African Axe

[kronckew]

another first for me, just snagged this axe on ebay. my 1st african one
http://i19.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/ce/2c/d6b4_3.JPG

Linky (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290193808394&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting)

[Tim Simmons]

Nice one!! :cool: Looks like it is an old one :cool: :cool: .

[kronckew]

he had a bronze one for sale that was very similar (the bronze was decorated) but i went for the steel one as the handle was in better shape. will always wonder if the bronze one was really ancient. woulda went for the two but i had another purchase tonite. (see my moro kris thread). xmas was late this year ;)

[Jim McDougall]

It seems we've really been coming up with axes in topic lately, and this does look like a nice one. While we know it is African, where might it be from?

[Tim Simmons]

There are books that suggest this form of axe is used in the southern parts of Tanzania and Zambia.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/RoQueen011.jpg

Illustrations from "Armies of the Nineteenth Cenrury; Africa. East Africa"

[Tim Simmons]

This is a very good map of the major people in Kenya, from a British daily covering the political unrest there.
This axe could well have been used here abouts too though I do think it is from further south. I like maps like this but so many books do not do this.

Looking at these current problems with a modern eye one forgets it took 1000 years for England to become truly one nation and a further 700 years to become the United kingdom.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/NEP.jpg

[kronckew]

well, my axe arrived, it's even more impressive than i expected, the axe blade is well decorated, the axe handle is solid, no cracks (the line in the photo is where a piece peeled off but did not crack. the blade is seated solidly and is decorated on all 4 sides.

the long blade makes direction changes a bit unweildy but once you start swinging it, nothing is gonna stop it. would be good for reaching around or over a shield. sharp little tyke.

Overall view:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/African%20Axe/AfricanAxe018_DCE.jpg

blade left:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/African%20Axe/AfricanAxe012_DCE.jpg

blade right:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/African%20Axe/AfricanAxe011_DCE.jpg

blade top:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/African%20Axe/AfricanAxe014_DCE.jpg

blade bottom:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/African%20Axe/AfricanAxe015_DCE.jpg

[Lew]

The blade on your axe is nice and stout which leads me to think it's a war axe rather than a ceremonial axe. Very nice piece!



Lew

[spiral]

Nice!

Spiral