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Old 2nd January 2008, 06:53 PM   #1
kronckew
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Default African Axe

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


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Old 2nd January 2008, 06:57 PM   #2
Tim Simmons
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Nice one!! Looks like it is an old one .
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Old 2nd January 2008, 07:06 PM   #3
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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
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Old 2nd January 2008, 10:28 PM   #4
Jim McDougall
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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?
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Old 3rd January 2008, 08:48 AM   #5
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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"

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Old 3rd January 2008, 09:43 PM   #6
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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.
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Old 9th January 2008, 01:41 PM   #7
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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:
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Old 9th January 2008, 03:12 PM   #8
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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!



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Old 9th January 2008, 04:35 PM   #9
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Nice!

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