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#1 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Sharp end
Posts: 2,928
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Strange discussion with another collector about materials used for handles on various weapons. I was saying I like stone and metal, but we got round to discussing 'unusual' substances used for handles and he said he seemed to remember many years ago seeing a big dagger with a whale tooth for a handle.
I can't think of any examples of this that I've seen, but thinking about it I started wondering if Sperm whale teeth had ever been used as mace heads (being incredibly hard, and heavy and 'stubby'). Sorry for the macarbre subject! |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 478
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Without any reference handly to back me up I would say doubtful for a functional weapon. Maces where designed to be used against heavy armour. A tooth would break pretty quickly. Now, that's not to say some ornamental piece never intened for use did not do it. The handle part definitly.
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
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A few unusual materials spring to mind - I have seen clubs from Gran Chaco (Paraguay) that use horse bones lashed to wooden handles, sawfish bills from probably Micronesia, as swords, swordfish bills used as daggers in Hawaii. Whale teeth ivory has been used as decorative infill to Fijian clubs, along with sometimes human teeth. Rhino horns were made into knobkerries in Africa, on occasion.
I've read somewhere about human skulls of defeated enemies having been used as drinking cups in Fiji in days of old... Whalebone and jade were used as short clubs by the Maori. I'll try to think of more examples.... Regards |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 385
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Not all maces and clubs were made to defeat armor. They have been around since long before armor. A whale tooth would handily defeat flesh and bone, with no ill effect to the tooth.
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#5 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Oahu, Hawaii
Posts: 166
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And let's not forget petrified bone and teeth. I seen petrified whalebone here in Hawaii used for jewelry and mounted into clubs. As well petrified mammoth teeth used for scabbards and handles on keris in Thailand.
Dan |
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#6 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,150
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