Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 31st January 2012, 01:58 AM   #1
Stan S.
Member
 
Stan S.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NY USA
Posts: 227
Question Please authenticate this

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
Attached Images
      
Stan S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st January 2012, 02:18 AM   #2
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
Default

Looks Persian, Qajar period to me. IT is crude and could very will be a repo.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st January 2012, 03:00 AM   #3
fspic
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 27
Default

Do a web search for scrap metal prices and you will get its true value.

I have seen some "interesting looking" pieces with a certain amount of illustrative work which were nonetheless torch cut from heavy sheet stock (kora). This doesn't always show up at first glance. A lot of real blades have cut in and silver filled work which seems rather crude but that is not unusual. It is necessary to look past that as the piece may be authentic.

I bought a shorter flat bladed saber with a Nepalese grip largely for the grip as I assumed the blade was newly made. A close examination of the spine seemed to show laminae. I checked several times and it still looked that way. Apparently it was a flat laminated blade which is a bit unusual.
fspic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st January 2012, 03:17 AM   #4
Gavin Nugent
Member
 
Gavin Nugent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
Default

From the images it looks to have a piece from a late 19th/early 20th ceremonal axe but only just that at best....the rest, such as the spike if you can call it that and the T shaped hammer and the shaft all look to be modern pieces of "scrap" braized and welded on to create a "complete" axe...I use a lot of these words loosely as she ain't pretty.....

Last edited by freebooter; 31st January 2012 at 06:51 AM. Reason: spelling
Gavin Nugent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st January 2012, 06:39 AM   #5
asomotif
Member
 
asomotif's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 2,224
Default

When did we event electric welding techniques ?
asomotif is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st January 2012, 07:27 AM   #6
thinreadline
Member
 
thinreadline's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
Default

I agree with the foregoing comments . This is a poorly cobbled together effort I am afraid . The axe head decoration is terribly crude .. even in late 19th pieces it is fine ... no real weapons maker could have made this ... it would have fallen apart if used in action and been laughed at if worn for a parade.
thinreadline is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st January 2012, 10:17 AM   #7
Atlantia
Member
 
Atlantia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Sharp end
Posts: 2,928
Default

Hi Stan,

There come in various grades and ages. In this case I would have to say that your instinct was right on the money. This is the bottom end of the cheap scale.
It looks like it has a mixture of brazing and welded construction, crude blade with the most basic stamped decoration. the hammer back is just a roughly cut section of angle iron welded on and shaft made from a crimped section of tubular steel.

I'd say it's post WW2. You haven't misssed out on this one.
Atlantia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st January 2012, 11:55 AM   #8
AJ1356
Member
 
AJ1356's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Nashville
Posts: 314
Default

It is as fake as they come, the maker did not even try to make it look real. to me it seems to be built out of modern construction materials.
AJ1356 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st January 2012, 12:30 PM   #9
ariel
Member
 
ariel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stan S.
He claims it to be a typical Qajar period Indo Persian. To me it looks like a not-so-modern repro.

Both of you are correct: it is a typical Qajar period repro:-) The two are synonymous.

Similar axes, bazu-bands, shields and swords were mass-produced in Iran during Qajar and Pahlavi dynasties. All were aimed at European naifs looking for the romantic/heroic past of a destitute country. Before oil, Iran was viciously poor and trinkets of that nature were one of the few means of putting bread on the table. Their quality is abysmal, but we still see them on e-bay, masquerading as real weapons.
ariel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31st January 2012, 03:57 PM   #10
Stan S.
Member
 
Stan S.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NY USA
Posts: 227
Default

Thank you all. I am glad to know my instincts were right.
Stan S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:09 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.