North Indian axe?

Tim Simmons · 11th May 2007, 06:11 PM

Yes the pics are pretty good. One the other hand Elgood's Hindu arms has the tendency to leave great lumps of South India out of consideration altogether.

Tim Simmons · 11th May 2007, 06:45 PM

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.

Tim Simmons · 11th May 2007, 07:40 PM

The construction with the steel strip down most of the handle is serious stuff. The weapon has a considerable amount of flex. It is just that the handle is quite thin for a good constant grip for me. I have always thought of the term horseman's axe as a bit "what is it, call it a horseman's axe" but a rider could lean from a horse and strike with an axe. The flex in the construction would help extricate the weapon at speed? The grip does bother me. Has anyone got good information and pics.

Tim Simmons · 12th May 2007, 02:06 PM

Maybe it is a case of the smaller Asian hands and how young is a young warrior thingy.

Sikh_soldier · 12th May 2007, 04:11 PM

Wow!
That is a very nice axe,
how did you clean it up so well?

Jens Nordlunde · 12th May 2007, 04:15 PM

Is the handle thinner than a steel handle would be?
There are different kinds of wood, and some of them are very strong, yet very flexible - remember some of the wooden bows.

Tim Simmons · 12th May 2007, 08:39 PM

I had not thought of that Jens. It is the same as the metal axes. So it may be a battle axe. Very clever in a simple way to make a strong and flexible halft like that. If a target was hit in the chest or head at speed the halft would need to flex or it would most likely snap.

Jens Nordlunde · 13th May 2007, 10:50 AM

A friend just sent me this picture. He says it is from Memorials of the Jaipure Exhibition 1883. Which, of course, does not mean that the weapons shown are from Jaipur. The axe to the left has a long stiletto hidden in the steel haft, notice also the haft on the second axe from the left – it is a rather thin haft made of wood.

11th May 2007, 06:45 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Perhaps even "battle axe" is a little strong? 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.

11th May 2007, 07:40 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	on the other hand? The construction with the steel strip down most of the handle is serious stuff. The weapon has a considerable amount of flex. It is just that the handle is quite thin for a good constant grip for me. I have always thought of the term horseman's axe as a bit "what is it, call it a horseman's axe" but a rider could lean from a horse and strike with an axe. The flex in the construction would help extricate the weapon at speed? The grip does bother me. Has anyone got good information and pics.

12th May 2007, 04:11 PM	#5
Sikh_soldier Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 87	Nice axe! Wow! That is a very nice axe, how did you clean it up so well?

12th May 2007, 08:39 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	good thinking I had not thought of that Jens. It is the same as the metal axes. So it may be a battle axe. Very clever in a simple way to make a strong and flexible halft like that. If a target was hit in the chest or head at speed the halft would need to flex or it would most likely snap.

13th May 2007, 10:50 AM	#8
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	A friend just sent me this picture. He says it is from Memorials of the Jaipure Exhibition 1883. Which, of course, does not mean that the weapons shown are from Jaipur. The axe to the left has a long stiletto hidden in the steel haft, notice also the haft on the second axe from the left – it is a rather thin haft made of wood. Attached Images

11th May 2007, 06:11 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Yes the pics are pretty good. One the other hand Elgood's Hindu arms has the tendency to leave great lumps of South India out of consideration altogether.

12th May 2007, 02:06 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Maybe it is a case of the smaller Asian hands and how young is a young warrior thingy.

12th May 2007, 04:15 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Is the handle thinner than a steel handle would be? There are different kinds of wood, and some of them are very strong, yet very flexible - remember some of the wooden bows.