19c. silver inlayed Indian axe for comment

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

These axes were also carried about by wandering Dervish Sufi in and before the 1920s in Persia. Amazingly they are shown in a reference at http://kavvanah.wordpress.com/2013/...dervishes-1922/ pictured with Jewish members of that group amalgamating Jewish and Muslim concepts into their traditions. The axe in this case said to have been carried as a defensive weapon in the right hand to ward off wild animals etc... and as part of their regalia..
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim, I have not seen the particular type of axe that Kronckew and Edward posted being carried by Dervishes. I have seen that same form coming from Sudan of all places. Two photos of Sudanese axes. Photo of two Persian Jewish Dervishes with axes.

[kronckew]

very interesting - especially the 1st one,looks much like my naked one. the area just below the head and just above the butt have a covering - leather? the central haft section looks like it has yet another thin cover of some type. the 2nd seems to have a much thicker set of clothes. mine has no calligraphy, the decorative motif is purely flora.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by kronckew

very interesting - especially the 1st one,looks much like my naked one. the area just below the head and just above the butt have a covering - leather? the central haft section looks like it has yet another thin cover of some type. the 2nd seems to have a much thicker set of clothes. mine has no calligraphy, the decorative motif is purely flora.

The first one is described as being "reptile" skin, the second as crocodile. This is fairly common for Sudanese axes.

Here is one more Sudanese axe of the same type. Now if this is actually an Indian style axe how is it that the Sudanese came to use the same style? These axe could have been introduced in the early 1880s when Indian troops in the service of England helped the Khedive of Egypt regain control of Egypt after a military coup.

The 20th Punjab Infantry in Egypt, Circa 1882, tired of the corruption of the Khedive of Egypt's regime, the Egyptian Army rose under Urabi Pasha. Unfortunately the Suez Canal ran through his country, the British sent an army to restore the old regime. On 13 Sept1882, an Anglo-Indian force crushed the Egyptian Army at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir. The 20th Punjab formed the left forward battalion of the Indian Army contingent's attack which the Egyptians proved incapable of stopping.