Please authenticate this

[Stan S.]

I am having a debate with a collector friend over this axe. He claims it to be a typical Qajar period Indo Persian. To me it looks like a not-so-modern repro. It is just too crude overall to be a real thing. Note the top spike - it is just a part of the hollow haft flattened to resemble a spike! I also think I am seeing some welding seams where axe head/blade meets the socket However, I sometimes see identical axes offered for sale and wonder if perhaps due to being stubborn I am cheating myself out of aquiring one for my collection. Am I wrong? Is this a genuine period item?

Sorry for the poor quality pics. The axe does not belong to me and I did not take these pictures