a Fang axe

Freddy · 25th August 2006, 08:02 PM

I just want to show this piece to the forum members. I recently found it on a German auction site.

This is a battle axe from the Fang tribe. This tribe can be found in an area covering Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Nothing fancy, but very functional. The handle measures 46,5 cm and is 7,5 cm wide near the blade.
According to the book "De fer de de fierté" (Armes blanches d’Afrique noire du muséé Barbier-Mueller) these axes are rare as they were abandonned very early in history (due to the arrival of firearms).

Flavio · 25th August 2006, 08:04 PM

Freddy, congratulations for this wonderful and very rare find!!!!!

Tim Simmons · 25th August 2006, 08:13 PM

Very nice, such a strong sculptural form, reminds me of some carving from the South Pacific.

Lew · 25th August 2006, 08:15 PM

Freddy

A real nice axe but is that a weld line I see running across the blade

Lew

katana · 25th August 2006, 08:30 PM

Hi Freddy, nice find.....would you mind posting a few more pics ....a top view looking down on the axe so I can see the shape of the haft (handle) in 'cross section' , thanks.

Freddy you made a handle for the other knife you posted.....are you sure you didn't use a table leg to make this one ...

Freddy · 25th August 2006, 08:58 PM

Lew, no weld line. The blade is made from one piece of metal. But there is a line running in the middle of the blade. From that point to the handle, the blade is a bit thicker. It then tapers towards the edge (which is very sharp).

Katana,

As requested : first a view of the top of the shaft, followed by the bottom (which is round). You might notice the copper ring at the bottom.

The handle is also decorated with some geometrical design.

Flavio · 25th August 2006, 09:00 PM

Again, BEAUTIFUL!!!!

katana · 25th August 2006, 09:12 PM

Thanks Freddy,
a very interesting and unusual axe

VANDOO · 26th August 2006, 06:49 AM

A BEAUTIFU AX AND A FORM I HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE. THANKS

IN SOME WAYS IT REMINDS ME OF AMERICAN INDIAN WAR CLUBS.

Luc LEFEBVRE · 26th August 2006, 07:23 PM

Really nice, and rare to find.
Luc

Another exemple from "De Fer et de Fierté"

25th August 2006, 08:02 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	a Fang axe I just want to show this piece to the forum members. I recently found it on a German auction site. This is a battle axe from the Fang tribe. This tribe can be found in an area covering Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Nothing fancy, but very functional. The handle measures 46,5 cm and is 7,5 cm wide near the blade. According to the book "De fer de de fierté" (Armes blanches d’Afrique noire du muséé Barbier-Mueller) these axes are rare as they were abandonned very early in history (due to the arrival of firearms).

26th August 2006, 07:23 PM	#10
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 472	Really nice, and rare to find. Luc Another exemple from "De Fer et de Fierté" Attached Images

25th August 2006, 08:04 PM	#2
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Freddy, congratulations for this wonderful and very rare find!!!!!

25th August 2006, 08:13 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Very nice, such a strong sculptural form, reminds me of some carving from the South Pacific.

25th August 2006, 08:15 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Freddy A real nice axe but is that a weld line I see running across the blade Lew

25th August 2006, 08:30 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Freddy, nice find.....would you mind posting a few more pics ....a top view looking down on the axe so I can see the shape of the haft (handle) in 'cross section' , thanks. Freddy you made a handle for the other knife you posted.....are you sure you didn't use a table leg to make this one ...

25th August 2006, 08:58 PM	#6
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Lew, no weld line. The blade is made from one piece of metal. But there is a line running in the middle of the blade. From that point to the handle, the blade is a bit thicker. It then tapers towards the edge (which is very sharp). Katana, As requested : first a view of the top of the shaft, followed by the bottom (which is round). You might notice the copper ring at the bottom. The handle is also decorated with some geometrical design.

25th August 2006, 09:00 PM	#7
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Again, BEAUTIFUL!!!!

25th August 2006, 09:12 PM	#8
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Thanks Freddy, a very interesting and unusual axe

26th August 2006, 06:49 AM	#9
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A BEAUTIFU AX AND A FORM I HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE. THANKS IN SOME WAYS IT REMINDS ME OF AMERICAN INDIAN WAR CLUBS.