Bill, The way I look at it if in the years to come if you will still have a nagging doubt & gut reaction about it evry time you handle it, send it back, & get something you like & belive in.
But If you realy like it, & others beliefs give you more confidence in it & overcome that your gut instinct to it, then keep it, & enjoy!
I dont know whether its real or not, but I know wood is easy to make look old.
So many of these also have old English Victorian Herb chopper heads as well.
That always bothers me, but that may be my ignorance?
Perhaps there was a Zulu industry in turning these into axes? Or duplicating them on there forges? or perhaps the English copied them of the Zulu axes?
Ive also always noticed in life, the most succesful & richest conmen are increadibly plausible.
Also is there realy any high reputation dealer in the world who can swear hes never passed on a dubious item? Ive seen a few intresting pieces sold over the years.
Just a few of my random thoughts. No offence intended to anyone.
Spiral