Fijian Ulas

sabertasche · 22nd February 2007, 04:21 AM

Hi all, I just picked this up. It was described to me as an African back-scratcher

. I think it is a throwing club from Fiji - is it? I do not think it's very old but thought I'd avail myself of the expertise of the forum to confirm my thoughts.

Cheers,

Greg

VANDOO · 22nd February 2007, 06:29 AM

YOU ARE CORRECT IT IS IN THE FORM OF THE THROWING CLUB FROM FIJI CALLED A ULA. IT APPEARS TO BE WELL MADE AND IF IT HAS THE SIZE AND WEIGHT WOULD MAKE A GOOD THROWING CLUB. I THINK THEY ARE BEING MADE IN SAMOA AND FIJI AND POSSIBLY THE SOLOMON IS. CURRENTLY SO IT IS PROBABLY NOT VERY OLD. BUT IF THE WOOD IS A GOOD HARD HEAVY ONE AND THE CLUB IS NOT TOO LIGHT AND SMALL OR COATED WITH BLACK SHOE POLISH OR SOMETHING THEN IT IS STILL A GOOD WELL MADE COLLECTABLE CLUB.

sabertasche · 22nd February 2007, 05:36 PM

Hi Vandoo, it weighs in at about 1.5 kg. The white triangles are some form of sea shell. I have no idea as to the wood but it has a very tight grain to it. It also has a "ring" to it when tapped. I like it a lot, even if it was made in the last part of the 20th century. I can see where these could become addictive.

Cheers,

Greg

Lew · 22nd February 2007, 06:35 PM

Vandoo

I heard somewhere that the old clubs when made from the root ball of the tree were dug up and the the root ball was tied up with cord and placed back in the ground so when the root ball grew it would compress the growth layers making the ball denser. Have you heard of this technique?

Lew

Lew · 23rd February 2007, 02:11 PM

sabertasche

Here is the only one I have in my club collection. Notice the root ball head and the reddish color of the wood which you only see on the older 19th century clubs.

Lew

22nd February 2007, 04:21 AM	#1
sabertasche Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 149	Fijian Ulas Hi all, I just picked this up. It was described to me as an African back-scratcher . I think it is a throwing club from Fiji - is it? I do not think it's very old but thought I'd avail myself of the expertise of the forum to confirm my thoughts. Cheers, Greg Attached Images

23rd February 2007, 02:11 PM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	sabertasche Here is the only one I have in my club collection. Notice the root ball head and the reddish color of the wood which you only see on the older 19th century clubs. Lew Attached Images

22nd February 2007, 06:29 AM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	YOU ARE CORRECT IT IS IN THE FORM OF THE THROWING CLUB FROM FIJI CALLED A ULA. IT APPEARS TO BE WELL MADE AND IF IT HAS THE SIZE AND WEIGHT WOULD MAKE A GOOD THROWING CLUB. I THINK THEY ARE BEING MADE IN SAMOA AND FIJI AND POSSIBLY THE SOLOMON IS. CURRENTLY SO IT IS PROBABLY NOT VERY OLD. BUT IF THE WOOD IS A GOOD HARD HEAVY ONE AND THE CLUB IS NOT TOO LIGHT AND SMALL OR COATED WITH BLACK SHOE POLISH OR SOMETHING THEN IT IS STILL A GOOD WELL MADE COLLECTABLE CLUB.

22nd February 2007, 05:36 PM	#3
sabertasche Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 149	Hi Vandoo, it weighs in at about 1.5 kg. The white triangles are some form of sea shell. I have no idea as to the wood but it has a very tight grain to it. It also has a "ring" to it when tapped. I like it a lot, even if it was made in the last part of the 20th century. I can see where these could become addictive. Cheers, Greg

22nd February 2007, 06:35 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Vandoo I heard somewhere that the old clubs when made from the root ball of the tree were dug up and the the root ball was tied up with cord and placed back in the ground so when the root ball grew it would compress the growth layers making the ball denser. Have you heard of this technique? Lew