JAPANESE HORSEMAN'S WHIP, RAYS TAIL
 

HERE IS AN UNUSUAL ITEM. :) I HAD HEARD REFRENCES TO STINGRAY TAILS BEING USED AS A WEAPON BEFORE BUT HAD NOT SEEN ANY PICTURES. THIS ITEM WAS DESCRIBED AS A JAPANESE 1800'S HORSEMAN'S WHIP SWORD FOR USE FROM HORSEBACK. IT IS 36 INCHES LONG, HANDLE 4.25 IN. X 1 IN. X 1.5IN. COMPLETE WITH A 6 INCH STINGRAY BARB. HANDLE MADE OUT OF BLACK LAQUER WITH A GOLD PAINTED FERRULE (DAMAGED). NOTE THE ROUGH SKIN IS THE SAME AS USED TO COVER SWORD HANDLES ,SKIN IS CALLED SAMI. THE ITEM IS SAID TO STILL BE FLEXIBLE. OUTBID ON EBY SO HAVE ONLY SALE PICTURES

That is a very cool thing. :)

Intersting! :) Have a similar item still in Indonesia, so I can't show pictures. I have got it from my friend from Alor. It is used more for magic dances to " pucul setan" ( to paddle devil). He told me that he have used it for example when his young son was very ill and the doctor don't know to help. So he pucul setan by a magic dance and the next morning his son was well again.
This sting ray tail is wrapped a the thicker end with red fabric as handle. I am afraid to bring it to Germany since I am afraid that it can be confiscated by german customs.

Regards,

Detlef

Maybe the Japanese used these , I dot know, about that.. The date for an organic tail; in that condtion seems dubious though. :shrug:

Ive had a couple very similar, early in my collecting days :) .

Those were made about 20 to 30 years ago as a weapon in the phillipeans. :eek:

Spiral

In the Philippines, a whip or latigo similar to the Vandoo's item is not used as a weapon per se, but in the same fashion as described by Sajen in Indonesia. It is used by an albularyo (medicine man, shaman) to drive away evil spirits or in exorcisms.