German Horsemans axe of 16th century?

[TxHunt]

I respectfully appreciate any help members of this Forum have in authenticating and identifying what I have been told is a battle axe. The weapon was purchased from the estate of a sixth generation military family from Texas in the United States. The wife told me her deceased husband taught military history at West Point and was a major collector of military weaponry. His father was a graduate of West Point. The wife called it a battle axe but had no other history. I am hoping it is authentic and not a fantasy piece as it has become a favorite within my blade collection. In advance my thanks for advice and guidance.

[Rick]

Bump.

[Kubur]

Conan the Barbarian or Xena warrior princess

[Tim Simmons]

Glad somebody bore the bad news, nice story though .

[Gonzoadler]

Reminds me of a boarding axe. I would advise you to make more pictures and ask again in the European weapons subforum.

Regards
Robin

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Gonzoadler

Reminds me of a boarding axe. I would advise you to make more pictures and ask again in the European weapons subforum.

Regards
Robin

Let's give it a try, then

[colin henshaw]

It seems very well and robustly made to be a fantasy piece ?

[Ian]

TxHunt,

Welcome to the Forum!

Would you mind posting some dimensions of this piece? Also, some pictures of the writing that appears on the shaft just below the head of the axe would be helpful. That may offer some clues as to origin.

[midelburgo]

Is there something written?

[kronckew]

Reminds me of an Imperial German (Prussian) Fire service presentation or parade axe, as below, but older, maybe another German state or another European nation further east. European fire axes tended to be smaller, hatchet size, than American ones. I can't make out the marking on the side languet, can you post a better macro photo of any markings. Other German guilds (like miners) used fancy parade axes, and very uniquely headed ones too. Polish Nobles liked small headed (but longer) axes, most as rank symbology, such as my Obuzek also below with a heavy spike opposite the axe head end.

Yours Looks too fancy and short for a weapon or a boarding axe, more a status item. Still wouldn't like being hit with it.

Dimensions and weight would help...

[M ELEY]

Yeah, this one throws me a bit. If the construction were slightly different, I might suggest a 'Halberd-style' tomahawk ax from the trade period. Believe me, there are some real odd ones out there that many would assume were fantasy pieces but in fact real. The thing is, the langet on the end of the haft, the cut-out to the bottom of the blade that Wayne has succinctly shown resembles Euro dress fire axes, the grip resembling a military type battle axe, makes me wonder. Just not so sure on this one!

[colin henshaw]

I vote for it being Indian, some sort of ankus (elephant goad) type item or similar.

[kronckew]

I considered the 'Halberd' style, but the apparent size is wrong, my Indian Sindh spike/dagger axe (the pommel unscrews into a dagger) looks about the right size head - some came with back spikes instead of spikey trunk elephants, but has a much longer haft. It's top spike is also fairly useless.

Doubt it's an Ankh, they were very specifically made with a spike and hook, no axe blade. The Hook was for guiding an elephant's trunk, while the spike was used to euthanize the elly if it went berserk and attacked its own side, it was driven into the elephant's spine just behind its head with a hammer which was part of an ankh weapon system. Again, OP's axe is too small & the haft end unsuitable for hammering and the spike wouldn't kill anything -it'd likely make an elly rather angry... The chain on a pommel ring is another anomaly. who want's a sharp axe with pointy spikes swinging around on the end of a chain near them? If it had a weight on the end of a longer chain, would it be a Japanese kusari-ono?

I add my French fire axe below, probably also of similar size to the OP one, it looks almost exactly like a french boarding axe, but doesn't have the belt hook and the haft is a few inches too short.

(don't have or want an ankh because it is sole purposed to kill elephants.)

All in all indeed an enigma hidden inside a conundrum.

p.s. - if the OP's axe turns out to be 2-3ft. long in the haft and weighs a kilo or so, I may be more inclined to refer to it as a 'battle axe'. for now, i'll think of it as a Texas battle-tomahawk.

[fernando]

Has anyone already suggested a pole weapon head... adapted to a shorter handle ? The possible (modern) writing on the langet is not a good sign, though.

[CSinTX]

Agree with the others. It appears to be a weapon but I've not seen anything like it. A close up of the chain might give some clues.

Welcome from another Texas member. What part of the state are you in? I'm in B/CS.

[Elmereya]

pictures from the theme about the weapons of the landsknechts.
gorgeous tool.
with respect.