Solomon/PNG for want of better info

[RobT]

Tim Simmons,

I have read that fighting canes were hardened by smearing them with butter and shoving them up the chimney for a while. The heat was said to harden the wood. I don't know any details about the procedure, whether it worked, or even if it was actually done and isn't just an old wives' tale. If true however, your club could have been given a similar treatment and that could account for the darkening on the business end. Really nice club in any event.

Sincerely,
RobT

[Interested Party]

Wood could be fire hardened by lightly charring and then scraping the char off. The wood underneath was darkened and hardened. It works well for making spears and projectile points. I don't know if it would be good for such a complex shape, but pre-metal working societies were ingenious in how they shaped and used materials. The technique would shape a shillelagh head nicely. Butter and heat would definitely dry and keep a cane from shattering on impact. Like how soaking a blacksmith hammer handle in tempering oil for a few days is supposed to add life to the wood.

[ausjulius]

Originally Posted by RobT

Tim Simmons,

I have read that fighting canes were hardened by smearing them with butter and shoving them up the chimney for a while. The heat was said to harden the wood. I don't know any details about the procedure, whether it worked, or even if it was actually done and isn't just an old wives' tale. If true however, your club could have been given a similar treatment and that could account for the darkening on the business end. Really nice club in any event.

Sincerely,
RobT

Smoking clubs was common in Gallic cultures. It ads patina to the club, keeps off any insects, makes it black and shiny and gives it a durable surface colour that doesn't wear of easily.
It's drys the wood hard and makes it dense and stable. Like the wooden combs in Japan. I've seen baskets from cane smoked too as it keeps off rot and insects and looks nice. But I've not seen any Pacific clubs smoked

[Tim Simmons]

Greatly appreciated the contributions here on this thread. Some learning here. I was of the opinion that Fijian work did not have lime inlay. All the books I have featuring Fijian art do not show lime inlay so that is a lesson for me and I suspect also for lurking {Experts}. As to not seeing fire hardening in the Pacific I had this example that I post here some years ago. I am sure fire hardening is not simply burning a stick in a fire. The types of woods used would have been most important as some would just burn or be made weaker. Until you see it you have no idea it was done. This New Hebrides/Vanuatu club has had some form of fire treatment. A first for me and I guess others. Sold it with most of my collection many years back, what a fool.

[Tim Simmons]

It was the; can't see the wood for the trees, type of dark photos and the lime inlay that really confused me to opinion the Solomon Island. However in {Fijian Artefacts, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Collection, Rod Ewins, first published 1982} there is this picture showing an example clearly with lime inlay.