Making an Aputu

Tim Simmons · 26th April 2013, 07:44 AM

Great project. I will be interested to see it decorated and polished. Thank you for posting the excellent picture plate.

Not wanting to hijack your topic but it has been most helpful in identifying a club I have. It seems that Colin was correct in suggesting a South American origin. Although the pointed distal end on this club is plain, the general form and handle end or unmistakable. The top and bottom bindings are my attempts with raffia at halting further unraveling of what was a decorative plant material weave. If anybody can find other pictures of Carib ect weapons please post them.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...el+island+club

KuKulzA28 · 26th April 2013, 01:13 PM

No problem Tim. Glad that it helped. I'm not surprised you hadn't found more information on your club... the South American traditional native weaponry is sort of a very obscure corner of the ethnographic arms collecting / war history world. Warclubs from South America don't seem to have the popularity/price-tags that North American clubs do... but I like them both.

The weaponry of Native America have always fascinated me. To some they just see sticks and stones. To others they see the convergent evolution of swords, the subtle nuances that increase the deadliness of bludgeons and clubs, and some club designs that are found nowhere else in the world. As for stone knives and celts... some of the most advanced and best crafted lithics in the world.

VANDOO · 26th April 2013, 11:58 PM

A INTERESTING PROJECT AND YOUR CHOICE OF WOOD SHOULD MAKE A BEAUTIFUL AND FUNCTIONAL CLUB. LIKELY THE FIRST CLUB OF ITS KIND MADE WITH A TRADITIONAL KNIFE FROM FORMOSA.

THE PLATE IS A FINE ONE AND REFRENCES AND PICTURES NOT EASY TO COME BY. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE FINISHED CLUB.

KuKulzA28 · 27th April 2013, 02:54 AM

that's a good point Vandoo, didn't even think of that, hehehe

Speaking of making... Remember, the Guiana and Amazonian tribes/towns had very limited lithic tech... they have primitive stone axes that seem to be far inferior to the fine axes of the Incas, Mayans, and celt axes of the North American Eastern woodlands... better for mashing the wood rather than chopping out chunks like the beautiful celts of the aforementioned cultures. Sure, they had palmwood machetes and saws, but these were only good for lighter vegetation and softwoods... for carving they used a peccary/javelina or agouti tooth style of chisel/knife tool (which is still used by many interior tribesmen)... I don't think they had files, though they had graters made of wooden board embedded with teeth so the idea of a rasp wasn't non-existent... just hard to make with the technology and materials at hand.

Today I tried using a grooved ax. The grooved axe can be expediently re-handled and is secure enough while it lasts. This is probably why it was used in the American west by the natives who did not have regular access to forests (and thus make the stronger celt style axes). I'm not sure if the Caribs used celts or grooved axes... but it's what I have. While it works... and it can chop softer wood with ease, and harder wood with some patience... it's inferior to steel in performance. And I am not even going to bother using an agouti tooth to plane the faces of the club.

...let's just say I'll be sticking with steel.

But for what it's worth, here's a grooved axe I assembled.

Filing down the front/back faces of the club now. Time consuming, and trying not to accidentally inhale wood-dust... cocobolo especially is known to give lethal lung infections.

VANDOO · 27th April 2013, 04:29 AM

OTHER FINISHING TOOLS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE DEPENDING ON THE TRIBES LOCATION. 1.(SALT WATER OR RIVER MOUTHS) SHARK SKIN FOR SANDING AND SHARK TEETH FOR CUTTING AND CARVING. A BILLFISH BILL ALSO MAKES A GOOD FILE.
2. (FRESH WATER)PARAHINA TEETH AND OTHER FISH TEETH COULD ALSO BE USED. THE SCALES OF THE GIANT ARAPAIMA FISH MAKE GOOD FILES AND ARE STILL USED TO FILE FINGERNAILS AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS TODAY. HERE IS A PICTURE OF A 15 FOOT 4 INCH ARAPAIMA NOTE THE LARGE THICK SCALES, ONE FISH YEALDS A LARGE SUPPLY OF SCALES AND MEAT.
I AM GLAD YOU ARE AWARE OF THE POSINOUS QUALITY OF THE WOOD DUST. MANY TYPES OF EXOTIC WOODS CAN BE DANGEROUS.

KuKulzA28 · 28th April 2013, 01:34 AM

Good points Vandoo.

Started to cut/chisel out the sides today. Haven't finished the flare at the pommel and the handle needs to be narrower and not so rough. Then I need to smooth it all out and make the surfaces concave. Still unsure if I am going to carve it with designs, and if so, what kind. There's a few examples of carved aputu, some with very complex designs. I'm thinking I might just let it be... my carving skills aren't great and most aputu I've seen pictures of are plain.

Anyone have information on the meanings behind the designs?

KuKulzA28 · 5th May 2013, 12:43 AM

Completed... I think? Used rasp, plane, sandpaper... and then 3 coats of tung oil...

Not as fine as the aputu made by the natives themselves, but I'll get there.

Anyone who owns one... how do they handle? I find my reproduction feels "OK". Not great, the handle certainly would NOT roll in the hand because of the rectangular shape, and it'd be hard to lose because of the flaring butt... however it's not particularly comfortable.

Anyways, I think this came out decent... I look forward to making better examples, with more concavity on the faces like some of the old clubs. Maybe I'll even add in a metal or stone spike/ax to the club someday....

