SW USA skull cracker genuine??

Tim Simmons · 12th May 2012, 05:50 PM

I have wanted one of these for a long time. Always fears about this stuff, too high prices for not rare things. I got this at a sensible price. It is not a long one 60cm long. The club haft and stone are covered in raw hide then a loop of softer leather round the stone and just onto the top of the haft. Remarkably the bead work is compete but there are small areas were the sinue thread is very thin and has become loose and rather delicate. It was said to have come from an old collection {aren't they all

} However I could well believe this did. Not necessary from any of the major Southwest conflicts in the closing dacades of the 19th century. Perhaps reservation work? I say this because the stone has had many hours work. Look carefully and you can see that the stone is not only pointed as one would expect but also wedge shaped with slight hollow ground side. Believe me this has taken some time to do. I think there is traces of some form of red piant on the stone. The dirt and grime in the bead work compare well to old African bead work that I have. Sadly I do not have the photographic ability to show this. Anyway I would not like to be hit with it.

Blacksmith · 12th May 2012, 08:47 PM

Hi, I was just thinking that the leather looks quite `bright`on the sides. Should it be a little more darker/patinated where the bead work ends if been an antique piece? I myself have made these clubs a couple and with a stone grinder it takes two hours to make the head, if not using natural stone. Willow for the handle and wet raw hide wrapped around the handle and the head, sewn together and when dried it will hold the head firmly on place. Smoked above fire and you have an autenthic looking skull crasher. I can send some pictures if anyone interested.
Regards, Timo
ps. not saying this would be a recent one.

Tim Simmons · 12th May 2012, 09:06 PM

Is this dark engough? The club head is a brown colouerd limestone. This thread gives me a chance to show off my limestone carving. If you stood at a grinding wheel working the club stone with a good water supply then I suppose it would only take a few unpleasant hours. The bead work would slow you down just a little, all sewn with very fine sinew. If I had made it as a repro piece I would want a jolly lot more than I paid for it!!!!

I would love to see what you have made.

Tim Simmons · 27th May 2012, 07:54 PM

As I rather like to fiddle with pieces of stone I felt compelled to research the club stone. What I have found was a surprise. The seller may well have been telling the truth about the item coming from an old SW collection. The stone is known as Dense brown limestone in Arkansas and Louisiana or as shale in Texas and Arizona, which I thought was quite interssting. It dose not have the same shell inclusions as the white limestone I am familiar with but has the same hardness when tested.

Blacksmith · 30th May 2012, 07:24 PM

Hi, really nice bowl! Demands a lot of work, I know! I `ll send some pictures what I have made, a couple of skull crackers and some carved pipe heads.
Regards, Timo

12th May 2012, 05:50 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	SW USA skull cracker genuine?? I have wanted one of these for a long time. Always fears about this stuff, too high prices for not rare things. I got this at a sensible price. It is not a long one 60cm long. The club haft and stone are covered in raw hide then a loop of softer leather round the stone and just onto the top of the haft. Remarkably the bead work is compete but there are small areas were the sinue thread is very thin and has become loose and rather delicate. It was said to have come from an old collection {aren't they all } However I could well believe this did. Not necessary from any of the major Southwest conflicts in the closing dacades of the 19th century. Perhaps reservation work? I say this because the stone has had many hours work. Look carefully and you can see that the stone is not only pointed as one would expect but also wedge shaped with slight hollow ground side. Believe me this has taken some time to do. I think there is traces of some form of red piant on the stone. The dirt and grime in the bead work compare well to old African bead work that I have. Sadly I do not have the photographic ability to show this. Anyway I would not like to be hit with it. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 12th May 2012 at 06:03 PM.

12th May 2012, 08:47 PM	#2
Blacksmith Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 98	stoneclub Hi, I was just thinking that the leather looks quite `bright`on the sides. Should it be a little more darker/patinated where the bead work ends if been an antique piece? I myself have made these clubs a couple and with a stone grinder it takes two hours to make the head, if not using natural stone. Willow for the handle and wet raw hide wrapped around the handle and the head, sewn together and when dried it will hold the head firmly on place. Smoked above fire and you have an autenthic looking skull crasher. I can send some pictures if anyone interested. Regards, Timo ps. not saying this would be a recent one.

12th May 2012, 09:06 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Is this dark engough? The club head is a brown colouerd limestone. This thread gives me a chance to show off my limestone carving. If you stood at a grinding wheel working the club stone with a good water supply then I suppose it would only take a few unpleasant hours. The bead work would slow you down just a little, all sewn with very fine sinew. If I had made it as a repro piece I would want a jolly lot more than I paid for it!!!! I would love to see what you have made. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 12th May 2012 at 10:17 PM. Reason: Correcting my ridiculus spelling

30th May 2012, 07:24 PM	#5
Blacksmith Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 98	skull cracker Hi, really nice bowl! Demands a lot of work, I know! I `ll send some pictures what I have made, a couple of skull crackers and some carved pipe heads. Regards, Timo

27th May 2012, 07:54 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	As I rather like to fiddle with pieces of stone I felt compelled to research the club stone. What I have found was a surprise. The seller may well have been telling the truth about the item coming from an old SW collection. The stone is known as Dense brown limestone in Arkansas and Louisiana or as shale in Texas and Arizona, which I thought was quite interssting. It dose not have the same shell inclusions as the white limestone I am familiar with but has the same hardness when tested.