac simile of one in Lew's collection, if i am not exagerating.
http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002342.html
fernando

[Lew]

Fernando

The axe was from my collection. I am glad it has a good home now :)


Lew

[Bill M]

Fernando

The axe was from my collection. I am glad it has a good home now :)


Lew

Darnedest resemblance! :D


I saw a fascinating program on Discovery Channel last night where they discussed the Kerala-kalarippayattu martial arts. An ancient system of combat that included fighting with bullova axes.

The combatants wear no armor but sometimes carry shields. It is all done with the axes, swords and other weapons as well as hand-to-hand. Very fast and powerful. Incredible leaps and lightning attacks.

They trace this form of combat to Parasurama, the axe-wielding brahmin avatar of Vishnu.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalarippayattu

Another interesting aspect is that the higher ranking fighters also study Ayurveda healing. When a martial artist gets old, he concentrates entirely on healing. They also study forms of dance that remind me of a fast paced Tai Chi.