An even bigger sucker when it comes to African clubs

kronckew · 18th November 2007, 08:09 PM

that is a gear from a piece of machinery, looks like a bit from a car differential, makes a nasty mace doesn't it!
BMW 2002 differential bevel gear: (unfortunately broken)

reminds me of the ww1 trench mace head that was supplied to slip onto the handle of the issue entrenching tool in lieu of the shovel/pick head.

here's mine fitted onto a replacement handle:

would definitely ruin your day to be thunked with either. yours is prettier tho.

Tim Simmons · 18th November 2007, 11:06 PM

Freddy I am with you, how could you possible come home without it

. Really fascinating, in the early 20th century the South Sudan was a place of basically naked people not like the people we see today on the TV today.

Jim McDougall · 19th November 2007, 02:36 AM

Interesting new perspective on the concept of the automobile as a weapon!!
I've heard of course of old auto springs being used for blades.....but now the gear for a morning star!!!

beautiful example of tribal ingenuity.

Tim Simmons · 19th November 2007, 10:15 AM

They have utilised a machine part but it is still relates to a traditional form I suspect that was partly the main reason for it being used for a club head. These pictures are of wood examples.
http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/de...884.12.9_a.jpg
http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/de...84.12.10_b.jpg

kronckew · 19th November 2007, 10:56 AM

similar mace shapes are noted from poland thru the middle east into africa in bronze and stone in pre-history and in wood, iron and steel up to modern times.
i've even seen one made of stone in the aztec/mayan areas of central america.

parallel evolution? form following function? cultural drift? trade? all in all that 'gear' shape and variations makes a wickedly efficient weapon against not only unarmoured but armoured opponents for little expenditure in materials and can be made by relatively unskilled local crafters.

still like freddy's weapon tho. i would have bought it if i''d seen it....

here's an interesting site on maces

Freddy · 20th November 2007, 05:54 PM

By the way, nice site, Kronckew.

This morning this piece arrived from Germany. It's made out of one piece of heavy hardwood. I bought it as 'African', but I'm not sure. The handle is much shorter then the other clubs I have in my collection.

Nice feature is the carved decoration on the head.

Total length : 42 cm

Has anyone a suggestion ?

Freddy · 26th November 2007, 07:59 AM

I did some research on the internet and now I'm sure that the second piece I showed is not an African club. It probably comes from somewhere in the South Sea (Fiji ?).
I think it's a throwing club, called 'ULA'. Has anyone a better idea ?

- - -

The clubs keep coming lately. This third one, I found on ebay. It was offered twice and nobody seemed to be interested.

http://cgi.benl.ebay.be/ws/eBayISAPI...m=280170045540

It wasn't expensive, so I bought it.

When I received it last week, I was happily surprised with the piece. It's beautiful. Again, I think of an African origin. Mainly due to the fact that brass nails were used to embellish it. The small blade on top is well forged.
This club has a good weight to it. At the bottom, a metal ferrule has been added to prevent the wood from splitting.
Total length : 62 cm. Length of knife blade : 10 cm.

Any comments ?

18th November 2007, 08:09 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,238	that is a gear from a piece of machinery, looks like a bit from a car differential, makes a nasty mace doesn't it! BMW 2002 differential bevel gear: (unfortunately broken) reminds me of the ww1 trench mace head that was supplied to slip onto the handle of the issue entrenching tool in lieu of the shovel/pick head. here's mine fitted onto a replacement handle: would definitely ruin your day to be thunked with either. yours is prettier tho. Last edited by kronckew; 18th November 2007 at 08:27 PM.

20th November 2007, 05:54 PM	#6
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I told you I was a sucker for clubs By the way, nice site, Kronckew. This morning this piece arrived from Germany. It's made out of one piece of heavy hardwood. I bought it as 'African', but I'm not sure. The handle is much shorter then the other clubs I have in my collection. Nice feature is the carved decoration on the head. Total length : 42 cm Has anyone a suggestion ?

18th November 2007, 11:06 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	Freddy I am with you, how could you possible come home without it . Really fascinating, in the early 20th century the South Sudan was a place of basically naked people not like the people we see today on the TV today.

19th November 2007, 02:36 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,457	Interesting new perspective on the concept of the automobile as a weapon!! I've heard of course of old auto springs being used for blades.....but now the gear for a morning star!!! beautiful example of tribal ingenuity.

19th November 2007, 10:15 AM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	They have utilised a machine part but it is still relates to a traditional form I suspect that was partly the main reason for it being used for a club head. These pictures are of wood examples. http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/de...884.12.9_a.jpg http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/de...84.12.10_b.jpg

19th November 2007, 10:56 AM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,238	similar mace shapes are noted from poland thru the middle east into africa in bronze and stone in pre-history and in wood, iron and steel up to modern times. i've even seen one made of stone in the aztec/mayan areas of central america. parallel evolution? form following function? cultural drift? trade? all in all that 'gear' shape and variations makes a wickedly efficient weapon against not only unarmoured but armoured opponents for little expenditure in materials and can be made by relatively unskilled local crafters. still like freddy's weapon tho. i would have bought it if i''d seen it.... here's an interesting site on maces

26th November 2007, 07:59 AM	#7
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I did some research on the internet and now I'm sure that the second piece I showed is not an African club. It probably comes from somewhere in the South Sea (Fiji ?). I think it's a throwing club, called 'ULA'. Has anyone a better idea ? - - - The clubs keep coming lately. This third one, I found on ebay. It was offered twice and nobody seemed to be interested. http://cgi.benl.ebay.be/ws/eBayISAPI...m=280170045540 It wasn't expensive, so I bought it. When I received it last week, I was happily surprised with the piece. It's beautiful. Again, I think of an African origin. Mainly due to the fact that brass nails were used to embellish it. The small blade on top is well forged. This club has a good weight to it. At the bottom, a metal ferrule has been added to prevent the wood from splitting. Total length : 62 cm. Length of knife blade : 10 cm. Any comments ?