Solomon Islands, Malaita 'nose' (winged?) sword club

kronckew · 30th August 2014, 07:34 PM

Busy day today. this club arrived late afternoon from a dealer in the netherlands. the 'eyebrows' & 'noses' either side of the tip,appear to be janus-like easter-islandish faces? or maybe wings.

Billed as

only info provided)

early 20th century wooden club Malaita Solomon Islands

Size: 95 cm or 37 inches

nice shiny polished finish, tool marks almost unnoticeable. weight 700 grams (1.56 lb.). nice thick lenticular cross section of the blade, round grip & pommel extension. small sliver of edge broken off at one edge of blade just above the 'eyebrows' and 'noses' near the tip about 2 " long.. exposed wood a very dark brown. blade is about 2 in. wide x 3/4" thick at the tip. no decorative carvings at all.

i really like this one. gripped just above the ring feels best, can used with your off hand on the pommel extension for 2-handed blows. no lanyard or fibre wrap. i've heard the 'noses' were used with a quick slap to the temples of an opponent to crush their skull there. the edges used to break bones elsewhere.

VANDOO · 31st August 2014, 05:03 PM

A NICE CLUB THAT LOOKS AUTHENTIC AND SHOWS SOME AGE. I AGREE WITH THE EASTER ISLAND JANUS MOAI DESIGN. I HAVE NOT READ ANYTHING ON THESE CLUBS SO DON'T KNOW MUCH BUT THEY ARE A LIGHT FAST SORT OF SWORD CLUB SUITABLE FOR FENCING NOT JUST A MASSIVE BONE BREAKER.
MOST I SEE ON EBAY THESE DAYS ARE MORE RECENT EXAMPLES AND USUALLY INCORPORATE THE CARVED DESIGNS WITH WHITE LIME INLAY TO ENHANCE THE DESIGNS. I GUESS THE FANCY ONES SELL BETTER SO THAT'S WHAT THEY MAKE. HERE IS A NICE EXAMPLE OF THIS FANCY TYPE, THIS MAY BE A NEWER OR OLDER ONE BUT I DON'T REALLY KNOW, IT IS 39.5 INCHES LONG AND HAS ALL THE DESIGNS AND SUCH.

kronckew · 31st August 2014, 07:38 PM

thanks, vanadoo, for the info.

p.s. - the sad face in my original post was unintended, forgot to add a space after the colon & before the left parenthesis. i'm a very happy clubber today.

like the face on your club, i am also smiling.

<-(deliberate happy face)

30th August 2014, 07:34 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,187	Solomon Islands, Malaita 'nose' (winged?) sword club Busy day today. this club arrived late afternoon from a dealer in the netherlands. the 'eyebrows' & 'noses' either side of the tip,appear to be janus-like easter-islandish faces? or maybe wings. Billed asonly info provided) early 20th century wooden club Malaita Solomon Islands Size: 95 cm or 37 inches nice shiny polished finish, tool marks almost unnoticeable. weight 700 grams (1.56 lb.). nice thick lenticular cross section of the blade, round grip & pommel extension. small sliver of edge broken off at one edge of blade just above the 'eyebrows' and 'noses' near the tip about 2 " long.. exposed wood a very dark brown. blade is about 2 in. wide x 3/4" thick at the tip. no decorative carvings at all. i really like this one. gripped just above the ring feels best, can used with your off hand on the pommel extension for 2-handed blows. no lanyard or fibre wrap. i've heard the 'noses' were used with a quick slap to the temples of an opponent to crush their skull there. the edges used to break bones elsewhere. Attached Images

31st August 2014, 05:03 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A NICE CLUB THAT LOOKS AUTHENTIC AND SHOWS SOME AGE. I AGREE WITH THE EASTER ISLAND JANUS MOAI DESIGN. I HAVE NOT READ ANYTHING ON THESE CLUBS SO DON'T KNOW MUCH BUT THEY ARE A LIGHT FAST SORT OF SWORD CLUB SUITABLE FOR FENCING NOT JUST A MASSIVE BONE BREAKER. MOST I SEE ON EBAY THESE DAYS ARE MORE RECENT EXAMPLES AND USUALLY INCORPORATE THE CARVED DESIGNS WITH WHITE LIME INLAY TO ENHANCE THE DESIGNS. I GUESS THE FANCY ONES SELL BETTER SO THAT'S WHAT THEY MAKE. HERE IS A NICE EXAMPLE OF THIS FANCY TYPE, THIS MAY BE A NEWER OR OLDER ONE BUT I DON'T REALLY KNOW, IT IS 39.5 INCHES LONG AND HAS ALL THE DESIGNS AND SUCH. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 31st August 2014 at 05:13 PM.

31st August 2014, 07:38 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,187	thanks, vanadoo, for the info. p.s. - the sad face in my original post was unintended, forgot to add a space after the colon & before the left parenthesis. i'm a very happy clubber today. like the face on your club, i am also smiling. <-(deliberate happy face)