Sword club where from??

Tim Simmons · 29th March 2012, 06:08 PM

I too do or should I say did doubt this is a Taiaha. However I have found this New Zealand link which is exactly the same size as my item.

http://www.antiquesreporter.com.au/i...-having-a-car/

I am still very unsure about the type of wood and the finish with a gum/resin lacquer. Also as Stu has mentioned the lack of decoration. I still think it is a weapon though.

kahnjar1 · 29th March 2012, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

I too do or should I say did doubt this is a Taiaha. However I have found this New Zealand link which is exactly the same size as my item.

http://www.antiquesreporter.com.au/i...-having-a-car/

I am still very unsure about the type of wood and the finish with a gum/resin lacquer. Also as Stu has mentioned the lack of decoration. I still think it is a weapon though.

That is a Taiaha but you are looking at the pic from the "business end". The plain end furthest away as you look at the pic is the handle end.
Stu

Tim Simmons · 29th March 2012, 06:45 PM

If you ignore the fancy decoration. They are indeed remarkably similar. Perhaps the status of the owner may have a bearing on the quality of finish, if it is a childs Taiaha?

Another thing it looks very much like a palm wood. The Maori did use Nikau palm wood for many things like flooring. I have not been able to get any images of Nikau palm wood timber.

Tim Simmons · 29th March 2012, 07:41 PM

After some research it seems that there were indeed shorter versions of Taiaha and Pouwhenua, also varriations on the Society, Austral and Cook Islands. So just perhaps it is rather a good thing.

fearn · 29th March 2012, 08:43 PM

Gentlemen,

As I understand it, taiahas don't have midribs. They are rounded in cross section, unlike Tim's club. REALLY unlike Tim's club. As for their ancestry, there are similar clubs here and there throughout Polynesia. It's an old design.

From the pictures, it doesn't particularly look like palm wood, but I could be wrong. Palm wood has longitudinal fibers, but it doesn't have rays or growth rings I see evidence both of those in this specimen, which suggests to me that it's from a broadleaf tree. (Explanation growth rings should be obvious. Rays are lines of cells in the wood that connect the different growth rings, and run perpendicular both to the length of the trunk and the circumference of the growth rings, if that makes sense).

I'm sticking with the Philippines on this one. It's a wooden sword.

F

Tim Simmons · 29th March 2012, 09:23 PM

Could also be Malay and surrounding islands. Thier stick fighting might not be known as eskrima but I would bet they are along the same lines? The lacquer makes me think it is not maori in anyway.

kahnjar1 · 30th March 2012, 06:23 AM

I agree with FEARN. The Taiaha does NOT have a ribbed handle so I do not think it is Maori but something else entirely.
Stu

29th March 2012, 06:45 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	If you ignore the fancy decoration. They are indeed remarkably similar. Perhaps the status of the owner may have a bearing on the quality of finish, if it is a childs Taiaha? Another thing it looks very much like a palm wood. The Maori did use Nikau palm wood for many things like flooring. I have not been able to get any images of Nikau palm wood timber. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 29th March 2012 at 07:17 PM.

29th March 2012, 06:08 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	I too do or should I say did doubt this is a Taiaha. However I have found this New Zealand link which is exactly the same size as my item. http://www.antiquesreporter.com.au/i...-having-a-car/ I am still very unsure about the type of wood and the finish with a gum/resin lacquer. Also as Stu has mentioned the lack of decoration. I still think it is a weapon though.

29th March 2012, 07:41 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	After some research it seems that there were indeed shorter versions of Taiaha and Pouwhenua, also varriations on the Society, Austral and Cook Islands. So just perhaps it is rather a good thing.

29th March 2012, 08:43 PM	#5
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Gentlemen, As I understand it, taiahas don't have midribs. They are rounded in cross section, unlike Tim's club. REALLY unlike Tim's club. As for their ancestry, there are similar clubs here and there throughout Polynesia. It's an old design. From the pictures, it doesn't particularly look like palm wood, but I could be wrong. Palm wood has longitudinal fibers, but it doesn't have rays or growth rings I see evidence both of those in this specimen, which suggests to me that it's from a broadleaf tree. (Explanation growth rings should be obvious. Rays are lines of cells in the wood that connect the different growth rings, and run perpendicular both to the length of the trunk and the circumference of the growth rings, if that makes sense). I'm sticking with the Philippines on this one. It's a wooden sword. F

29th March 2012, 09:23 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Could also be Malay and surrounding islands. Thier stick fighting might not be known as eskrima but I would bet they are along the same lines? The lacquer makes me think it is not maori in anyway.

30th March 2012, 06:23 AM	#7
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,786	I agree with FEARN. The Taiaha does NOT have a ribbed handle so I do not think it is Maori but something else entirely. Stu