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#1 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium)
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This morning, I really couldn't resist.
![]() At an open weekend at a gallery of a friend I found the most gorgeous club. He told me it came from the Dinka in Sudan. I've looking on the internet and it could also be Shilluk or Nuer, anyway somewhere in South Sudan. This club consists of a hardwood stick with a metal addition at the top. It seems this 'addition' was once part of some machine. It's secured to the shaft by means of nails, hammered into the top. Beneath the metal head there's a brass ring, probably fitted to prevent the wood from splitting. It's quite heavy (weighs approx. 650 grs). The total length is 77 cm. The metal head is 2,5 cm thick with a diameter of about 7 cm. Has anyone seen a similar piece ? ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,168
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that is a gear from a piece of machinery, looks like a bit from a car differential, makes a nasty mace doesn't it!
BMW 2002 differential bevel gear: (unfortunately broken) ![]() reminds me of the ww1 trench mace head that was supplied to slip onto the handle of the issue entrenching tool in lieu of the shovel/pick head. here's mine fitted onto a replacement handle: ![]() would definitely ruin your day to be thunked with either. yours is prettier tho. Last edited by kronckew; 18th November 2007 at 08:27 PM. |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
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Freddy I am with you, how could you possible come home without it
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#4 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
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Interesting new perspective on the concept of the automobile as a weapon!!
I've heard of course of old auto springs being used for blades.....but now the gear for a morning star!!! ![]() |
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#5 |
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They have utilised a machine part but it is still relates to a traditional form I suspect that was partly the main reason for it being used for a club head. These pictures are of wood examples.
http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/de...884.12.9_a.jpg http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/de...84.12.10_b.jpg |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
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similar mace shapes are noted from poland thru the middle east into africa in bronze and stone in pre-history and in wood, iron and steel up to modern times.
i've even seen one made of stone in the aztec/mayan areas of central america. parallel evolution? form following function? cultural drift? trade? all in all that 'gear' shape and variations makes a wickedly efficient weapon against not only unarmoured but armoured opponents for little expenditure in materials and can be made by relatively unskilled local crafters. still like freddy's weapon tho. i would have bought it if i''d seen it.... here's an interesting site on maces |
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#7 |
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Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium)
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By the way, nice site, Kronckew.
This morning this piece arrived from Germany. It's made out of one piece of heavy hardwood. I bought it as 'African', but I'm not sure. The handle is much shorter then the other clubs I have in my collection. Nice feature is the carved decoration on the head. Total length : 42 cm Has anyone a suggestion ? ![]() ![]() |
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#8 |
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Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium)
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I did some research on the internet and now I'm sure that the second piece I showed is not an African club. It probably comes from somewhere in the South Sea (Fiji ?).
I think it's a throwing club, called 'ULA'. Has anyone a better idea ? - - - The clubs keep coming lately. This third one, I found on ebay. It was offered twice and nobody seemed to be interested. http://cgi.benl.ebay.be/ws/eBayISAPI...m=280170045540 It wasn't expensive, so I bought it. When I received it last week, I was happily surprised with the piece. It's beautiful. Again, I think of an African origin. Mainly due to the fact that brass nails were used to embellish it. The small blade on top is well forged. This club has a good weight to it. At the bottom, a metal ferrule has been added to prevent the wood from splitting. Total length : 62 cm. Length of knife blade : 10 cm. Any comments ? ![]() ![]() |
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#9 |
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Well done Freddy. I watched that club both times, why did I not have a go at it
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