Afghan Tabarzin

[RobT]

Sakalord 364,

Aside from its thickness and haft eye, my “India” stamped axe head is a virtually exact overlay for the two pierced axe heads that I have. The Pashtun people are present in large numbers in Pakistan as well as in India (known as Pathans in Hindustani) so I would suppose that the type of axe head in question is commonly found in all three countries. Consider also that my blade is stamped “India” which indicates manufacture in relatively large quantities for export as well as for domestic consumption. I believe all evidence points toward my axe head being a working tool version of the more fancy pierced type.

Sincerely,
RobT

[C4RL]

Put "viking axe head" into Google and you can see as many heads as you like the same shape as the Indian stamped one.
I'm not making any judgement about the origins of any head being discussed here as I don't know, I'm just pointing out it's by no means a shape unique to one country/culture.

The first thing that sprang to my mind seeing the O.Ps images was "Fokos" before reading it in the text.

[C4RL]

Originally Posted by RobT

I believe all evidence points toward my axe head being a working tool version of the more fancy pierced type.

What evidence? I agree that there isn't any....

Like I say you can believe whatever want.

India (& Pakistan) turn out a huge amount of forged bladed items in styles from all over the world, often being sold on ebay and other places, it wouldn't suprise me if your Indian head was simply an Indian "Viking head"* repro.

But I'll drop it now, we'll just have to agree to disagree.
And apologies O.P as this has had very little to do with your question! ;-)

Regards, Carl.

* The general "slang" term for a head this style.

[Peter Hudson]

An example worth consideration is the Shihuh Axe of the Mussandam Peninsula off Northern Oman (also carried as a camel stick in the Wahiiba sands of Oman)...The weapon is called a Jerrs probably from the Persian Gerrs for mace. It is more of a badge of Office than a weapon although they say that the bigger format was used as an axe... The Jury is out on that issue... and may always be! However compare away and see http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread...ighlight=jerrs

Peter Hudson.

[kronckew]

My jerz, massandam axe in-hand for size comparison.
My Afghani perforated one is slightly bigger .

[Peter Hudson]

Reference;
A. Forum Library. The Mussandam Axe. Post 21. http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread...ighlight=jerrs


Kronckew, Very nice...however I think what you have is the other variant from the Wahiiba in North Eastern Oman. This second type is a camel riders stick without which the camel is most reluctant to react to any instructions ... Where did you get it? Is the stick original to the axe head... I think so. That makes it a Wahiiba axe...called a Quddum on two counts...
1. The simple white coloured shaft ...and
2. The almost devoid decoration to the axehead.

Dont get me wrong... Wahiiba Quddum axes are almost identical and far less studied than Mussandam ones... My view is that they are linked and many years ago one style split away and created the other.

The great expert on Jerrs axes or as they are also known as Shihuh Axes or Jerrs...is the curator at Al Ain Museum ... Dr Waleed who did a thesis on them...Peter Hudson.