Philippine Spear

nKante · 13th January 2007, 06:43 PM

I have seen some whale harpoons with detatchable heads. It was used by relatively modern hunters. They attached several plastic jugs to the line to serve as floaters. They stuck the whale with four or five harpoons. The floaters slowed the whale down enough to deliver the death blow. I don't recall exactly how it was delivered. I've also seen detatchable heads when hunting seal. A small breathing hole is cut into the ice. A feather is placed at the end of the hole. The hunter lays on the ice for days at a time with his eyes locked on the feather. When the prey breaths through the hole, the feather moves, indicating the prey is in place. The hunter then jabs his harpoon through the hole, usually stabbing the prey in the face. He pulls out the shaft, leaving the prey suspended by the attached line. He then cuts out a hole large enough to remove the kill.

Congoblades · 13th January 2007, 07:13 PM

@nKanta
You are right, I was to fast with my conclusion

Just found this picture of whale spears with detatchable heads
(http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nmfs/figb0195.htm)

Tim Simmons · 13th January 2007, 07:26 PM

I do not see the thread starting harpoon as a whale harpoon. The whole thing is too light, the cordage too light and simple. Can you imagine pulling a dead whale through water on such cordage. I am an angler and can spend an entire day at the river and only catch a lump of weed, try pulling that through water on light line.

Tim Simmons · 13th January 2007, 07:39 PM

Who remembers "Mountain" and the art work on the album cover to Nantucket sleigh ride. Ahh youth wasted on the young

nKante · 13th January 2007, 07:41 PM

Personally I would use a heavier harpoon. But then again I've never hunted whale. I agree that the original harpoon probably is not for something as large as a whale, but I believe that the line attached to the head is not for reeling in. For whale harpoons, floaters would most likely have been attached in order prevent the animal from diving. In some hunts the whales mouth was sewed shut after death in order to trap air as a way to maintain boyance. It was then towed back to solid ice by the tail. This line would have benn the most sturdy.

ligpo2001 · 14th January 2007, 03:07 AM

I agree with Tim that this spear will not be effective for whales and other large marine animals.

What confuses me if that if I were to assume that the weapon is for small mammals, then how come it was made with only one barb? Logic would indicate that one barb will be less effective in holding the head in place within the speared animal that if there were more barbs.

Robert · 14th January 2007, 03:38 AM

I would have to say that the original spear at the beginning of the thread was most likely for medium to larger fish. The shaft behind the tip is short but the tip has a large barb with a wide back for holding. Harpoons for very large animals or fish most often have a long shaft for deeper penetration through thick skin and blubber in hopes of hitting vital organs to help in the quicker death of the intended target. As far as multiple barbs over a single the holding power is mostly dependent on the width of the back side of the barb and the length of the barb itself.

Robert

VANDOO · 14th January 2007, 03:45 AM

IN A RIVER OR LAKE OR SHALLOW WATER THE HUNTED ANIMAL DOSEN'T HAVE AS DEEP OR LARGE AN AREA TO TRY TO ESCAPE. SO IT IS LIKELY YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD CHANCE TO USE SEVERAL HARPOONS OR SPEARS TO FINISH HIM OFF AND THEN A SMALL LINE TO PULL THE CARCASS UP TO THE SURFACE AND TIE A LARGER LINE ON TO PULL THE CRITTER IN OR TOW HIM ALONG SIDE THE BOAT.
THE MAIN REASON I CAN SEE FOR NOT MAKEING THE BARBS MORE NUMEROUS OR FACEING BOTH WAYS IS SO IT CAN BE MORE EASILY REMOVED TO USE AGAIN. JUST SLIDE A SPEAR OR KNIFE DOWN BESIDE THE POINT CUT THE BARB LOOSE OPEN THE WOUND AND PULL IT FREE AND GET READY TO SPEAR THE NEXT CRITTER.

Bill M · 17th February 2007, 01:35 PM

I have what appears to be a kalinga harpoon. The head is a little loose and probably detachable, but I don't want to pull it entirely loose.

The overall picture is a little distorted, I could not, at the time I took this picture, get high enough to photgraph straight down.

