Melanesian pole club?

Tim Simmons · 24th October 2008, 06:17 PM

Fearn it is not for me to suggest what you may have missed. A few points to keep in mind. I think I am not forming an opinion based on the mind set of a creationist. We are only looking at one part of Melanisia just here, where clearly stated all forms are unkown. Agreed the form in question is not mentioned or illustrated, many of the forms illustrated are indeed also not mentioned. How hard is it to facet a cone form? rather in the same way as the spear? The "club?" in question has had some binding at the thin end. In these pictures I find the throwing stones most interesting they are around 30cm long. The log shaped ones are coral. It is exactly these problems of attributing age and origin that only a decade or two past put ethno weapon in the bargian basement of collecting, look what has happened now that people have bothered to do basic research? almost knocking antique military weapons into a tricorn hat.

fearn · 24th October 2008, 08:46 PM

Cool! Thanks Tim!

I'm glad you took the time to upload all of those plates. It really helps in understanding the text.

As for faceting a cone, I don't know how hard it would be for the woodworker. I do know that the two times I've tried to make an even octagon out of a dowel, I've failed miserably. That probably says more about my minimal woodworking abilities than anything else, but I do think that it's a little more difficult than it looks. The problem I ran into was keeping the facets even the length of the dowl.

I agree with you on the throwing stones. Those are neat. Wonder if any of those will show up in collections?

F

Tim Simmons · 6th April 2009, 08:52 PM

Just digging around and found this picture of a group of Samoans circa 1900. look at the club the chap has it the enlarged picture. looks like some kind of pole club.

fearn · 7th April 2009, 04:59 AM

Who's the blackbirder they are looking at?

Tim Simmons · 7th April 2009, 07:16 PM

It seems this is most definately a hanbo. I have been shown one new, of exactly the same form except no binding. I cannot show as it is on ebay. Well if you do not try

.

pbleed · 8th April 2009, 01:36 AM

I have greatly enjoyed this literate and expert discussion. If this is a Japanese "bo" (and I doubt that it is) it would likely be Japanese red oak.
Peter

Tim Simmons · 10th April 2009, 02:53 PM

Thank you Peter.

I can compere it to this red oak heavy boken. It is quite different there is no oak like grain. The boken has a crude finish in comparrison. At my nearest shop for things like boken and other martial arts kit none seem to be polished. I do not know about old kit.

24th October 2008, 06:17 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,846	Fearn it is not for me to suggest what you may have missed. A few points to keep in mind. I think I am not forming an opinion based on the mind set of a creationist. We are only looking at one part of Melanisia just here, where clearly stated all forms are unkown. Agreed the form in question is not mentioned or illustrated, many of the forms illustrated are indeed also not mentioned. How hard is it to facet a cone form? rather in the same way as the spear? The "club?" in question has had some binding at the thin end. In these pictures I find the throwing stones most interesting they are around 30cm long. The log shaped ones are coral. It is exactly these problems of attributing age and origin that only a decade or two past put ethno weapon in the bargian basement of collecting, look what has happened now that people have bothered to do basic research? almost knocking antique military weapons into a tricorn hat. Attached Images

6th April 2009, 08:52 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,846	Just digging around and found this picture of a group of Samoans circa 1900. look at the club the chap has it the enlarged picture. looks like some kind of pole club. Attached Images

8th April 2009, 01:36 AM	#6
pbleed Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 88	a great thread I have greatly enjoyed this literate and expert discussion. If this is a Japanese "bo" (and I doubt that it is) it would likely be Japanese red oak. Peter

10th April 2009, 02:53 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,846	Thank you Peter. I can compere it to this red oak heavy boken. It is quite different there is no oak like grain. The boken has a crude finish in comparrison. At my nearest shop for things like boken and other martial arts kit none seem to be polished. I do not know about old kit. Attached Images

24th October 2008, 08:46 PM	#2
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Cool! Thanks Tim! I'm glad you took the time to upload all of those plates. It really helps in understanding the text. As for faceting a cone, I don't know how hard it would be for the woodworker. I do know that the two times I've tried to make an even octagon out of a dowel, I've failed miserably. That probably says more about my minimal woodworking abilities than anything else, but I do think that it's a little more difficult than it looks. The problem I ran into was keeping the facets even the length of the dowl. I agree with you on the throwing stones. Those are neat. Wonder if any of those will show up in collections? F

7th April 2009, 04:59 AM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Who's the blackbirder they are looking at?

7th April 2009, 07:16 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,846	It seems this is most definately a hanbo. I have been shown one new, of exactly the same form except no binding. I cannot show as it is on ebay. Well if you do not try .