Samoan club gamble.

Tim Simmons · 6th December 2010, 08:04 PM

Just had a thought about the damaged teeth seen on these clubs. It is possible that it is nothing to do with an idea of weakness in combat but possibly all to do with damage after collection, knocking around as a simple curio?

Atlantia · 6th December 2010, 09:02 PM

Thats a hell of a thing. Can we see it 'in hand'?

Emanuel · 6th December 2010, 11:51 PM

Nice club Tim!

Any chance of some of these being a development of the shark-tooth swords or vice versa, instead of whaling blades? This club looks a lot like a large jaw-bone...albeig not shark.

Emanuel

VANDOO · 7th December 2010, 02:28 AM

CONGRADULATIONS TIM THATS A NICE ONE IT HAS GOOD PATINA AND WEAR AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE MISSING TEETH HAVE BEEN GONE A LONG TIME.
I HAVE ACCIDENTLY BROKEN TEETH OFF ONE I OWN WHEN PUTTING IT INTO A STORAGE RACK AND WAS SURPRIZED AT HOW EASY IT WAS TO DO. VERY LITTLE FORCE WAS REQUIRED AS THE WOOD GRAIN RUNS IN A DIRECTION THAT SPLITS EASY ON THIS TYPE OF WOOD. PERHAPS ON THE ISLANDS WHERE THESE ARE MADE THERE ARE VERY FEW TREES STRAIGHT AND LARGE ENOUGH TO MAKE THIS SIZE AND FORM OF CLUB SO IT WAS THE ONLY LOGICAL CHOICE. OR PERHAPS THIS TREE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANCE IN SAMOAN SOCIETY SO WAS THE PREFERRED MATERIAL FOR THIS FORM OF CLUB.

I BELEAVE THIS FORM OF CLUB PREDATES CONTACT WITH EUROPEAN SOCIETY SO THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM. THE FIRE KNIFE AND CANE KNIFE EVOLVED FROM THIS FORM NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. UNFORTUNATELY THEY LEFT OFF THE TEETH ON THE STEEL KNIVES BUT IT WOULD BEEN VERY COOL IF THEY HAD LEFT THEM ON.

Tim Simmons · 7th December 2010, 06:19 PM

These pictures give some idea of the size. I could not make decide on what was my best side, flat agianst my face.

As to the idea of a blubber knife origin, I have my doubts. the form could equally come abstracted from nature. The traditional polynesian sail is known as "Crab claw sail" If one looked hard enough on a whaling ship one might find something of similar shape to the crab claw sail. The notion of a bubber knife origin reinforces concepts of progress on contact with western culture and weekness in the native.

Atlantia · 7th December 2010, 06:29 PM

LOL, excellent Tim! you look kinda scary peeking round it like that!
Edit: Dead scary in fact

It's a great thing mate. Nice to get an idea of scale too.

7th December 2010, 06:19 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	These pictures give some idea of the size. I could not make decide on what was my best side, flat agianst my face. As to the idea of a blubber knife origin, I have my doubts. the form could equally come abstracted from nature. The traditional polynesian sail is known as "Crab claw sail" If one looked hard enough on a whaling ship one might find something of similar shape to the crab claw sail. The notion of a bubber knife origin reinforces concepts of progress on contact with western culture and weekness in the native. Attached Images

6th December 2010, 08:04 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Just had a thought about the damaged teeth seen on these clubs. It is possible that it is nothing to do with an idea of weakness in combat but possibly all to do with damage after collection, knocking around as a simple curio?

6th December 2010, 09:02 PM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Thats a hell of a thing. Can we see it 'in hand'?

6th December 2010, 11:51 PM	#3
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Nice club Tim! Any chance of some of these being a development of the shark-tooth swords or vice versa, instead of whaling blades? This club looks a lot like a large jaw-bone...albeig not shark. Emanuel

7th December 2010, 02:28 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS TIM THATS A NICE ONE IT HAS GOOD PATINA AND WEAR AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE MISSING TEETH HAVE BEEN GONE A LONG TIME. I HAVE ACCIDENTLY BROKEN TEETH OFF ONE I OWN WHEN PUTTING IT INTO A STORAGE RACK AND WAS SURPRIZED AT HOW EASY IT WAS TO DO. VERY LITTLE FORCE WAS REQUIRED AS THE WOOD GRAIN RUNS IN A DIRECTION THAT SPLITS EASY ON THIS TYPE OF WOOD. PERHAPS ON THE ISLANDS WHERE THESE ARE MADE THERE ARE VERY FEW TREES STRAIGHT AND LARGE ENOUGH TO MAKE THIS SIZE AND FORM OF CLUB SO IT WAS THE ONLY LOGICAL CHOICE. OR PERHAPS THIS TREE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANCE IN SAMOAN SOCIETY SO WAS THE PREFERRED MATERIAL FOR THIS FORM OF CLUB. I BELEAVE THIS FORM OF CLUB PREDATES CONTACT WITH EUROPEAN SOCIETY SO THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM. THE FIRE KNIFE AND CANE KNIFE EVOLVED FROM THIS FORM NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. UNFORTUNATELY THEY LEFT OFF THE TEETH ON THE STEEL KNIVES BUT IT WOULD BEEN VERY COOL IF THEY HAD LEFT THEM ON.

7th December 2010, 06:29 PM	#6
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	LOL, excellent Tim! you look kinda scary peeking round it like that! Edit: Dead scary in fact It's a great thing mate. Nice to get an idea of scale too.