Axe, balta? What kind, origin?

serdar · 9th March 2026, 07:49 PM

Axe, if someone knows, origin, type?
I found in Milan Praunsperger book Weapons of old Croats similar axe it is caled Balta, it looks similar.
Handle of the axe is definetly not original from the period, axe is very well made, tempered, it has engrawings, some of them looks like Italian marks ferrara used, arches with sun.
It was rely nicely decorated but that deteriated over time.
If someone knows origin or something about it?

Victrix · Yesterday, 08:17 PM

It looks like what the Hungarians call fokos, a battle axe. You are right the marks look Northern Italian. Maybe it was made there for the Eastern European market. Interestingly to my knowledge fokos don’t have langets. It looks fairly well used. The edge looks like it was lovingly sharpened many times so it’s not a decoration piece.

9th March 2026, 07:49 PM	#1
serdar Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 240	Axe, balta? What kind, origin? Axe, if someone knows, origin, type? I found in Milan Praunsperger book Weapons of old Croats similar axe it is caled Balta, it looks similar. Handle of the axe is definetly not original from the period, axe is very well made, tempered, it has engrawings, some of them looks like Italian marks ferrara used, arches with sun. It was rely nicely decorated but that deteriated over time. If someone knows origin or something about it? Attached Images

Yesterday, 08:17 PM	#2
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 783	It looks like what the Hungarians call fokos, a battle axe. You are right the marks look Northern Italian. Maybe it was made there for the Eastern European market. Interestingly to my knowledge fokos don’t have langets. It looks fairly well used. The edge looks like it was lovingly sharpened many times so it’s not a decoration piece.