Comments?

13th January 2007, 07:13 PM	#2
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	@nKanta You are right, I was to fast with my conclusion Just found this picture of whale spears with detatchable heads (http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nmfs/figb0195.htm) Attached Images

14th January 2007, 03:07 AM	#6
ligpo2001 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 16	Not for large animals I agree with Tim that this spear will not be effective for whales and other large marine animals. What confuses me if that if I were to assume that the weapon is for small mammals, then how come it was made with only one barb? Logic would indicate that one barb will be less effective in holding the head in place within the speared animal that if there were more barbs.

17th February 2007, 01:35 PM	#9
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	I have what appears to be a kalinga harpoon. The head is a little loose and probably detachable, but I don't want to pull it entirely loose. The overall picture is a little distorted, I could not, at the time I took this picture, get high enough to photgraph straight down. Comments? Attached Images

13th January 2007, 06:43 PM	#1
nKante Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 72	I have seen some whale harpoons with detatchable heads. It was used by relatively modern hunters. They attached several plastic jugs to the line to serve as floaters. They stuck the whale with four or five harpoons. The floaters slowed the whale down enough to deliver the death blow. I don't recall exactly how it was delivered. I've also seen detatchable heads when hunting seal. A small breathing hole is cut into the ice. A feather is placed at the end of the hole. The hunter lays on the ice for days at a time with his eyes locked on the feather. When the prey breaths through the hole, the feather moves, indicating the prey is in place. The hunter then jabs his harpoon through the hole, usually stabbing the prey in the face. He pulls out the shaft, leaving the prey suspended by the attached line. He then cuts out a hole large enough to remove the kill.

13th January 2007, 07:26 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	I do not see the thread starting harpoon as a whale harpoon. The whole thing is too light, the cordage too light and simple. Can you imagine pulling a dead whale through water on such cordage. I am an angler and can spend an entire day at the river and only catch a lump of weed, try pulling that through water on light line.

13th January 2007, 07:39 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Who remembers "Mountain" and the art work on the album cover to Nantucket sleigh ride. Ahh youth wasted on the young

13th January 2007, 07:41 PM	#5
nKante Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 72	Personally I would use a heavier harpoon. But then again I've never hunted whale. I agree that the original harpoon probably is not for something as large as a whale, but I believe that the line attached to the head is not for reeling in. For whale harpoons, floaters would most likely have been attached in order prevent the animal from diving. In some hunts the whales mouth was sewed shut after death in order to trap air as a way to maintain boyance. It was then towed back to solid ice by the tail. This line would have benn the most sturdy.

14th January 2007, 03:38 AM	#7
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	I would have to say that the original spear at the beginning of the thread was most likely for medium to larger fish. The shaft behind the tip is short but the tip has a large barb with a wide back for holding. Harpoons for very large animals or fish most often have a long shaft for deeper penetration through thick skin and blubber in hopes of hitting vital organs to help in the quicker death of the intended target. As far as multiple barbs over a single the holding power is mostly dependent on the width of the back side of the barb and the length of the barb itself. Robert

14th January 2007, 03:45 AM	#8
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	IN A RIVER OR LAKE OR SHALLOW WATER THE HUNTED ANIMAL DOSEN'T HAVE AS DEEP OR LARGE AN AREA TO TRY TO ESCAPE. SO IT IS LIKELY YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD CHANCE TO USE SEVERAL HARPOONS OR SPEARS TO FINISH HIM OFF AND THEN A SMALL LINE TO PULL THE CARCASS UP TO THE SURFACE AND TIE A LARGER LINE ON TO PULL THE CRITTER IN OR TOW HIM ALONG SIDE THE BOAT. THE MAIN REASON I CAN SEE FOR NOT MAKEING THE BARBS MORE NUMEROUS OR FACEING BOTH WAYS IS SO IT CAN BE MORE EASILY REMOVED TO USE AGAIN. JUST SLIDE A SPEAR OR KNIFE DOWN BESIDE THE POINT CUT THE BARB LOOSE OPEN THE WOUND AND PULL IT FREE AND GET READY TO SPEAR THE NEXT CRITTER.