Comments? Suggestions?

26th April 2013, 07:44 AM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Great project. I will be interested to see it decorated and polished. Thank you for posting the excellent picture plate. Not wanting to hijack your topic but it has been most helpful in identifying a club I have. It seems that Colin was correct in suggesting a South American origin. Although the pointed distal end on this club is plain, the general form and handle end or unmistakable. The top and bottom bindings are my attempts with raffia at halting further unraveling of what was a decorative plant material weave. If anybody can find other pictures of Carib ect weapons please post them. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...el+island+club Attached Images

27th April 2013, 02:54 AM	#4
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	that's a good point Vandoo, didn't even think of that, hehehe Speaking of making... Remember, the Guiana and Amazonian tribes/towns had very limited lithic tech... they have primitive stone axes that seem to be far inferior to the fine axes of the Incas, Mayans, and celt axes of the North American Eastern woodlands... better for mashing the wood rather than chopping out chunks like the beautiful celts of the aforementioned cultures. Sure, they had palmwood machetes and saws, but these were only good for lighter vegetation and softwoods... for carving they used a peccary/javelina or agouti tooth style of chisel/knife tool (which is still used by many interior tribesmen)... I don't think they had files, though they had graters made of wooden board embedded with teeth so the idea of a rasp wasn't non-existent... just hard to make with the technology and materials at hand. Today I tried using a grooved ax. The grooved axe can be expediently re-handled and is secure enough while it lasts. This is probably why it was used in the American west by the natives who did not have regular access to forests (and thus make the stronger celt style axes). I'm not sure if the Caribs used celts or grooved axes... but it's what I have. While it works... and it can chop softer wood with ease, and harder wood with some patience... it's inferior to steel in performance. And I am not even going to bother using an agouti tooth to plane the faces of the club. ...let's just say I'll be sticking with steel. But for what it's worth, here's a grooved axe I assembled. Filing down the front/back faces of the club now. Time consuming, and trying not to accidentally inhale wood-dust... cocobolo especially is known to give lethal lung infections. Attached Images

27th April 2013, 04:29 AM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	OTHER FINISHING TOOLS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE DEPENDING ON THE TRIBES LOCATION. 1.(SALT WATER OR RIVER MOUTHS) SHARK SKIN FOR SANDING AND SHARK TEETH FOR CUTTING AND CARVING. A BILLFISH BILL ALSO MAKES A GOOD FILE. 2. (FRESH WATER)PARAHINA TEETH AND OTHER FISH TEETH COULD ALSO BE USED. THE SCALES OF THE GIANT ARAPAIMA FISH MAKE GOOD FILES AND ARE STILL USED TO FILE FINGERNAILS AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS TODAY. HERE IS A PICTURE OF A 15 FOOT 4 INCH ARAPAIMA NOTE THE LARGE THICK SCALES, ONE FISH YEALDS A LARGE SUPPLY OF SCALES AND MEAT. I AM GLAD YOU ARE AWARE OF THE POSINOUS QUALITY OF THE WOOD DUST. MANY TYPES OF EXOTIC WOODS CAN BE DANGEROUS. Attached Images

28th April 2013, 01:34 AM	#6
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Good points Vandoo. Started to cut/chisel out the sides today. Haven't finished the flare at the pommel and the handle needs to be narrower and not so rough. Then I need to smooth it all out and make the surfaces concave. Still unsure if I am going to carve it with designs, and if so, what kind. There's a few examples of carved aputu, some with very complex designs. I'm thinking I might just let it be... my carving skills aren't great and most aputu I've seen pictures of are plain. Anyone have information on the meanings behind the designs? Attached Images

5th May 2013, 12:43 AM	#7
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Completed... I think? Used rasp, plane, sandpaper... and then 3 coats of tung oil... Not as fine as the aputu made by the natives themselves, but I'll get there. Anyone who owns one... how do they handle? I find my reproduction feels "OK". Not great, the handle certainly would NOT roll in the hand because of the rectangular shape, and it'd be hard to lose because of the flaring butt... however it's not particularly comfortable. Anyways, I think this came out decent... I look forward to making better examples, with more concavity on the faces like some of the old clubs. Maybe I'll even add in a metal or stone spike/ax to the club someday.... Comments? Suggestions? Attached Images

26th April 2013, 01:13 PM	#2
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	No problem Tim. Glad that it helped. I'm not surprised you hadn't found more information on your club... the South American traditional native weaponry is sort of a very obscure corner of the ethnographic arms collecting / war history world. Warclubs from South America don't seem to have the popularity/price-tags that North American clubs do... but I like them both. The weaponry of Native America have always fascinated me. To some they just see sticks and stones. To others they see the convergent evolution of swords, the subtle nuances that increase the deadliness of bludgeons and clubs, and some club designs that are found nowhere else in the world. As for stone knives and celts... some of the most advanced and best crafted lithics in the world.

26th April 2013, 11:58 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A INTERESTING PROJECT AND YOUR CHOICE OF WOOD SHOULD MAKE A BEAUTIFUL AND FUNCTIONAL CLUB. LIKELY THE FIRST CLUB OF ITS KIND MADE WITH A TRADITIONAL KNIFE FROM FORMOSA. THE PLATE IS A FINE ONE AND REFRENCES AND PICTURES NOT EASY TO COME BY. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE FINISHED CLUB.