Unsure where this belongs / Japanese axe

[Fuuten]

Really weird/unique axe apparently found in Japan. I am not sure where this topic belongs. It was here or the izakaya. But I suppose it was made by a Japanese sword smith. I think it is pretty neat. More likely something ceremonial opposed to actual use in combat.

 

 

[16k]

That is cool. I think it has a place here.

[ChrisW]

That is one sexy axe. And I don't call just any old thing that.

[kissakai]

Some amazing artifacts on the page link

These were on the NMB list a few weeks ago

 

00031	Jūyō Bunkazai	Axe
00133	Jūyō Bunkazai	Axe

[Rivkin]

Interestingly enough that seems to be more Indian than Chinese inspired to me.

I am not sure how to take it, but there is a bizarre fact that according to PhDs analyzing Nambokucho period casualty reports, which are very detailed - there are almost no cases of anyone ever being killed by a naginata, but axes are a very common cause. 

[ChrisW]

I wonder how many of these axes are extant.

[Wolfmanreid]

Funnily enough the scroll painting in the below link depicts a bushi wielding an axe damn near identical to the one in the OP’s photo. 
 

http://gunbai-militaryhistory.blogspot.com/2017/09/masakari-samurais-war-axe.html?m=1

[Fuuten]

3 hours ago, kissakai said:

Some amazing artifacts on the page link

These were on the NMB list a few weeks ago

 

00031	Jūyō Bunkazai	Axe
00133	Jūyō Bunkazai	Axe

Hi Grev, I'm not sure I understand what you posted. I searched the reddit page for anything 'Japanese'  but didn't see any other axes.

 

Edit: it appears the one in the opening post is quite famous and called 'Nyuubu Ono 入峰斧'.

 

More detailed photos here: https://www.narahaku.go.jp/collection/659-0.html

 

Thanks for the link Reid(?).

 

[ChrisW]

I assume the axe above is made of iron. I wonder if it has a hamon. And if so, what sort? I imagine it would be simply gorgeous.

[kissakai]

Hi Axel

NMB listing from Jussi Ekholm - just notice the PDF file is on the NMB right hand side bar

 

Grev

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

Thanks for posting this Axel. Unfortunately I missed this axe the first two times when I browsed the Japanese Cultural Database. I only found two Bunkazai axes when I now realize there are 3 of them.

 

I think this is absolutely remarkable item. Practical in form as many axes you see in Japan are so decorated and not for real use.

 

Here is the Cultural database entry for this axe: https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/201/5543 It says Kamakura for the age but Nara National Museum has Nanbokuchō to Muromachi for the age.

[Kurikata]

My axe tsuba.....

[Bugyotsuji]

It's beautiful. They were making similar-shaped iron axes in the Kunitomo area before they were asked to make guns.

Said to have been carried by Buddhist ascetics...?

The holes are Inome. 

[b.hennick]

I have a pair of iron menuki, one is an axe the other a nata.

[Fuuten]

Thank you; Grev, Jussi,

 

Now i understand.

 

I rarely stumble on cool stuff to share here, actually I usually see them here