Small axes for ID

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams, I thought I would start with a solid reference on Maces, axes and staff weapons therefor I refer you to Islamic Arms by Anthony North; page 40 - 45.

With reference to herders weapons only today I saw on the BBC an African herder in Sudan sitting astride his donkey with his cattle herd. He was holding an axe. The Mussandam axe carrried by Shihuh is a herder weapon useful as a walking stick or against snakes... and used in the human defence it is lethal in the strike to head or other targets. There is a bigger version which will have been the big brother for serious fighting.
The weapon appears to be originally a Persian early weapon from the Luristan area. The Shihuh are a fascinating tribe with no written language indeed they seem to be one of the lost tribal groupings though said to have Persian roots. Their language is unrelated to Arabic yet they are settled in the Mussandam region at the gateway to the Gulf astride Oman and the UAE. Tribal tectonic plate movement is a hugely complex issue and it is outside my scope to suppose a link with Indian, Hungarian or other European tributaries of tribal drift and axe usage or influence except to state that "as a crucible of civilisation Persian Luristan several thousand years ago may have had a hand in it all" !

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

PS PHOTO ...SHIHUH WITH AXE

Namaste Ibrahiim

I actually do have that book... somewhere..... in a box...... I think...... The V&A one right?
Does it have anything VERY close to mine? If it does, I'll go and search.

The axe in the picture with the seated chap holding it is suprisingly small. You say that they come in different sizes?
It would be interesting to ask a Shihuh user of these axes if they recognise mine!
I don't suppose that you know the gentleman in your picture and could put it to him?


I've found a picture of what appears to be an old Mussandam axe. But I can't find any pictures of the crescent headed Hadhramaut axe that Stuart referenced from Elgood (beyond the one in the aforementioned book).

The evolution of the axe is of course a story far older than recorded history.
When attempting to research my two crescent axes, the amount of references to Sagaris and pictures of ancient painted vases depicting Scythian warriors carrying them did make me smile.
But of course we are not looking so far back (even though I've added some pics of these axes below for fun).
In the great scheme of things, crescent shaped axes are widespread, but a minority.
The shape of the axes in your pictures is perhaps more familiar. The 'usual' shape for many recognised mutipurpose axes, like shepherds axes, tomahawks, even many weaponised axe forms, including european, Indian and Persian.
So I think we need to concentrate on the crescent shaped forms that are a 'match' for mine.


Do you have any further information, references or pictures relating to the Arabic Hadhramaut axe that Stu mentioned above?

Best
Gene

[Atlantia]

I'm not sure if this will help, but I've fashioned a shaft for one of the axes to show it in a more fitting style.
I've used old ash, but I don't like the feel of it. Too light!
Can anyone recommend a source for a more fitting wood to use?

[kahnjar1]

Thanks Gene for reminding us of the ORIGINAL question, which was identification of your crescent shaped axes. The items refered to by Ibrahiim are clearly not of that shape, and if I am correct are called JERZ. The axe that I refered to in Elgoods book is nothing like these, and I attach a pic of the page from his book Arms and Armour of Arabia for clarification. Hopefully the text can also be read.

NOTE TO MODERATORS: If in your opinion the attachment breaches copyright, please delete it. I believe that if original reference is quoted then things are OK?

[Atlantia]

Excellent detective work Stu.

As you say, the traditional form of Jerz axes is very different from my axes.
The Hadhramaut axe pictured shows definate similarites. It would be interesting to see if we could find other examples to clarify if they all have the asymetric downward curve.
These are indeed an interesting type. I don't think I've ever come across an axe that has both the full crescent blade and the downward curve.

This has turned into a very interesting and enlightening, if somewhat frustrating search for me! And from the amount of views, I suspect that others are interested too, so come on you lurkers!!

Best
Gene

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Excellent detective work Stu.

As you say, the traditional form of Jerz axes is very different from my axes.
The Hadhramaut axe pictured shows definate similarites. It would be interesting to see if we could find other examples to clarify if they all have the asymetric downward curve.
These are indeed an interesting type. I don't think I've ever come across an axe that has both the full crescent blade and the downward curve.

This has turned into a very interesting and enlightening, if somewhat frustrating search for me! And from the amount of views, I suspect that others are interested too, so come on you lurkers!!

Best
Gene

Salaams, Point on axe shape absolutely understood. It is fascinating that an axe shape in the hadramaut is so similar to one from somewhere in India. By the way I see on the footnotes of Stu .. The reference from Elgood refers to the Al Ain Museum and Dr Waleed (al ain museum Curator) excavation of exes in the eastern UAE region~ I can see the al ain Museum from my office (almost) so I shall find out if these axes are from the Shihuh. It sounds like they are from that area at least.

[Atlantia]

Any further thoughts gentlemen?

[Atlantia]

So, finally found the right dark mahogany-esq (some exotic hardwood) timber with straight enough grain to make new handles.

Here are pictures of the initial results of the first finished handle. Some polishing still needed.
Handle length about 25 1/2", overall 28".
Style is Indian, following the examples shown on Runjeets excellent site. I have used these as I am still of the opinion that Indian is the most likey origin.
It swings well and feels great at this length.

One down, one to go.