Identifying Indian Axes
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Axes are some of humanity’s oldest weapons and tools and, although they often lose out to the sword’s centre-stage limelight, they have played an important role on countless global battlefields. Most fighting axes have small heads that were designed to impart as much lethal energy upon impact with an enemy as possible (very few combat axes feature the huge blades we see regularly in Hollywood productions). At the blade’s reverse was often found another weapon, partly to ensure an even distribution of weight and partly to give the user further options in combat. This secondary weapon could be a hammer to crush helmets, or a beak to hook limbs and reins, or even a spike to pierce armour. The weaponsmiths of old India certainly believed in such variety and their ateliers enjoyed decorating their output.
In this article, I present the historical axe-forms most commonly found in India from its Mughal period to the 1800s. I hope this acts as a gateway that helps fellow researchers quickly identify a type before delving into texts and museum inventories to further their knowledge. As ever, I welcome any corrections or comments.
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Khond
As you might have guessed from the quartet of pictures accompanying this first entry: axes associated with the Khond people of India offer a plethora of forms. This tribal ethnicity spread roots through much of India and their accoutrements are commonly found today as a result. The axe was their weapon of choice, not just for warfare but also for hunting, as has been confirmed by contemporary accounts (such as those of British diarists). Lord Egerton’s early work calls these weapons pharetri and I have seen them described as being Orissan, Chota Nagpurian and even, incorrectly, African. The most commonly used name, however, is the bulova. Regardless of nomenclature, these axes’ heads vary in quality almost as much as they vary in shape, with some being cheaply made and relatively flimsy while others being far more capable.
Some blades have multiple tips, many are bifurcated, some have a moustache-shaped blade, some are simple rectangles. I am unsure whether each blade-shape had a specific function or whether each was down to a user’s preference—but both factors seem likely. The handles were long, intended for two-handed usage, and almost always made from wood. They are often banded with metal rings or studded and they will commonly protrude past the axe-head.
Qajar Revival
As above, these axes run the quality gamut from flimsy to outstanding. Associated with the Qajar Period of Iran, the axe-type made its way into India too, hence the inclusion in this article. Regularly found with a thin blade lacking much in the way of distal taper and a hollow mouth-shaped pall (not shown), the majority of such axes were clearly intended for ceremonial uses though the high-quality iterations one can discover certainly offer increased capabilities (and crucible steels). Even modest examples can be found with gold and silver inlays, usually the latter. These axes are sometimes mixed in with so-called Dervish axes, and they can be found in children’s sizes, too.
A note on the name for this section: ‘Persian axe’ is in common usage in English for this weapon-type, as is tabar, but I have not seen any specific moniker applied to it and the tabar name will appear later in the list again.
Antelope
Perhaps the most unusual and creative entry into this list is the antelope axe. This form has a blade that curves back on itself and terminates in a device mimicking an antelope’s head, complete with a spike to represent the animal’s horn. Some examples are definitely ceremonial and they clearly lack cutting edges or the easy means to apply such a thing. Others combine a competent blade with precious metals. Antelopes feature in some of the religious iconographies of South Asia but also in the parrying weapon called the madu which combines two antelope horns and a shield.
Possibly hailing from Central India, few sources exist through which to mine reliable information on the antelope axe so if you have any evidence of its origins then you are encouraged to leave a comment below or send me a private message via the website’s contact page.
Bhuj or Mujawli
Originating in the bhuj area of Kutch in Gujarat, this all-metal weapon is sometimes called a knife-axe—and for good reason, as the head usually looks closer in design to that of a dagger than an axe. Often highly decorated, the Bhuj can be found with a concealed dagger that can be released from its handle by means of a thick screw-thread. The transition from the handle to the main blade is marked by an elephant’s head (sometimes realistically carved, sometimes made from flowers) and this has led to the bhuj being called the ‘elephant axe’.
All of these axes seem to have had fabric-covered or metal-covered wooden sheathes for their blades, though most are now lost and an original is highly desirable. It is likely that the ‘real’ name of this weapon is a mujawli though Bhuj now wins out, or at least has equal merit, under the laws of English common usage.
Farsa
Characterised by its noticeable L-shaped head, the farsa is sometimes thought of as a stablemate to the bulova already outlined above and one can occasionally find them listed as such. Most farsa’s shafts are wooden, sometimes banded or studded with metal additions, and their lengths vary—though shorter examples might have been cut-down later in life or be the result of a breakage.
All-metal examples also exist, though they seem to be much rarer. One source points to Tanjore as being a regional originator. Artworks show that the farsa is at least as old as the Mughal period.
South Indian
These axes are a little mysterious.
Found both with wooden shafts and metal shafts, they can be plain and rudimentary or heavy and competent. The better ones are found adorned with gold or silver and have heads made from pattern-welded or crucible steel. The famous American collector and author George Cameron Stone believed that these axes were from Central India, and some sources call them ‘Tungi axes’ and suggest a link to the Khond people (who, as we have already seen, thoroughly enjoyed a good axe). Most collectors today, though, seem to be happy calling them South Indian though I would be interested to see attribution for this. If you have any evidence of this axe’s origins then you are most welcome to leave a comment below or send me a private message via this website’s contact page.
Tabarzin
Far more confident than most of the other entries in this article are the majority of antique tabarzins that one might encounter. Again, no single head-shape absolutely defines the tabarzin (also called a tabar or tabarzine); but it is easily recognisable as a solid, wedge-shaped head and a one-handed shaft seems to most inform the type. As a weapon, the tabar is generally uncomplicated and its form can also be found in other countries’ martial cultures. In such cases, one must look to the clues given to us by the process of manufacture and decoration for a true identification. Helpfully, Indo-Persian tabarzins can offer elaborate and expensive decorations with many being adeptly carved or adorned with gold and silver. Metal shafts will sometimes have a dagger blade hidden in their handles, similar to the Bhuj.
Many were designed to be used by horsemen, hence their alternative name of saddle axes in which case they were attached onto or underneath the saddle.
Zagnal
Also called a baghnal, the zagnal is perhaps thought of as more of a war pick than an axe but many examples exist that show it with more of a blade than a spike. Indeed, some blades are most similar to those found on historical katars. Zagnals, generally speaking, were made to deliver a great deal of kinetic energy to a small area: making them ideal for penetrating an opponent’s armour, whether it be cloth, mail or plate. While every entry in this list has exceptional examples, zagnals seem to have a higher average standard of manufacture than most Indian weapons and they tended to be elaborately decorated, stoutly made and clearly commissioned by wealthy warriors.
Blades can be accompanied by a rear or end-mounted spike and a variety of decorative motifs with some suggesting ceremonial importance. Handles can be made of metal or wood, with some concealing an extra blade.
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