Unusually large indian/persian axe ,tourist maybe ?

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by thinreadline

Now that lower one is interesting , what made you conclude that it was Dervish rather than Indian ?

I initially thought it was Indo-Persian when I originally posted it here, then I had my mind changed by Ibrahim from

This: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=dervish

Opinion did vary a bit tho from India to the Sudan and back to the Sufi dervishes - they did get around a lot. . Heck, maybe they got their axes from trade with India. Some cool axes in that earlier thread too.

...and then there is this:

[Kubur]

Hi Guys
IMO the last ones are battle axe and they are Indians (one is sindhi or rajasthani and the other I don't know really...).
The first one double head is again more for parade or theater.
The metal shaft is hollow and much more fragile than the thin wooden shaft of the last axe.
I'm still looking for battle double head axes...

[thinreadline]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Hi Guys
IMO the last ones are battle axe and they are Indians (one is sindhi or rajasthani and the other I don't know really...).
The first one double head is again more for parade or theater.
The metal shaft is hollow and much more fragile than the thin wooden shaft of the last axe.
I'm still looking for battle double head axes...

You are right ... the metal haft of my smaller double headed axe is hollow ... and has clearly broken in the past as it has an old repair to reinforce it.

[Edward F]

The first 2 double headed axe quajar period I would say ceremonial they could hurt someone but would most certainly brake in a battle.next two axes single axe head and a double axe head ,look to be made in the same place,very similar design elements .the single axe is a combination weapon ,axe/gun,the two headed axe has concelled spike.Both have extended spike and somewhat sharp blade.i think both could be used as a weapon in battle.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Edward F

...Both have extended spike and somewhat sharp blade.i think both could be used as a weapon in battle.

I recall a famous Roman chronicler that noted a stab from a gladius 3in. deep to the body cavity was normally fatal in battle. Depends on where I suspect. And the size of the wound. Jim Bowie was run thru the lung and out the back with a sword stick, presumably one of those with a 4 sided unedged spike one. He survived, the guy who stabbed him did not. Anyhow, those spikes if sharpened could do some damage to an un-armoured foe, as most Indian troops were, ditto on the blade. If they didn't snap off. Not too sure I'd want to risk it with one of those brassy ones with the brazed on blades.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by kronckew

I recall a famous Roman chronicler that noted a stab from a gladius 3in. deep to the body cavity was normally fatal in battle. ...

If not fatal within a minute or two, then blood loss and infection would likely do the job. Nasty weapon the gladius--it could leave a big hole.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Ian

If not fatal within a minute or two, then blood loss and infection would likely do the job. Nasty weapon the gladius--it could leave a big hole.

Yup, incapacitates quickly, then as they advanced, the guys behind you would stomp on their heads or give them the coup de grâce to make sure they weren't faking. 80% of the casualties usually occurred when the opponents broke and started fleeing, to be cut down from behind. The gladius on it's own was not anything special, it was the whole weapons system and tactics behind it. The man is the Weapon, the other bits are just accessories.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by kronckew

I initially thought it was Indo-Persian when I originally posted it here, then I had my mind changed by Ibrahim from

This: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=dervish

Opinion did vary a bit tho from India to the Sudan and back to the Sufi dervishes - they did get around a lot. . Heck, maybe they got their axes from trade with India. Some cool axes in that earlier thread too.

...and then there is this:

Well noted Wayne, the term Dervish was broadly applied in the Sufi context. In the Sudan, the Mahdi chose to use the term 'Ansar' to refer to his warriors.

I am still looking for notes toward the use of double crescent head axes and references which directly note they were distinctly for ceremonial purpose (I think it was expressly noted in Haider.