African Axe

kronckew · 2nd January 2008, 07:53 PM

another first for me, just snagged this axe on ebay. my 1st african one

Linky

Tim Simmons · 2nd January 2008, 07:57 PM

Nice one!!

Looks like it is an old one

.

kronckew · 2nd January 2008, 08:06 PM

he had a bronze one for sale that was very similar (the bronze was decorated) but i went for the steel one as the handle was in better shape. will always wonder if the bronze one was really ancient. woulda went for the two but i had another purchase tonite. (see my moro kris thread). xmas was late this year

Jim McDougall · 2nd January 2008, 11:28 PM

It seems we've really been coming up with axes in topic lately, and this does look like a nice one. While we know it is African, where might it be from?

Tim Simmons · 3rd January 2008, 09:48 AM

There are books that suggest this form of axe is used in the southern parts of Tanzania and Zambia.

Illustrations from "Armies of the Nineteenth Cenrury; Africa. East Africa"

Tim Simmons · 3rd January 2008, 10:43 PM

This is a very good map of the major people in Kenya, from a British daily covering the political unrest there.
This axe could well have been used here abouts too though I do think it is from further south. I like maps like this but so many books do not do this.

Looking at these current problems with a modern eye one forgets it took 1000 years for England to become truly one nation and a further 700 years to become the United kingdom.

kronckew · 9th January 2008, 02:41 PM

well, my axe arrived, it's even more impressive than i expected, the axe blade is well decorated, the axe handle is solid, no cracks (the line in the photo is where a piece peeled off but did not crack. the blade is seated solidly and is decorated on all 4 sides.

the long blade makes direction changes a bit unweildy but once you start swinging it, nothing is gonna stop it. would be good for reaching around or over a shield. sharp little tyke.

Overall view:

blade left:

blade right:

blade top:

blade bottom:

Lew · 9th January 2008, 04:12 PM

The blade on your axe is nice and stout which leads me to think it's a war axe rather than a ceremonial axe. Very nice piece!

Lew

spiral · 9th January 2008, 05:35 PM

Nice!

Spiral

2nd January 2008, 07:53 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	African Axe another first for me, just snagged this axe on ebay. my 1st african one Linky

3rd January 2008, 09:48 AM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	There are books that suggest this form of axe is used in the southern parts of Tanzania and Zambia. Illustrations from "Armies of the Nineteenth Cenrury; Africa. East Africa" Last edited by Tim Simmons; 3rd January 2008 at 10:03 AM.

2nd January 2008, 07:57 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	Nice one!! Looks like it is an old one .

2nd January 2008, 08:06 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	he had a bronze one for sale that was very similar (the bronze was decorated) but i went for the steel one as the handle was in better shape. will always wonder if the bronze one was really ancient. woulda went for the two but i had another purchase tonite. (see my moro kris thread). xmas was late this year

2nd January 2008, 11:28 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,670	It seems we've really been coming up with axes in topic lately, and this does look like a nice one. While we know it is African, where might it be from?

3rd January 2008, 10:43 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	This is a very good map of the major people in Kenya, from a British daily covering the political unrest there. This axe could well have been used here abouts too though I do think it is from further south. I like maps like this but so many books do not do this. Looking at these current problems with a modern eye one forgets it took 1000 years for England to become truly one nation and a further 700 years to become the United kingdom.

9th January 2008, 02:41 PM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	well, my axe arrived, it's even more impressive than i expected, the axe blade is well decorated, the axe handle is solid, no cracks (the line in the photo is where a piece peeled off but did not crack. the blade is seated solidly and is decorated on all 4 sides. the long blade makes direction changes a bit unweildy but once you start swinging it, nothing is gonna stop it. would be good for reaching around or over a shield. sharp little tyke. Overall view: blade left: blade right: blade top: blade bottom:

9th January 2008, 04:12 PM	#8
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	The blade on your axe is nice and stout which leads me to think it's a war axe rather than a ceremonial axe. Very nice piece! Lew

9th January 2008, 05:35 PM	#9
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Nice! Spiral