Rockclimbers use similar tools today to assist in climbing. Joe Armata wrote: > > In article <19970112224000.RAA06450@ladder01.news.aol.com>, diggeral@aol.com > (DIGGERAL) writes: > > While talking Genealogy with a friend he showed me what he called a > > Carpathian Mountain axe. It is about three feet long and a axe head at one > > end and it slims down at the base with a piece of metal for stabbing or > > puncturing. He said the Poles used it for fighting the Turks. ant info or > > history would be appreciated. > > diggeral@aol.com > > I think that bit about fighting the Turks is a stretch! Actually, > these axes were used by the shepherds for the usual sort of thing: > chopping wood, driving off wolves, protecting yourself from thugs, > carrying things, as a walking stick, brandishing to show your > courage, etc. > > They were so much a part of daily life they became a part of the > folk costume, so to speak, for many of the Carpathian groups. > Since you mentioned it was Polish, it's likely from the Podhale > area, where they are probably the most popularized, although > less-visited neighboring areas also produce and use them. > Modern ones are usually more ceremonial than functional, made of > soft wood and soft blunted metal, and meant more as an accessory to > the costume than for real work in the field. > > Joe Armata > armata@vms.cis.pitt.edu