Indo-persian Axe?
 

Hello all
Yet another ebay buy under a tenner! I am hoping this is Indo Persian? If so a couple of queastions.

Were these weapons used in battle, as I often see them described as ceremonial and are they more India or Persia. This example is 73cm long with a 22cm sharp blade. Is the device opposite the blade meant for smashing armour? The axe has been given at sometime a rather bad gloss black paint job- I have already removed a brush hair! Thanks Andy

Nice example. Indo-Persian, yes, but saying it's a "battle" or "combat" axe may be going a little far. Generally these are too light and the blades too thin to do much damage especially against armor. Usually the metal quality is also suspect. Combat examples are much bigger and heavier, generally with thicker axe heads.

These were essentially ceremonial, and were(and still are) favorites in Sikh martial parades.

Nice axe. For a tenner that is very good, I've never managed to get anything off ebay for that price.