Incredibly Lucky Ebay Find?

[kronckew]

hi bbjw,

they're called ciupaga (poland/chekoslovakia) or fokos (hungary), used in the carpathian mountains regions by poles.checks, hungarians, etc.

the stick is normally shaped like that on an ice axe, with a short alpine spike on the base (weapon in itself) and the head is smaller than a tomahawk, forming the handgrip of the stick. originally they would be made of steel and sharpened, but that was outlawed in the 19c. and they thne made them of brass up till the early 20c., wwii & after sees them being converted to a symbolic axe shaped wooden head with carved or painted decorations. they normally have a chain attached to the head and shaft and possibly a metal langet and numerous rings as well.

these are my two:

1. chrome plated brass head, floral carved shaft, this one is relatively new. head about 5in. from edge to poll., shaft 35"




2. brass head with decorated sheet brass edge guard, edge is sort of sharpened if you removed the guard which is screwed partway into the brass head on the left side, 5 in. as above, tiger striped shaft 34 in. prass langet with numerous rings. this one is a bit older.






i've seen these with steel heads, usually look similar but older, haven't managed to buy one yet, but there is a blacksmith in hungary that makes them new with steel heads again...

a wooden one i found with google a min. ago for comparison:


spike closeup



there are similarities with the afghani ones, an axe head, shaft and butt spike, but there are major design & stylistic differences.