A Most Unusual Axe;Prestige, Dance or Souvenir Piece?iece

[drac2k]

I'm not so certain that isn't within the realm of possibilities, given the extensive reach of the powerful navies of Genoa & Venice in the Middle Ages; a trade blade so valued that it was copied does not seem improbable. Even though mine is of the 20th century, I'm sure that when planes rained from the skies in WW2, aluminum was probably a more sought-after commodity than copper or brass.

[ariel]

Napoleon III gave sets of aluminum dinnerware to his most important guests.

Less than 100 years later aluminum forks and spoons were a cheap component of pre-packaged field chow for the front line soldiers.

[Duccio]

Originally Posted by drac2k

I'm not so certain that isn't within the realm of possibilities, given the extensive reach of the powerful navies of Genoa & Venice in the Middle Ages; a trade blade so valued that it was copied does not seem improbable.

Well, I don't think so ... first of all, the beidana was a weapon (like almost all "poor" weapons) derived from a work tool, a billhook, simply by forging the much longer blade, but always of scarce blades quality it was, and then the valleys in which the Waldensian Protestants had taken refuge to avoid the persecutions of the Counter-Reformation were hardly accessible places, certainly not open to trade over long distances.

[ariel]

Originally Posted by drac2k

I'm not so certain that isn't within the realm of possibilities, given the extensive reach of the powerful navies of Genoa & Venice in the Middle Ages; a trade blade so valued that it was copied does not seem improbable. Even though mine is of the 20th century, I'm sure that when planes rained from the skies in WW2, aluminum was probably a more sought-after commodity than copper or brass.

AFAIK, neither Waldensians nor Genoese/Venetian traders ever reached Dahomey. IMHO, we are faced with a classical case of parallel development.
Central European Kords ( Bauernwehrs) and Afghani Khybers carry identical blades. Sardinian Leppas and Bedouin Saifs have identical handles. Simple decorative elements such as circles are seen on Balkan and Afghani weapons. And so forth.

[ariel]

Originally Posted by drac2k

Even though mine is of the 20th century, I'm sure that when planes rained from the skies in WW2, aluminum was probably a more sought-after commodity than copper or brass.

Downed planes were an important source of aluminum for SE Asia natives.
To the best of my knowledge Dahomey was never bombed during WW2.

[drac2k]

Sorry for not being more clear; I meant Africa in general and not specifically Dahomey. If not a plane, then maybe a canteen or a mess tin from an Axis or Allied soldier. If copper and brass can be traded as currency, then why not aluminum? I was just speculating.