THANKS FOR THE PHOTOS OF THE CLUBS AND FULL ARMOR,THE SHIELDS ARE VERY CRUDE AND LOOK LIKE PART OF A FENCE BUT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE COVER. I WOULD CONSIDER THE LONGER CLUBS A TYPE OF POLE ARM OR SPEAR THE CROSS GAURD WOULD INDICATE THAT THEY DID FENCE WITH THEM AS IT IS THERE TO PROTECT THE OPPONENTS WEAPON FROM SLIDEING DOWN THE SHAFT TO STRIKE THE HANDS. PERHAPS THE PICTURES SHOWN WITH THE MAN WITH SHIELD AND THE OTHER WITH NO SHIELD AND THE LONG CLUB IS THE FORM USED FOR CEREMONIAL COMBAT?. WHERE THE AGRESSOR AND HIS ROCK THROWERS GET SEVERAL WHACKS AT THE ONE WITH THE SHIELD AND THEN THEY GIVE THE OTHER SIDE A TURN WITH THE CLUB? THEY PROBABLY ALSO FOUGHT WITH NO SHIELD WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FUN TO WATCH AS THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE MOVEMENT ESPECIALLY IF STONES WERE ALSO BEING THROWN. THE METAL HATS LOOK REALY COOL AND SCARY BUT WOULD BE A BIT NOISY IN THERE IF STRUCK WITH A CLUB OR ROCK.
IT IS INTERESTING THE SIMULARITYS IN THIS TYPE OF COMBAT WHICH ALSO OCCURS IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS. THE TWO WARRIORS FACE OFF AND ARE HEAVILY PROTECTED WITH ARMOR EACH SIDE HAS PEOPLE THERE THROWING ROCKS AT THE OTHER SIDE. I SUSPECT THERE WERE FEW FATALITYS DUE TO THE ARMOR AND THE SHARKTOOTH SWORD CLUBS USED, PERHAPS IT ENDED WHEN BLOOD WAS DRAWN? SEE PICTURE OF GILBERT IS. WARRIOR, NOTE THE HIGH COLLAR TO PROTECT THE WARRIOR FROM ACCIDENTLY BEING STRUCK IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD BY A ROCK FROM HIS OWN SIDE.. GOOD LUCK ON AQUIREING A CLUB.