ball head war clubs.

savagesicslayer

savagesicslayer

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May 24, 2005
Messages
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I'm thinking about making a ball head war club is there any makers who have advice for me? What is the best part of a tree to use? Softwood,Hardwood?
 
Wolf 1989, a member here, makes his out of oak. I'm working on one made of hickory. I recommend using either a burl or the root ball for the head and working the shaft out of the trunk. Go with a smaller tree.
 
I would Imagine any of the Good Hard Wood's, The Ball Head War Club's are highly efective, The Gunstock War Club would be a Great project, But not as easy to carry as the Ball Head Club, But I would think a better Weapon,



Here's another War Club project that would be Great the Mayan War Club, This Is the type Inlaid with Obsidian Glass that they used In Apocalipto,

4t33fq.jpg


Sorry to get off of the Ball Head War Club topic but when you mentioned War Club's "I Like Them All !"
I seen a Web-Site the other Day on Leather Wraped Ball Head War Club's, If I can find It again I'll post the Link, Good Luck with your project,

Had to post another Favorite, The Irish Shillelagh,

34o5388.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
http://www.splendidheritage.com/nindex.html
This site shows photos of original Eastern woodlands ball type.It won't let me link direct to the page, but at catagory select "club", at region select "northeast",and then click "display". These were made from the root ball of hardwood trees. The rootball usually has interwoven grain that hopefully won't crack too much when it dries. After rough shaping it , let it air dry for several months or more, then finish shaping it. Look for a young tree , maybe 3 inches thick
or so at the trunk, growing on a very steep hillside or the edge of a collapsing stream bank, so the trunk has grown into a natural bend between the ball and trunk.
The ball headed type were probably never really made from boards (like some people make them today) because the woodgrain in the handle at the bend dosent follow the curve and would break.
 
It just so happens that I've been researching ball-headed war clubs recently, myself. So I must say, I'm glad to see I'm not alone. And DucatiMonster, that's awesome. Thanks for both links!
 
Thanks for the link DucatiMonster. Now I know what to look for.I have a new club project this weekend.:D
I have mine half made now.I used a small maple with a radical bend where the tree Y's.I have found the shaping very difficult though I was only using my BRKT aurora and a small saw.Though,it is my first attempt though so I'm not too upset with the outcome so far.
P6030361.jpg
 
Good Deal Savage, Nice start, Some sanding Wood Oil and Leather wrap and your gonna be ready, Keep us updated, Looking Good !
 
Snake Dr. Being the resident archaeologist I would like to point out that your Mayan war club is not quite authentic in manufacture. Also I would like to note that Mel Gibson is not an archaeologist, and his movie is flawed. However, it was awesome to watch!

That said I do know some people that could make the club the right way. The issue is your obsidian appears bifacially flaked, for the swords (club) the blades were made by pressure flaking single long blades, some in excess of 12 inches. These blades were the attached via a resin like glue. They did not have many repeat uses in them (obsidian is the sharpest substance on earth, but brittle), but there are tales of them taking heads and other limbs clean off.
 
ursusrubrum said:
Snake Dr. Being the resident archaeologist I would like to point out that your Mayan war club is not quite authentic in manufacture. Also I would like to note that Mel Gibson is not an archaeologist, and his movie is flawed. However, it was awesome to watch!

That said I do know some people that could make the club the right way. The issue is your obsidian appears bifacially flaked, for the swords (club) the blades were made by pressure flaking single long blades, some in excess of 12 inches. These blades were the attached via a resin like glue. They did not have many repeat uses in them (obsidian is the sharpest substance on earth, but brittle), but there are tales of them taking heads and other limbs clean off.
Click to expand...


Yep I just grabed the first picture I seen when I Googled Apocalipto In Images, It was a Real Good Movie, Well done compared to most Hollywood Movie's, I think It was on History International I seen a Series of Show's they had on Warrior's, Barbarian's was one and the Mayan Civilazation was another, The Obsidian Mayan Club's for that Show was I think the Real thing "Well as close as Modern Day Mayan Historians could have made" And It showed them testing the Weapon, And the Guy Hosting the series just touched it against the side of his leg by acccident "And got Cut", Thank's for sharing your knowledge on the subject, They made the Obsidian Blade's like Flint Knapping didnt they ? Flint Knapping has been around for Thousand's of year's I do believe,
 
Thank's for sharing all the picture's of The Ball Head War Club's Wolf 1989, Woo-Wee you got an Awesome collection, Did you make these ? Very Well Done "Beautiful Club's !
 
ducatimonster said:
http://www.splendidheritage.com/nindex.html
This site shows photos of original Eastern woodlands ball type.It won't let me link direct to the page, but at catagory select "club", at region select "northeast",and then click "display". These were made from the root ball of hardwood trees. The rootball usually has interwoven grain that hopefully won't crack too much when it dries. After rough shaping it , let it air dry for several months or more, then finish shaping it. Look for a young tree , maybe 3 inches thick
or so at the trunk, growing on a very steep hillside or the edge of a collapsing stream bank, so the trunk has grown into a natural bend between the ball and trunk.
The ball headed type were probably never really made from boards (like some people make them today) because the woodgrain in the handle at the bend dosent follow the curve and would break.
Click to expand...

Many of mine are made from wooden blocks and I've yet to break one. The key is to choose nice densely grained heartwood. A root burl is better, but the proper quality block will do just fine.
 
Snake Dr. said:
Thank's for sharing all the picture's of The Ball Head War Club's Wolf 1989, Woo-Wee you got an Awesome collection, Did you make these ? Very Well Done "Beautiful Club's !
Click to expand...

Yes I make all my clubs.

They're all made from one solid piece of wood; the ball is not a separate piece glued or pinned on.

It takes me about 3 -4 weeks to make one, by hand.
 
Re: the cutting ability of an obsidian-bladed war club (I believe it's called a macuahuitl), there is a contemporary record of an Aztec warrior decapitating a Spaniard's horse with one. I think that pretty much speaks for itself.
 
Wolf_1989 said:
Yes I make all my clubs.

They're all made from one solid piece of wood; the ball is not a separate piece glued or pinned on.

It takes me about 3 -4 weeks to make one, by hand.
Click to expand...

Thank's for the reply, Like I said and It show's In your picture's the High Quality of your War Club's, They are "Work's Of Art" :thumbup:
 
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