Tabar axe query.

[BBJW]

Decorative/souvenir piece. Real ones were all steel except for perhaps a brass decoration on the 'hammer' and a screw in spike in the handle with handcut threads.--bbjw

[ariel]

Real fighting and utility axes have wedged blades. This one is practically flat.
Agree with others: either ceremonial, but more likely for those who travel.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by ariel

Real fighting and utility axes have wedged blades. This one is practically flat.
Agree with others: either ceremonial, but more likely for those who travel.

Correct. I noted a casting flaw on the brass hammer part, and a brass haft is not very useful for an impact weapon, it'd bend easily. Also galvanic corrosion of the steel parts may occur.

[Tim Simmons]

To me it looks all steel, you can see the steel showing through the gilding. Gilding would suggest a ceremonial piece. As for flat blades not being practical weapons, I have had many heavy flat axe blades of Indo/Persian form from the Sudan also axes from most of Africa. I think it quite possible to hurt somebody with this axe.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

To me it looks all steel, you can see the steel showing through the gilding. Gilding would suggest a ceremonial piece. As for flat blades not being practical weapons, I have had many heavy flat axe blades of Indo/Persian form from the Sudan also axes from most of Africa. I think it quite possible to hurt somebody with this axe.

Could be. Might even be 'gold' paint. I took the OP's word it was brass. A magnet would test it easily. Still even if it's steel under the gold stuff, the flat blade is telling.

[Jerseyman]

To me it looks as though the gilding on the shaft has been painted on, and not very well done. That said, I suppose it could be vertical scratching, but it seems to have that quality of bristles separating on a rounded surface to leave lines that are not quite straight. Certainly when you look at the hammer the edges seem to have worn back down to steel.

[Tim Simmons]

If it is late 19th early 20th century, it has worn very well perhaps quite A heavy gild or been on a wall nearly all the time. I have not done fire gilding as it is illegal. Gold suspended in mercury could be painted on before burning off the mercury. The fact that it is gilded might indicate that the may have been a prestigious item?

[Richard G]

Are we sure it's not lacquered brass where the lacquer has been scratched or worn and the brass tarnished underneath?
Best wishes
Richard

[BBJW]

Originally Posted by BBJW

Decorative/souvenir piece. Real ones were all steel except for perhaps a brass decoration on the 'hammer' and a screw in spike in the handle with handcut threads.--bbjw

I should have added that this axe with a spike was for a mahout's (elephant driver) use and not meant to be a battle axe.-- bbjw