axes in Madagascar

[ausjulius]

yeah, ive very curious about it too. they are only working and cutting wood as their means of employment in the video i can see 3 axe types all quite conventional the madagascan axes appear to be decended from arab in indian axes.. the heavy thick headed narrow axe later in the film looks identical to an indian axe. ive seen othersmall axes used as weapons, like tomahawks that are almost identical to hammerheaded axes in oman and persia. some with metal bands or furrels on the grip. .. so the locals know about axes and have some verity.

it seems very intentional that their axe handles are sticking past the axe head but for what reason i do not know. seems totally unhealpful for theaxes use

[Ren Ren]

Originally Posted by ausjulius

it seems very intentional that their axe handles are sticking past the axe head but for what reason i do not know. seems totally unhealpful for theaxes use

This is a reasonable question that was flying in the air.
I have a guess that the ax handles are made from freshly felled wood. When the wood of these handles becomes dry, the heads of the axes can be pushed deeper and cut off the excess part (perhaps I did not describe this process correctly in English).

[ausjulius]

Originally Posted by Ren Ren

This is a reasonable question that was flying in the air.
I have a guess that the ax handles are made from freshly felled wood. When the wood of these handles becomes dry, the heads of the axes can be pushed deeper and cut off the excess part (perhaps I did not describe this process correctly in English).

i doubt it. they have other regular axes they use to shape the wood that are hafted normally, several different types. the axes are well used in the video and both the same the hadles are not fresh.. and you wouldn't need 20 or 30cm of wood sticking above your axe.. 3 or 4 cms on wet green wood at most.
this is totally baffling id love to just call one of those guys and say "what on earth do you have your axes like this for?!".. if i ever get a chance to go to madagascar ill save this video travel to these people and ask them!

also these people are a rather isolated group so asking a regular madagascan probably wouldnt help as theyed be familiar with "regular axes"...

its really quite curious in the video you cal also see some tools the women have that are very similar to naga or ifugao "war axes" .. being very thick odd shaped cleaver like blades on a short shaft. curious tools



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[ausjulius]

here is another one
https://www.novethic.fr/actualite/en...es-143913.html



his axe is well worn and the top of the handle shows some damage.. this is most odd. and its only some axes . im guessing the man in the image is of a related group as it says its in the south east and also the roofs are similar.. form split bamboo.. although the houses are clay... but that type of split bamboo roof seems to be only in one part of madagascar so id say this probably a relative ethnic group.
its really very odd.

[kronckew]

I note there appears to be a re-enforcing sleeve, possibly sheet metal, between the head and the shaft, much like the Bulova axes of eastern India, which also use the tapering of the business end to keep the head on the haft. It looks like the extended end is just the larger end where it was cut off the rest of the wood with a similar axe, instead of being sawn. Maybe they don't have a saw? Still, odd. The haft, being 'seasoned' and dried out would be a lot harder to cut -maybe they just can't be bothered...

[ausjulius]

Originally Posted by kronckew

I note there appears to be a re-enforcing sleeve, possibly sheet metal, between the head and the shaft, much like the Bulova axes of eastern India, which also use the tapering of the business end to keep the head on the haft. It looks like the extended end is just the larger end where it was cut off the rest of the wood with a similar axe, instead of being sawn. Maybe they don't have a saw? Still, odd. The haft, being 'seasoned' and dried out would be a lot harder to cut -maybe they just can't be bothered...

id find that highly unlikely.. after all they have an axe head to cut things and they have already cut the handle to the exact length they want it.. .

other axes they have are not like that. its like there is one type of various sizes that has this weird extension and then all others dont have it. it must have some practical function we are missing. i just dont think theyed make it like that for some weird decoration. after all it looks very impractical. so there must be a practical use.

i guess its like a person seeing a single beveled knife for the first time and seeing it as the height of uselessness .. until they figure out why its that way.. they must all be doing something specific with the axes for that extended handle to be of some use. this is going to drive me nuts. the only.. only thing i could thin of is like with some billhooks and nata there is an extended blunt tip to stop it striking the ground so you can cut or split things close to rocks ad the ground without hitting your edge ...... that extended handle would sort of do that

[Ian]

I have to admit the design of these axes is odd. Is it possible that the axe blade was used like a large draw knife, with a hand either side of the blade, to shave or shape wood with the grain?