North Indian axe?

[Tim Simmons]

I wonder if these and other small axes from India may be more of a {for want of better words} civil weapon. Like a stout stick or staff. I cannot help making a comparison to herders axes from the 19th century in eastern Europe. In a time of no street lights or tarmac roads and no local police, small decorative weapons would be handy to have around. Not so much to use but the signals they send out. They do not handle as I would want in a real "battle" axe. I think these pictures say a lot. A travellers axe may be a good name.