Head Axe... A good one?

[CourseEight]

Hi All --

Nowhere near my usual area of collecting, but I put in a modest bid and won it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270365286851

I would appreciate any comments! Thanks,

--Radleigh

[migueldiaz]

Hi Radleigh,

Nonoy Tan is one of the experts in this forum when it comes to Northern Luzon head axes and related stuff.

While waiting for his comments, you may want to check out the Collectors' Guide (http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/guide.html) page, as it has a good side by side comparison of a good head axe vs. an inferior one.

The write-up mentions that one of the distinguishing traits of a good head axe is the non-uniform thickness of the blade. In the case of my three head axes (pics attached), the blade thicknesses (all taken at the spine [i.e., top]) are as follows:

[a] Axe 1: front, 3 mm thick; middle, 2 mm; rear (spike), 5 mm;
[b] Axe 2: front, 1 mm thick; middle, 2 mm; rear (spike), 4 mm; and
[c] Axe 3: front, 2 mm thick; middle, 2 mm; rear (spike), 2 mm.

A head axe with uniform blade thickness does not necessarily mean it's tourist however.

Hope this helps :)

[migueldiaz]

After I made the post above, I checked out the eBay seller's description of the item: "I AM SELLING SEVERAL DIFFERENT ARTICLESTHAT CAME FROM THE ESTATE OF A GENTLEMAN WHO DID EXTENSIVE TRAVELING TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC, AFRICA AND OTHER COUNTRIES".

That's interesting, as if the axe really came from Africa or from the South Pacific, then that would help in the quest for the Origin of the Kalinga Axe (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7438) ...

[CourseEight]

Thanks migueldiaz, that is very useful information. If you look at the seller's completed listings, you'll see he was also selling 4 spears that I believe identify as Bontoc, so I'm not sure quite what he's referring to as the "South Pacific" but I think this axe didn't come from anywhere unusual, tourist or not.

As soon as I get it I'll be able to measure the thickness, although I am hopeful since there does appear to be a decent bevel on the edge of the one I purchased...

[CourseEight]

Well, axe arrived today and I'm happy to say there is indeed variation in the blade width, from 4mm at the spike to 2mm in the middle to 3mm near the blade.

Any thoughts on the age of this axe? When did axes with these sorts of width variations in the blade stop being made, if at all?

[migueldiaz]

Super! :)

As to the probable age, well that's a tough one ;)

So far, I haven't come across info on when that transition point supposedly occurred, if at all.