Early Islamic(?) Battle Axe

RSWORD · 11th June 2009, 05:48 PM

In discussing this piece with several people am getting some interesting feedback. Given how the axe is constructed, it seems to be a bit on the cruder side and the lack of a counterbalance or spike seems to rule out a battle axe that would have been used against armour. I see similarities in the construction to the Indian Bullova as far as having the head away from the shaft with a simple socket around the handle. I am wondering if this points more towards a tribal designation for this piece. Perhaps something in the Islamic sphere? I am wondering if this might possibly be Sudanese? Oman? Ethiopia? Someone suggested the mark might be an Ethiopian letter in Amharic? Just wanted to toss this out to see if it might spur some discussion.

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11th June 2009, 05:48 PM	#2
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	In discussing this piece with several people am getting some interesting feedback. Given how the axe is constructed, it seems to be a bit on the cruder side and the lack of a counterbalance or spike seems to rule out a battle axe that would have been used against armour. I see similarities in the construction to the Indian Bullova as far as having the head away from the shaft with a simple socket around the handle. I am wondering if this points more towards a tribal designation for this piece. Perhaps something in the Islamic sphere? I am wondering if this might possibly be Sudanese? Oman? Ethiopia? Someone suggested the mark might be an Ethiopian letter in Amharic? Just wanted to toss this out to see if it might spur some discussion.