Sword club where from??

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

Tim Simmons · 30th March 2012, 12:06 PM

Here we have a tanterlising look at much more likely items. Sadly not all can be seen but look at what are know as flat clubs, nos17 in the picture of Baining weapons New Britain from "Richard Parkinsin, Thirty Years In The South Seas"

Also no2 in the second picture could be seen as a similar form perhaps a bit heavier. Whether the item is held as I show it is open to question. You could have your hand above the guard. However I would prefere to use it as a sword in my hand as shown, mainly I suspect because I learnt European fencing.

It is all very well admiring big heavy club weapons but what about if you have to run, be light of foot and chase an enemy and then hit then. You would not be much good carrying a big club that would soon feel like running with a tree.

fearn · 30th March 2012, 02:48 PM

Hi Tim,

I don't think you're wrong to hold it as a sword. If that's the most comfortable way to hold it, that's probably the way it was meant to be held.

F

30th March 2012, 12:06 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	A more likely origin? Here we have a tanterlising look at much more likely items. Sadly not all can be seen but look at what are know as flat clubs, nos17 in the picture of Baining weapons New Britain from "Richard Parkinsin, Thirty Years In The South Seas" Also no2 in the second picture could be seen as a similar form perhaps a bit heavier. Whether the item is held as I show it is open to question. You could have your hand above the guard. However I would prefere to use it as a sword in my hand as shown, mainly I suspect because I learnt European fencing. It is all very well admiring big heavy club weapons but what about if you have to run, be light of foot and chase an enemy and then hit then. You would not be much good carrying a big club that would soon feel like running with a tree. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 30th March 2012 at 12:42 PM.

29th March 2012, 07:41 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	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	#2
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	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	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	#4
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,789	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

30th March 2012, 02:48 PM	#6
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Tim, I don't think you're wrong to hold it as a sword. If that's the most comfortable way to hold it, that's probably the way it was meant to be held. F