just had a reply from an email i sent the vendor suggesting the axe was likely afghani. he has replied that that may be correct, he got the batch from south asia.
p.s. - he had a sort of bearded/goose wing poll axe also for sale that i bid on and also got for the minimum price.
will see if it too has a cartouche when it gets here. this one has a more western haft with the blade set to the top & secured with a wedge.