Philippine Spear

ligpo2001 · 11th January 2007, 01:29 PM

Can anybody identify the provenance of this spear from the Philippines? The spear head is detachable from the shaft.

Lew · 11th January 2007, 01:33 PM

Looks like a whale harpoon to me and not a Philippine spear.

Lew

Bill M · 11th January 2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Looks like a whale harpoon to me and not a Philippine spear.

Lew

Yup.

asomotif · 11th January 2007, 03:28 PM

I have 2 slightly similar harpoons with crudely forged points and the shafts being roughly made. they came from a collection of more than 30 indonesian spears.

ligpo2001 · 12th January 2007, 09:37 AM

May I know the purpose of having the harpoon head detachable from the shaft?

Does the Indonesian harpoon also have rattan bindings?

asomotif · 12th January 2007, 11:10 AM

The detachable point makes that the shaft/stick does not break.
And although I have never caught any seamamal myself, I can imagine that if the point would be fixed rigidly to the shaft it would also make it impossible to hold on to the harpoon.

The 2 harpoons I have have very simple rattan bindings and some black rope also wrapped around the shaft.
maybe If I have time this weekend I will make some pictures.

Best regards,
Willem

Congoblades · 13th January 2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Looks like a whale harpoon to me and not a Philippine spear.
Lew

Whale harpoons have no detachable heads

(www.wereldorientatie.net)

nKante · 13th January 2007, 07:43 PM

I have seen some whale harpoons with detatchable heads. It was used by relatively modern hunters. They attached several plastic jugs to the line to serve as floaters. They stuck the whale with four or five harpoons. The floaters slowed the whale down enough to deliver the death blow. I don't recall exactly how it was delivered. I've also seen detatchable heads when hunting seal. A small breathing hole is cut into the ice. A feather is placed at the end of the hole. The hunter lays on the ice for days at a time with his eyes locked on the feather. When the prey breaths through the hole, the feather moves, indicating the prey is in place. The hunter then jabs his harpoon through the hole, usually stabbing the prey in the face. He pulls out the shaft, leaving the prey suspended by the attached line. He then cuts out a hole large enough to remove the kill.

Congoblades · 13th January 2007, 08:13 PM

@nKanta
You are right, I was to fast with my conclusion

Just found this picture of whale spears with detatchable heads
(http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nmfs/figb0195.htm)

Tim Simmons · 13th January 2007, 08:26 PM

I do not see the thread starting harpoon as a whale harpoon. The whole thing is too light, the cordage too light and simple. Can you imagine pulling a dead whale through water on such cordage. I am an angler and can spend an entire day at the river and only catch a lump of weed, try pulling that through water on light line.

Freddy · 12th January 2007, 02:44 PM

oeps, sorry Willem. My mistake.

For the moment, I can't find a good pic of a Congolese harpoon spear. So I took a scan and some pics of a harpoon arrow in my collection.

The total length of this piece is 129 cm. This is an implement used for hunting, but just look at the beautifully forged iron arrowhead.

Look at the cord attachment. It resembles the one shown by ligpo2001. The arrowhead is loose and fits over the shaft.

Ligpo2001, how is your spearpoint fixed to the shaft ?

katana · 12th January 2007, 04:08 PM

I think Freddy could be right.....not necessarily Congolese....but Africa seems likely. These are still used today to hunt crocodile.......at night. They use small 'shallow-draft' hulled canoes, usually 2 hunters per boat. Using a light they can 'pick out' the glowing eyes of the crock (the light is reflected back...think 'cats eyes'), making them 'easy' to find. The animal is harpooned, the shaft falls away ( crocks would 'roll' in an attempt to escape....if the shaft was 'fixed' to the spearhead, it would be likely the spear...head and all would be dislodged......allowing escape.) Once the reptile tires, it is hauled into the boat, using the rope attached to the harpoon head. This is the most dangerous part, as often the crock will make a last desperate attempt to escape...snapping and swinging its powerful tail....injuries to the hunters is not uncommon.

asomotif · 12th January 2007, 05:25 PM

Ligpo,

Can you also advise some sizes/measurements of the harpoon ?

Best regards,
Willem

ligpo2001 · 13th January 2007, 04:13 PM

I have 6 of these sort of spears, with various lengths:

Shafts from 140 to 177 cm
Heads from 20 to 30 cm

All the heads (tangs) fit into the shafts.

I also have 2 other similar spears (also from the Philippines). The heads of these however are those of spears (i.e. not harpoon like), detachable from the shafts, and connected by rope to the shafts.

If I were to assume that these are not harpoons, then the detachable feature of the heads make sense when hunting mammals in the forests. The speared animal will have difficulty escaping because the shaft will eventually get caught between bushes and trees while it flees. This is just my guess though.

