For your consieration is an Original Polish Ciupaga Shepherd's Axe/Walking Stick, circa early to mid 20th century. The ciupaga is the Polish mountaineer's combination mountain axe and walking stick. 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. Today's shepherd's axes are mostly decorative with mostly brass, iron, chromed iron, wood, or aluminum head-pieces. Many are considered works of art (esp. those made up to the 1960s by Polish highlanders). They were skillfully stamped/adorned according to ancient tradition. The main motifs were the sun, stars (whirl), comets, tree of life, flowers, trees such as fir or spruce, and various geometric designs. Some smiths used many different, elaborated stamps. This shepherd's axe has a chromed iron head with brass fittings and copper rings, the head is stamped with sun and star motifs. The tapered wood shaft has a horizontal stripe pattern in the wood grain, and a hardened metal tip. Shepherd's axe is in nice condition, fading observed to stamping from age and use, no other marring noted. Measures 33.25"L x 1.5"W x .75"D, head is 5.25"L x 3"W x .5"D, weight is 1lb, 6oz.