Talk:Valaška
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I think it is more a multiple-use walking stick than a weapon. Valaška size is always so it can be used as a walking stick, the bottom has metal butt and the top "axe" is shaped like a handle. I had neven seen Valaška with a sharp edge.
- That is because Valaška is no longer used as a weapon. Decorative types of valaškas do not have sharp edges for purpose. In rural parts of Slovakia, people may have some original inherited valaškas. Originally, it used to be a tool more than a weapon, which is why it has a long shaft with metal butt - to provide a stick. Although I am unsure, whether the mettal butt is not a todays addon. jsimlo 15:29, 12 July 2006 (UTC)
I find Valaška and Hungarian "fokos" very similar to each other, in shape, usage and historical/cultural appearances as well. In historical references I found that in periods of medieval ages use of "fokos" by peasant class was banned by landlords so it had to be concealed: peasants, robbers etc. used the handle as a walking stick, and they carried the head in pockets or bags but if needed, they could easily fix it on the handle and use the weapon. Any references for the same use in Slovakia? And did Hungarians take the idea of Valaška sometime in the past (a copy) or these type of handy tools were invented separatedly?
I consider this picture useful, http://www.slovakfolkart.sk/images/P1010041.jpg, comes from the Slovak wiki, but i don't know how to put it here. Ing_SvK
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- Valaška is not only a Slovak phenomenon, this is probably traditional in at least northen Carpathian Mountains (Slovakia, Hungaria, Poland, Moravia), maybe in all Carpathian Mountains, because the Czech/Slovak name "valaška" suggest the origin from Wallachia. Some centuries ago shepherds from Romanian Wallachia came to northern part of Carpathian Mountains and they came with their own culture. The valaška is not only in Slovakia, but also in Moravian Wallachia (see picture there) and in Poland (Polish part of Carpathian Mnt.), where is known as pl:ciupaga (see picture there). Somebody also mentioned Hungary and hu:fokos (see picture) --Luděk 04:48, 29 July 2007 (UTC)