Congoblades · 13th January 2007, 06:29 PM

I have this nice ngbandi/Bati (Yakomo) harpoonspear. This one was used for hunting big animals like hippo's. The shaft is 90 cm and the spearhead about 51 cm.
More "rough" pieces where made by the Poto.
I agree with Ligpo2001 about the use of the detachable heads, makes animals get caught between bushes and trees while it flees, the Poto spears have often long wooden floaters attached. (Westedijk)
Greets
Guy

VANDOO · 13th January 2007, 06:38 PM

I WOULD GUESS THAT THEY ARE HARPOONS ALSO, THE DETACHABLE HEAD USUALLY INDICATES IT WAS TO BE USED ON LARGE PREY. THE LINE BEING ATTACHED BETWEEN THE POINT AND SHAFT OR ATTACHED ONLY TO THE POINT WOULD INDICATE HUNTING MARINE PREY. THIS SYSTEM IS USED ON MODERN SPEAR GUNS, THE SPEAR PENETRATED DEEPLY AND WHEN THE FISH PULLS THE SHAFT COMES OFF AND OUT OF THE WOUND THE LINE FROM SHAFT TO POINT IS ATTACHED SO WHEN IT PULLS IT TURNS THE POINT CROSSWISE SO IT CANNOT BE PULLED OUT AS EASILY. IF THE SHAFT WERE LEFT ATTACHED IT WOULD WORK AGAINST THE WATER AND THE WOUND AND OPEN IT UP OFTEN CAUSING THE POINT TO BECOME DISLODGED AS WELL AS BENDING OR BREAKING THE SHAFT.
I HAVE SEEN SOUTH AMERICAN INDIAN ARROWS THAT HAVE A VERY LARGE SHAFT AND DETACHABLE POINT. WHEN THE ARROW STRIKES THE SHAFT COMES LOOSE AND FLOATS TO THE SURFACE THE LINE IS WRAPPED AROUND THE SHAFT AND UNWINDS THE HUNTER PADDLES OVER AND PICKS UP THE SHAFT AND GETS THE LINE AND PULLS IN THE CATCH. HARPOONS LIKE THE FIRST ONE COULD BE USED ON HIPPO, CROCODILES,DUGONG,PORPOSE,LARGE FISH ECT.

THE ONLY DETACHABLE POINTS I AM AWARE OF FOR HUNTING ABOVE WATER WERE DESIGNED TO STAY IN THE WOUND SO THE ANIMAL COULD NOT REMOVE THEM WITH THE SHAFT AND WERE OFTEN POISONED. HAVING A SHAFT ATTACHED TO A POINT AND CATCHING IT IN THE BRUSH WOULD GIVE THE PREY A BETTER CHANCE OF DISLOGING THE POINT INSTEAD OF CATCHING HIM , BUT IT MIGHT WORK ON SMALLER PREY OR WITH VERY GOOD BARBS.

11th January 2007, 01:29 PM	#1
ligpo2001 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 16	Philippine Spear Can anybody identify the provenance of this spear from the Philippines? The spear head is detachable from the shaft. Attached Images

12th January 2007, 09:37 AM	#5
ligpo2001 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 16	Harpoon May I know the purpose of having the harpoon head detachable from the shaft? Does the Indonesian harpoon also have rattan bindings?

13th January 2007, 08:13 PM	#9
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	@nKanta You are right, I was to fast with my conclusion Just found this picture of whale spears with detatchable heads (http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nmfs/figb0195.htm) Attached Images

13th January 2007, 04:13 PM	#14
ligpo2001 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 16	More Info on item I have 6 of these sort of spears, with various lengths: Shafts from 140 to 177 cm Heads from 20 to 30 cm All the heads (tangs) fit into the shafts. I also have 2 other similar spears (also from the Philippines). The heads of these however are those of spears (i.e. not harpoon like), detachable from the shafts, and connected by rope to the shafts. If I were to assume that these are not harpoons, then the detachable feature of the heads make sense when hunting mammals in the forests. The speared animal will have difficulty escaping because the shaft will eventually get caught between bushes and trees while it flees. This is just my guess though.

13th January 2007, 06:29 PM	#15
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	I have this nice ngbandi/Bati (Yakomo) harpoonspear. This one was used for hunting big animals like hippo's. The shaft is 90 cm and the spearhead about 51 cm. More "rough" pieces where made by the Poto. I agree with Ligpo2001 about the use of the detachable heads, makes animals get caught between bushes and trees while it flees, the Poto spears have often long wooden floaters attached. (Westedijk) Greets Guy Attached Images

11th January 2007, 01:33 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Looks like a whale harpoon to me and not a Philippine spear. Lew

11th January 2007, 03:28 PM	#4
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	I have 2 slightly similar harpoons with crudely forged points and the shafts being roughly made. they came from a collection of more than 30 indonesian spears.

12th January 2007, 11:10 AM	#6
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	The detachable point makes that the shaft/stick does not break. And although I have never caught any seamamal myself, I can imagine that if the point would be fixed rigidly to the shaft it would also make it impossible to hold on to the harpoon. The 2 harpoons I have have very simple rattan bindings and some black rope also wrapped around the shaft. maybe If I have time this weekend I will make some pictures. Best regards, Willem

13th January 2007, 07:43 PM	#8
nKante Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 72	I have seen some whale harpoons with detatchable heads. It was used by relatively modern hunters. They attached several plastic jugs to the line to serve as floaters. They stuck the whale with four or five harpoons. The floaters slowed the whale down enough to deliver the death blow. I don't recall exactly how it was delivered. I've also seen detatchable heads when hunting seal. A small breathing hole is cut into the ice. A feather is placed at the end of the hole. The hunter lays on the ice for days at a time with his eyes locked on the feather. When the prey breaths through the hole, the feather moves, indicating the prey is in place. The hunter then jabs his harpoon through the hole, usually stabbing the prey in the face. He pulls out the shaft, leaving the prey suspended by the attached line. He then cuts out a hole large enough to remove the kill.

13th January 2007, 08:26 PM	#10
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I do not see the thread starting harpoon as a whale harpoon. The whole thing is too light, the cordage too light and simple. Can you imagine pulling a dead whale through water on such cordage. I am an angler and can spend an entire day at the river and only catch a lump of weed, try pulling that through water on light line.

12th January 2007, 02:44 PM	#11
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	oeps, sorry Willem. My mistake. For the moment, I can't find a good pic of a Congolese harpoon spear. So I took a scan and some pics of a harpoon arrow in my collection. The total length of this piece is 129 cm. This is an implement used for hunting, but just look at the beautifully forged iron arrowhead. Look at the cord attachment. It resembles the one shown by ligpo2001. The arrowhead is loose and fits over the shaft. Ligpo2001, how is your spearpoint fixed to the shaft ?

12th January 2007, 04:08 PM	#12
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	I think Freddy could be right.....not necessarily Congolese....but Africa seems likely. These are still used today to hunt crocodile.......at night. They use small 'shallow-draft' hulled canoes, usually 2 hunters per boat. Using a light they can 'pick out' the glowing eyes of the crock (the light is reflected back...think 'cats eyes'), making them 'easy' to find. The animal is harpooned, the shaft falls away ( crocks would 'roll' in an attempt to escape....if the shaft was 'fixed' to the spearhead, it would be likely the spear...head and all would be dislodged......allowing escape.) Once the reptile tires, it is hauled into the boat, using the rope attached to the harpoon head. This is the most dangerous part, as often the crock will make a last desperate attempt to escape...snapping and swinging its powerful tail....injuries to the hunters is not uncommon.

12th January 2007, 05:25 PM	#13
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Ligpo, Can you also advise some sizes/measurements of the harpoon ? Best regards, Willem

13th January 2007, 06:38 PM	#16
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I WOULD GUESS THAT THEY ARE HARPOONS ALSO, THE DETACHABLE HEAD USUALLY INDICATES IT WAS TO BE USED ON LARGE PREY. THE LINE BEING ATTACHED BETWEEN THE POINT AND SHAFT OR ATTACHED ONLY TO THE POINT WOULD INDICATE HUNTING MARINE PREY. THIS SYSTEM IS USED ON MODERN SPEAR GUNS, THE SPEAR PENETRATED DEEPLY AND WHEN THE FISH PULLS THE SHAFT COMES OFF AND OUT OF THE WOUND THE LINE FROM SHAFT TO POINT IS ATTACHED SO WHEN IT PULLS IT TURNS THE POINT CROSSWISE SO IT CANNOT BE PULLED OUT AS EASILY. IF THE SHAFT WERE LEFT ATTACHED IT WOULD WORK AGAINST THE WATER AND THE WOUND AND OPEN IT UP OFTEN CAUSING THE POINT TO BECOME DISLODGED AS WELL AS BENDING OR BREAKING THE SHAFT. I HAVE SEEN SOUTH AMERICAN INDIAN ARROWS THAT HAVE A VERY LARGE SHAFT AND DETACHABLE POINT. WHEN THE ARROW STRIKES THE SHAFT COMES LOOSE AND FLOATS TO THE SURFACE THE LINE IS WRAPPED AROUND THE SHAFT AND UNWINDS THE HUNTER PADDLES OVER AND PICKS UP THE SHAFT AND GETS THE LINE AND PULLS IN THE CATCH. HARPOONS LIKE THE FIRST ONE COULD BE USED ON HIPPO, CROCODILES,DUGONG,PORPOSE,LARGE FISH ECT. THE ONLY DETACHABLE POINTS I AM AWARE OF FOR HUNTING ABOVE WATER WERE DESIGNED TO STAY IN THE WOUND SO THE ANIMAL COULD NOT REMOVE THEM WITH THE SHAFT AND WERE OFTEN POISONED. HAVING A SHAFT ATTACHED TO A POINT AND CATCHING IT IN THE BRUSH WOULD GIVE THE PREY A BETTER CHANCE OF DISLOGING THE POINT INSTEAD OF CATCHING HIM , BUT IT MIGHT WORK ON SMALLER PREY OR WITH VERY GOOD BARBS. Last edited by VANDOO; 13th January 2007 at 07:04 PM.