This shepherd's axe is carved from a single piece of walnut. It has a Fritz handle with a skilfully hand-carved eagle's head at the end, with the original glass eyes.
'The shepherd's axe is a long thin light axe of Eurasian origin used in past centuries by shepherds in the Carpathian Mountains and in other territories which comprise today Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Romania and Hungary.
The features of a shepherd's axe combine a tool with a walking stick, that could be used as a light weapon. It has symbolic historical and cultural connotations and is still used as a prop in many traditional dances, for example the odzemek.'

The top of the handle has been carved with the name of the Polish town where it was made:
'Zakopane'

Below the top, there is a flattened, tapering shaft with decorative carving most of the way down the length on one side.

Walnut shaft with an original metal ferrule.

A strong but lightweight stick, suitable for use or a collector.

Measurements
Length - 88.5cm  
Diameter of handle - 18.5cm
Shaft diameter - 4.3cm, tapering to 1.6cm
Weight - 378g
 
Very good condition, with a slight ding to the axe.