Head Hunter Weapons

[trenchwarfare]

Greetings, eteemed panel. I have embarked upon the ghoulish task of compiling a head hunter museum. It will cover from ancient times, to the present day. From cultural/ethnographic, to military. Have been collecting well made facsimile trophy heads, for a few years. Now, I need the weapons to go with them. What Pacific Island Clubs/edged weapons, belong to which head hunting group? What type weapons were used by Central, and South American head hunters? Which African groups practiced hh, and what weapons did they use? And, any cross-over weapons. The list goes on and on. I am aware of most of the obvious weapons. Sold a beautiful Mandau, and a Kampilan, a few years ago. Haven't been able to get my hands on a Kalinga, yet. I'm sure you guys see where I going with this. Any information will be greatly appreciated. M.P.

[David]

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

Greetings, eteemed panel. I have embarked upon the ghoulish task of compiling a head hunter museum. It will cover from ancient times, to the present day. From cultural/ethnographic, to military. Have been collecting well made facsimile trophy heads, for a few years. Now, I need the weapons to go with them. What Pacific Island Clubs/edged weapons, belong to which head hunting group? What type weapons were used by Central, and South American head hunters? Which African groups practiced hh, and what weapons did they use? And, any cross-over weapons. The list goes on and on. I am aware of most of the obvious weapons. Sold a beautiful Mandau, and a Kampilan, a few years ago. Haven't been able to get my hands on a Kalinga, yet. I'm sure you guys see where I going with this. Any information will be greatly appreciated. M.P.

Well, maybe you can get that mandau you sol back.
I think of the kamplian as a Moro weapon and therefore not a good candidate for a headhunters museum. I presume by Kalinga you are referring to Kalinga axe, as the term Kalinga refers to many things.
Good luck with this project.

[KuKulzA28]

I've entertained the thought before too, but my wallet said no
may you be able to complete this vast endeavor. Maybe start in a small area?
well here's a list for thought... some of these may not apply

Qin Chinese sword
Da Dao
Taiwanese aboriginal blades (in Atayal it is called Laraw)
Bontoc/Kalinga/Ifugao Ax, etc.
Panabas
Mandau / Parang Ihlang
Sumpitan
Papua New Guinean bows and arrows, adz/ax
Pacific island (Vanatu?) garrotes and clubs?
WW2 American soldiers' arms (Japanese heads)
WW2 Japanese solder's arms (other people's heads)
Aztec axes and macuahuitl
Central and South American blowguns?
Chilean Corvo
Congo "execution" swords?
Celtic swords/axes
Guillotine

some of these were surely great choppers of necks but...
not necessarily part of a ritualized, male, violent pseudo-predatory combative role in society.

some of these are examples of head-taking as trophies of war, or as part of executions

[Rick]

I'd have a hard time referring to the Moro groups as 'Headhunters' ; decapitators, yes .

Headhunting to me connotes the taking and ritual collection of heads as an integral part of the society .

I don't believe this can be said of the Moros; if it can then many European societies were 'Headhunters' also .

[trenchwarfare]

The reason I list the Kampilan, is that I have a reference that attributes it's origin, to the Sea Dayaks. Who were notorious headhunters. In fact, I read that they would hire themselves out to the Maylays, as mercenaries. "Will fight for heads!" And that's all that they wanted. My research has revealed, that almost every culture, has been headhunters, at one time, or another. If not heads, some other body part(s). A question, are there any headhunter groups, that used the Talibon?

[spiral]

The kukri & the kora have also taken lots of heads for many different reasons over the years.

Spiral