WIDE-BLAD AXES «BALTA» FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE OMSK STATE HISTORY MUSEUM

Abstract

The article describes battle axes, stored in the Omsk State Museum of Regional History. One of them has a blade of oblong-triangular shape, and the other has oblong-trapezoidal shape. The surface of the strikers is decorated with floral and geometric ornament made in the technique of silver notches on metal. Axe handles are reinforced with iron «cuts» and straps. Experts of the Museum identified these types of shockslashing weapons as Kazakh «battle axes aibalta» and suggested possible dates: late XVIII– early XIX century, or the XIX century. The analysis of the structure and system of the decoration helps to clarify the dating and attribution of the weapons. It is stated that the axes were indeed made by Kazakh gunsmiths, however, the shape of the blade and slightly curved blade allows to define them as axes not «aibalta» (the distinctive feature of which was a lunar C-shaped blade), but as battle axes «balta». Their production may be dated back to the XVIII– XIX centuries. In the complex of shock-chopping weapons of Kazakh nomads, battle axes «balta» had an intermediate position between narrow-bladed axes «shakan» and axes «aibalta». Experimental tests show that strikes of the «balta» type axe had a powerful shock-crushing effect. They presented a significant threat for enemy soldiers who did not have protective arms or were dressed in quilted cotton suit armour. Strikes of «balta» could not break metal armor, but could injure a body and crush bones of an enemy warrior. Along with the high functional characteristics of the axes of the Museum, they have bright decorative design. For example, the axe No. 3659 with its decorative patterns can be compared with the best samples of Kazakh shockchopping weapons stored in the Museum collections of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan.