Superb 18th C. Mughal Zaghnal Axe

ZAGHNAL C, Mughal

A rare type of battle-axe for mounted warfare, with a lineage tracing back to the Persian and Ottoman axes.

This example is substantially weighted overall. The axe blade is beak-shaped (it is believed that zaghnal refers to the shape of a crow beak), and is attached to the axe head via two straps. The heavy rectangular axe head is clad in crystalline wootz panels, and terminates in a flattened ball peen.

The haft is steel, with a dome springing from foliated plinth at the axe-eye, and a domed terminal at the bottom.

The axe head straps are chiseled into leaves and flowers. The axe head is decorated in fine koftgari depicting vines and flowers in Mughali style. Sparingly applied bands of koftgari enrich the deep russet color of the haft.

Dimensions: Blade length: 4:25” OAL: 17.5”

Condition: In excellent condition with 95% koftgari intact.

Literature See Pinchot (2014): rms of the Paladins p. 19, fig. 2-12 for a similar zaghnal.

Tirri (2003): Islamic Weapons: Maghrib to Moghul on p. 328 (Fig. 254, extreme left)