Zulu Axe

katana · 18th August 2006, 09:23 PM

DD, I am sure you are right that this design of axe is more ceremonial than functional. The central fixing point looks to weak/thin for such a wide blade. If this is indeed a Zulu forged/made axe......and bearing in mind the close proximity of the Swazi ...I'm wondering whether the axe head 'V' shape has any cultural or symbolic meaning? I don't remember seeing this design attributed to central or Northern Africa.......that isn't to say that isn't the case.....I sure I'll be corrected if I'm mistaken.

Mapico1 · 19th August 2006, 08:09 PM

Hi,I bought some like that from Gordon(collectingspears)and he sold them to me as "Swazi axes"
Danny

Tim Simmons · 19th August 2006, 08:45 PM

To me it looks as if the type that Douglas has is a symbol of rank and ceremonial. Does it have or has ever had sharp edges?

Of the styles of axe found in S.Africa, I am sure they were used by all peoples at one time or another either through trade or just neighboring influences and an axe is a handy close quarter tool who ever forged it. It strikes me as a little confining to say one is this or that especially when the form is used in a ceremonial manner, its origin surely coming from the fighting weapon. This one of mine is a light weapon and has been sharped many times changing its shape as can be seen. The haft is also not a lot more than a stick thick at one end, though the wood is quite hard and strong. Sadly the nights are drawing in and I now have to use the flash when taking pictures.

The Double D · 20th August 2006, 06:54 AM

All the people in this area are Bantu's and closely related, so similiar patterns would be expected. The differences I believe are just a difference in how the local blacksmith makes things.

Sam the Swazi Spearmaker does it one way, Zed from Zulu fine Cutlery does it another, Tsonga Tom's Custom Blacksmithing have their version of the standard patterns. No different than any number of modern customs bladesmith have dozen different ways to make a drop point hunter.

It would be nice to give you folks some nice close up photos and good desrcriptions of this particular axe, but it hasn't arrived yet.

I don't know why, it was shipped by courir Thursday and it's only 500k from Pretoria to Durban. It isn't like it is in backwoods of the US or something.

The Double D · 22nd August 2006, 05:50 PM

Well it finally arrived. Wow, this thing is big. It definitley is not a functional axe.

Here it is with my iKlwe.

The tiles on the floor are 13 inch/33 cm. The overall length is 43 1/2 inch/ 110 cm.

The blade is 13 inch/33 cm from tip to tip. The nose of the blade is 5 7/8 inch/15 cm from the haft.

The blade is attached through a hole in the haft and secured with metal wedges.

It appears to have been hand forged with crude tools.

Since I am in no position to dispute Chief Buthelezi's use of this axe, I am going to call it a Zulu Chieftains axe. Ethnographic, but definitely not antique, from late 20th Century.

And the best endorsement, my wife thinks it's neat.

Freddy · 22nd August 2006, 07:12 PM

I found a description of a Zulu axe in the book 'The Anatomy of the Zulu Army from Shaka to Cetshwayo 1818-1879' by Ian Knight (1995)

Here is what the author writes :

"Lastly, the Zulus also knew of the battle-axe, although it was usually only carried by men of status, and as a ceremonial weapon rather than for fighting. Lacking the technology to pierce metal or work it into a tube, most southern African groups employed an axe blade which fitted into a wooden handle, rather than the other way round. Among the Shona people of Zimbabwe and the Sotho groups of the interior, axes with half-moon blades were common; the curved edge was the cutting edge, whilst a tang emerged from the straight back and pierced the handle horizontally, a few inches below the top. There is some evidence that such axes were traded into Zululand, although the true Zulu axe - known as 'ISIZENZE' - seems to have been a heavier weapon, with a steeply angled blade, the top edge projecting noticeably above the handle. When employed in battle, it was wielded with a chopping movement, and the lower portion could be used to hook the edge of an enemy's shield, and pull it aside."

Unfortunately, there are no pictures in this book of such an axe.

Here is my axe. I bought it as a Swazi axe. Total length is 91,5 cm. The axe blade measures 41 cm from top to bottom, with a cutting edge of 56 cm. The stem of the axe blade has been twisted and is inserted in the shaft in the usual fashion. In addition, three strips of woven copper wire (?) embellish the handle.

katana · 22nd August 2006, 07:43 PM

Comparing the three axes posted......Tim's appears the most likely used as a weapon. The haft thickens at the axe head end, adding weight and providing a thicker fixing point for the head. The protruded 'blade' beyond the haft suggests it could be used as a stabbing impliment as well as the 'shield hooking' function mentioned on Freddy's post.

They are all nice examples....however, IMHO Tim's is the one I like the most....purely because it is more functional than ceremonial...

