War Hammer (Nadziak)

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Oliver Pinchot

The form suggests Polish work. The repeating stamped motifs are also typical. Nice example.

Salaams Oliver Pinchot, On following up your post I discovered the development in Polish War Hammers followed the essential track of the following from http://www.jasinski.co.uk/wojna/spirals/s-hammer.htm

Czekan. The biggest sketch below.
It consisted of a hammer head on one side and an axe on the other side.

Nadziak. Shown as the only photo below.
The most popular war hammer had a hammers head which was often hexagonal in cross-section and tapering to the shaft. It was usually balanced by a long slightly drooping beak.

Obuch. The smallest sketch below.
Unlike the other two whose names evolved from Turkish, Obuch is an old Polish word - originally the blind end of an axe. It is similar to a Nadziak but with a curved beak which ended up pointing towards the shaft.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.