Head Hunter Weapons

David · 6th August 2009, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

Greetings, eteemed panel. I have embarked upon the ghoulish task of compiling a head hunter museum.

It will cover from ancient times, to the present day. From cultural/ethnographic, to military. Have been collecting well made facsimile trophy heads, for a few years. Now, I need the weapons to go with them. What Pacific Island Clubs/edged weapons, belong to which head hunting group? What type weapons were used by Central, and South American head hunters? Which African groups practiced hh, and what weapons did they use? And, any cross-over weapons. The list goes on and on. I am aware of most of the obvious weapons. Sold a beautiful Mandau, and a Kampilan, a few years ago.

Haven't been able to get my hands on a Kalinga, yet. I'm sure you guys see where I going with this. Any information will be greatly appreciated. M.P.

Well, maybe you can get that mandau you sol back.

I think of the kamplian as a Moro weapon and therefore not a good candidate for a headhunters museum. I presume by Kalinga you are referring to Kalinga axe, as the term Kalinga refers to many things.
Good luck with this project.

KuKulzA28 · 6th August 2009, 09:10 PM

I've entertained the thought before too, but my wallet said no
may you be able to complete this vast endeavor. Maybe start in a small area?
well here's a list for thought... some of these may not apply

Qin Chinese sword
Da Dao
Taiwanese aboriginal blades (in Atayal it is called Laraw)
Bontoc/Kalinga/Ifugao Ax, etc.
Panabas
Mandau / Parang Ihlang
Sumpitan
Papua New Guinean bows and arrows, adz/ax
Pacific island (Vanatu?) garrotes and clubs?
WW2 American soldiers' arms (Japanese heads)
WW2 Japanese solder's arms (other people's heads)
Aztec axes and macuahuitl
Central and South American blowguns?
Chilean Corvo
Congo "execution" swords?
Celtic swords/axes
Guillotine

some of these were surely great choppers of necks but...
not necessarily part of a ritualized, male, violent pseudo-predatory combative role in society.

some of these are examples of head-taking as trophies of war, or as part of executions

Rick · 7th August 2009, 02:27 AM

I'd have a hard time referring to the Moro groups as 'Headhunters' ; decapitators, yes .

Headhunting to me connotes the taking and ritual collection of heads as an integral part of the society .

I don't believe this can be said of the Moros; if it can then many European societies were 'Headhunters' also .

trenchwarfare · 7th August 2009, 03:51 AM

The reason I list the Kampilan, is that I have a reference that attributes it's origin, to the Sea Dayaks. Who were notorious headhunters. In fact, I read that they would hire themselves out to the Maylays, as mercenaries. "Will fight for heads!" And that's all that they wanted. My research has revealed, that almost every culture, has been headhunters, at one time, or another. If not heads, some other body part(s). A question, are there any headhunter groups, that used the Talibon?

spiral · 7th August 2009, 12:29 PM

The kukri & the kora have also taken lots of heads for many different reasons over the years.

Spiral

Jim McDougall · 7th August 2009, 04:18 PM

An interesting topic, and truly a formidable task Trenchwarfare! All the more so because discussion and research on this subject can easily lead to misperceptions and inadvertantly inflammatory comments on specific ethnic groups.
As was once well said by Alan Maisey, we must be cautious in examining cultural and traditional practices of certain ethnic and tribal groups, as we cannot guage such practices by our standards. I once read a book, I cannot recall the title now, but it was to the effect of headhunting in the Solomon Islands. The title itself was frankly bone chilling, but intriguing and as an always curious student of anthropology, I was compelled to go through it.

Naturally sensational accounts using the headhunter term abound in adventure narratives of the 20's and 30's, and I am pretty sure that our local sage on Oceanic and native tribes of various Pacific and other archipelagos, Vandoo, can present some great examples with his very discerning perspective revealing actual vs. sensational veneer.

Lets proceed with caution, and I look forward to a great discussion!!!!