19th August 2006, 08:45 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	To me it looks as if the type that Douglas has is a symbol of rank and ceremonial. Does it have or has ever had sharp edges? Of the styles of axe found in S.Africa, I am sure they were used by all peoples at one time or another either through trade or just neighboring influences and an axe is a handy close quarter tool who ever forged it. It strikes me as a little confining to say one is this or that especially when the form is used in a ceremonial manner, its origin surely coming from the fighting weapon. This one of mine is a light weapon and has been sharped many times changing its shape as can be seen. The haft is also not a lot more than a stick thick at one end, though the wood is quite hard and strong. Sadly the nights are drawing in and I now have to use the flash when taking pictures. Attached Images

18th August 2006, 09:23 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	DD, I am sure you are right that this design of axe is more ceremonial than functional. The central fixing point looks to weak/thin for such a wide blade. If this is indeed a Zulu forged/made axe......and bearing in mind the close proximity of the Swazi ...I'm wondering whether the axe head 'V' shape has any cultural or symbolic meaning? I don't remember seeing this design attributed to central or Northern Africa.......that isn't to say that isn't the case.....I sure I'll be corrected if I'm mistaken.

19th August 2006, 08:09 PM	#2
Mapico1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	Hi,I bought some like that from Gordon(collectingspears)and he sold them to me as "Swazi axes" Danny

20th August 2006, 06:54 AM	#4
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	All the people in this area are Bantu's and closely related, so similiar patterns would be expected. The differences I believe are just a difference in how the local blacksmith makes things. Sam the Swazi Spearmaker does it one way, Zed from Zulu fine Cutlery does it another, Tsonga Tom's Custom Blacksmithing have their version of the standard patterns. No different than any number of modern customs bladesmith have dozen different ways to make a drop point hunter. It would be nice to give you folks some nice close up photos and good desrcriptions of this particular axe, but it hasn't arrived yet. I don't know why, it was shipped by courir Thursday and it's only 500k from Pretoria to Durban. It isn't like it is in backwoods of the US or something.

22nd August 2006, 05:50 PM	#5
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	Well it finally arrived. Wow, this thing is big. It definitley is not a functional axe. Here it is with my iKlwe. The tiles on the floor are 13 inch/33 cm. The overall length is 43 1/2 inch/ 110 cm. The blade is 13 inch/33 cm from tip to tip. The nose of the blade is 5 7/8 inch/15 cm from the haft. The blade is attached through a hole in the haft and secured with metal wedges. It appears to have been hand forged with crude tools. Since I am in no position to dispute Chief Buthelezi's use of this axe, I am going to call it a Zulu Chieftains axe. Ethnographic, but definitely not antique, from late 20th Century. And the best endorsement, my wife thinks it's neat.

22nd August 2006, 07:12 PM	#6
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I found a description of a Zulu axe in the book 'The Anatomy of the Zulu Army from Shaka to Cetshwayo 1818-1879' by Ian Knight (1995) Here is what the author writes : "Lastly, the Zulus also knew of the battle-axe, although it was usually only carried by men of status, and as a ceremonial weapon rather than for fighting. Lacking the technology to pierce metal or work it into a tube, most southern African groups employed an axe blade which fitted into a wooden handle, rather than the other way round. Among the Shona people of Zimbabwe and the Sotho groups of the interior, axes with half-moon blades were common; the curved edge was the cutting edge, whilst a tang emerged from the straight back and pierced the handle horizontally, a few inches below the top. There is some evidence that such axes were traded into Zululand, although the true Zulu axe - known as 'ISIZENZE' - seems to have been a heavier weapon, with a steeply angled blade, the top edge projecting noticeably above the handle. When employed in battle, it was wielded with a chopping movement, and the lower portion could be used to hook the edge of an enemy's shield, and pull it aside." Unfortunately, there are no pictures in this book of such an axe. Here is my axe. I bought it as a Swazi axe. Total length is 91,5 cm. The axe blade measures 41 cm from top to bottom, with a cutting edge of 56 cm. The stem of the axe blade has been twisted and is inserted in the shaft in the usual fashion. In addition, three strips of woven copper wire (?) embellish the handle.

22nd August 2006, 07:43 PM	#7
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Comparing the three axes posted......Tim's appears the most likely used as a weapon. The haft thickens at the axe head end, adding weight and providing a thicker fixing point for the head. The protruded 'blade' beyond the haft suggests it could be used as a stabbing impliment as well as the 'shield hooking' function mentioned on Freddy's post. They are all nice examples....however, IMHO Tim's is the one I like the most....purely because it is more functional than ceremonial...