Unidentified African Axes, No 1

Tim Simmons · 15th August 2007, 05:48 PM

I picked up three interesting axes. The wood looks like that of the S. Sudan and E Africa to C African a large area. I do not think they have any thing to do with S Africa and Zulu related people? This is my favourite and showing some age early 20th century?

All depends when and how collected. View the Wallace collection the other day there are 18th century swords looking like they just left the smith and scabbard maker not to mention the early renaissance armour.

Anyway back to the axe. I like the club like handle, nice finish to the wood. 75cm long halft, the blade protrudes 12cm the flat part being 14cm x 9cm. any better ideas????

Flavio · 15th August 2007, 07:15 PM

Very nice, Tim!!! Seems a Sotho axe as the other you posted here:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5082

I don't remember where but I have read that these axes were thrown (maybe in Spring's book)

Tim Simmons · 15th August 2007, 07:38 PM

Thanks Flavio I think you are spot on. I was thrown off track a little by the fact that these are quite heavy. Real battle axes, the club like halft being typical on a quick search. I think I may have been very lucky. As can be seen this is old so I assume they are all from the same original collecter. This little bit of info is interesting.

http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0021-8537(1971)12%3A4%3C535%3ASAAAIT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-6

I do not know why the link will not work

Tim Simmons · 16th August 2007, 05:56 PM

It is not impossible that these axes are from the late 19th century. This is interesting and I am sure it was not the end to a state of readiness on the part of the Sotho.
http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/golf/gun1880.htm

Tim Simmons · 16th August 2007, 07:29 PM

Possibly the 1906 Bambatha Rebellion ?

Tim Simmons · 17th August 2007, 06:12 PM

More historical background. Very interesting the fiction between native peoples as well as the Europeans. This chief was a clever man and his warriors must have been a tough lot. I think the weapons show this clearly.
http://www.nguni.com/culture/virtual.../southern.html

Tim Simmons · 18th August 2007, 08:34 PM

I do not know about you but it can take me days to inspect and examine a new acquisition. This dark line under x10 magnification appears to be an inserted piece of fibrous horn like material and not split bi-coloured wood. Unfortunately a do not have the macro camera ability, I think that is the right term, to show this so it is just my word. Assuming I am correct this is a very interesting feature.

15th August 2007, 05:48 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Unidentified African Axes, No 1 I picked up three interesting axes. The wood looks like that of the S. Sudan and E Africa to C African a large area. I do not think they have any thing to do with S Africa and Zulu related people? This is my favourite and showing some age early 20th century? All depends when and how collected. View the Wallace collection the other day there are 18th century swords looking like they just left the smith and scabbard maker not to mention the early renaissance armour. Anyway back to the axe. I like the club like handle, nice finish to the wood. 75cm long halft, the blade protrudes 12cm the flat part being 14cm x 9cm. any better ideas????

15th August 2007, 07:15 PM	#2
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Very nice, Tim!!! Seems a Sotho axe as the other you posted here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5082 I don't remember where but I have read that these axes were thrown (maybe in Spring's book) Attached Images Last edited by Flavio; 15th August 2007 at 07:28 PM.

18th August 2007, 08:34 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	one last thing. I do not know about you but it can take me days to inspect and examine a new acquisition. This dark line under x10 magnification appears to be an inserted piece of fibrous horn like material and not split bi-coloured wood. Unfortunately a do not have the macro camera ability, I think that is the right term, to show this so it is just my word. Assuming I am correct this is a very interesting feature. Attached Images

15th August 2007, 07:38 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thanks Flavio I think you are spot on. I was thrown off track a little by the fact that these are quite heavy. Real battle axes, the club like halft being typical on a quick search. I think I may have been very lucky. As can be seen this is old so I assume they are all from the same original collecter. This little bit of info is interesting. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0021-8537(1971)12%3A4%3C535%3ASAAAIT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-6 I do not know why the link will not work

16th August 2007, 05:56 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	It is not impossible that these axes are from the late 19th century. This is interesting and I am sure it was not the end to a state of readiness on the part of the Sotho. http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/golf/gun1880.htm

16th August 2007, 07:29 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Possibly the 1906 Bambatha Rebellion ?

17th August 2007, 06:12 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	More historical background. Very interesting the fiction between native peoples as well as the Europeans. This chief was a clever man and his warriors must have been a tough lot. I think the weapons show this clearly. http://www.nguni.com/culture/virtual.../southern.html