20213 - Senior Zulu Warrior with Axe

Senior Zulu Warrior with Axe

This senior Zulu officer carries the half-moon-shaped Zulu axe. The iron blade was attached to a straight wooden handle and, when employed in battle, was used primarily as a two-handed chopping weapon. Long and shallow in depth, the blade was designed so it could be used to hook an opponent’s shield exposing the defending warrior to further attack. The long handle was sturdy enough that it could block an opponent’s strike should the need arise. But because it was regarded as more of a symbol of rank and deployed only to the officer class, its use as a weapon in combat was not wide spread. However, the axe was deadly to be sure and was one of Shaka Zulu’s favorite close-quarter weapons.