An Attractive and Vicious Indian Battle Axe / Show Us Your Indian Axes!

CharlesS · 4th July 2016, 10:10 PM

The multitude of Indian battle axe styles and some of their strange, and dubiuous axe heads that sometimes make you wonder how they were used is a fascination for me. Just think of the many forms of the Chota Nagpur bullova axe.

This one is not one of the wilder more mind blowing versions of an Indian battle axe(in this case a saddle axe called a tabar, or tabarzine), but is aesthetically pleasing, very well made, and with a initially odd looking axe head that is perfect for a horseman. The axe is 29in. in length, with a 4.5in. wide axe head and a 4.25in. cutting edge. The axe head is beautifully forged from homogeneous steel. Note the barely noticeable temper line at the edge. The heavy axe is fitted with a steel bolster that is fitted on to a steel portion of the upper haft. Unlike some examples which have a steel bar reinforcement running partially down the haft, this one has a very thick steel bar reinforcement that runs down the full length of the haft, and is tightly held in place by steel rivets decorated with brass rivet covers. There is a steel ferrule at the end of the haft.

The axe is heavy in hand and I think would be a bit awkward for a infantryman, but in the hands of a horseman it would be deadly indeed. Note the subtle curvature of the blade's edge which allows for a powerful downward cut at an angle for maximum slashing, not unlike a shamshir, or a curved tulwar.

As a side note I am not sure of the reason for the humble chiseled area at the top of the blade that has been painted red...perhaps a armorer's mark?

Please join the thread if you are an Indo-Persian collector and show us your battle axe!!!

4th July 2016, 10:10 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,855	An Attractive and Vicious Indian Battle Axe / Show Us Your Indian Axes! The multitude of Indian battle axe styles and some of their strange, and dubiuous axe heads that sometimes make you wonder how they were used is a fascination for me. Just think of the many forms of the Chota Nagpur bullova axe. This one is not one of the wilder more mind blowing versions of an Indian battle axe(in this case a saddle axe called a tabar, or tabarzine), but is aesthetically pleasing, very well made, and with a initially odd looking axe head that is perfect for a horseman. The axe is 29in. in length, with a 4.5in. wide axe head and a 4.25in. cutting edge. The axe head is beautifully forged from homogeneous steel. Note the barely noticeable temper line at the edge. The heavy axe is fitted with a steel bolster that is fitted on to a steel portion of the upper haft. Unlike some examples which have a steel bar reinforcement running partially down the haft, this one has a very thick steel bar reinforcement that runs down the full length of the haft, and is tightly held in place by steel rivets decorated with brass rivet covers. There is a steel ferrule at the end of the haft. The axe is heavy in hand and I think would be a bit awkward for a infantryman, but in the hands of a horseman it would be deadly indeed. Note the subtle curvature of the blade's edge which allows for a powerful downward cut at an angle for maximum slashing, not unlike a shamshir, or a curved tulwar. As a side note I am not sure of the reason for the humble chiseled area at the top of the blade that has been painted red...perhaps a armorer's mark? *Please join the thread if you are an Indo-Persian collector and show us your battle* axe!!!** Attached Images