All best regards,
Jim

Emanuel · 7th August 2009, 04:35 PM

I have an article on headhunting in Montenegro, "Head-Hunting in the Balkans", Durham M. Edith, Man Vol23 (1923):19-21, if anyone is interested. Apparently a late-19th early 20th centuries practice in some parts of Montenegro, of young men bringing back Ottoman and other heads as trophies. There are anecdotes of women going into "enemy" camps by night to recuperate the heads of loved ones. Hunting was carried out with "khanjars", no pictures are given, but I'm assuming this refers to yataghan and karakulaks.
An interesting read.

Emanuel

6th August 2009, 09:10 PM	#2
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	I've entertained the thought before too, but my wallet said no may you be able to complete this vast endeavor. Maybe start in a small area? well here's a list for thought... some of these may not apply Qin Chinese sword Da Dao Taiwanese aboriginal blades (in Atayal it is called Laraw) Bontoc/Kalinga/Ifugao Ax, etc. Panabas Mandau / Parang Ihlang Sumpitan Papua New Guinean bows and arrows, adz/ax Pacific island (Vanatu?) garrotes and clubs? WW2 American soldiers' arms (Japanese heads) WW2 Japanese solder's arms (other people's heads) Aztec axes and macuahuitl Central and South American blowguns? Chilean Corvo Congo "execution" swords? Celtic swords/axes Guillotine some of these were surely great choppers of necks but... not necessarily part of a ritualized, male, violent pseudo-predatory combative role in society. some of these are examples of head-taking as trophies of war, or as part of executions

7th August 2009, 02:27 AM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	I'd have a hard time referring to the Moro groups as 'Headhunters' ; decapitators, yes . Headhunting to me connotes the taking and ritual collection of heads as an integral part of the society . I don't believe this can be said of the Moros; if it can then many European societies were 'Headhunters' also .

7th August 2009, 03:51 AM	#4
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	The reason I list the Kampilan, is that I have a reference that attributes it's origin, to the Sea Dayaks. Who were notorious headhunters. In fact, I read that they would hire themselves out to the Maylays, as mercenaries. "Will fight for heads!" And that's all that they wanted. My research has revealed, that almost every culture, has been headhunters, at one time, or another. If not heads, some other body part(s). A question, are there any headhunter groups, that used the Talibon?

7th August 2009, 12:29 PM	#5
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	The kukri & the kora have also taken lots of heads for many different reasons over the years. Spiral

7th August 2009, 04:18 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,282	An interesting topic, and truly a formidable task Trenchwarfare! All the more so because discussion and research on this subject can easily lead to misperceptions and inadvertantly inflammatory comments on specific ethnic groups. As was once well said by Alan Maisey, we must be cautious in examining cultural and traditional practices of certain ethnic and tribal groups, as we cannot guage such practices by our standards. I once read a book, I cannot recall the title now, but it was to the effect of headhunting in the Solomon Islands. The title itself was frankly bone chilling, but intriguing and as an always curious student of anthropology, I was compelled to go through it. Naturally sensational accounts using the headhunter term abound in adventure narratives of the 20's and 30's, and I am pretty sure that our local sage on Oceanic and native tribes of various Pacific and other archipelagos, Vandoo, can present some great examples with his very discerning perspective revealing actual vs. sensational veneer. Lets proceed with caution, and I look forward to a great discussion!!!! All best regards, Jim

7th August 2009, 04:35 PM	#7
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	I have an article on headhunting in Montenegro, "Head-Hunting in the Balkans", Durham M. Edith, Man Vol23 (1923):19-21, if anyone is interested. Apparently a late-19th early 20th centuries practice in some parts of Montenegro, of young men bringing back Ottoman and other heads as trophies. There are anecdotes of women going into "enemy" camps by night to recuperate the heads of loved ones. Hunting was carried out with "khanjars", no pictures are given, but I'm assuming this refers to yataghan and karakulaks. An interesting read. Emanuel