Worlds Ugliest War Club

drac2k · 11th December 2017, 10:42 PM

I'm not quite sure of what I have here; it was listed as an Indian rootstock club, but I've never seen one like this.The head is massive(approx. 6"x7"), and it has a total length of 27".It is made of a heavy dense wood and the club weighs approx.6 or 7 lbs.I have never seen one of these clubs with the roots made into spikes.
I would sooner think that this belonged to "the Gangs of New York," or Fred Flinstone rather than an American Indian Tribe.I guess it could be a movie prop, however, it does appear to be very old.

kronckew · 12th December 2017, 10:57 AM

Looks more like a large fijian ulu rootball club. see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16802

drac2k · 12th December 2017, 11:53 AM

I did see some similarities, however, my example looks cruder and the rootball is unlike the other examples in my view; if I could find a botanist, maybe they could identify the tree and that could give an indication of the region.
On a further reflective note, the continuing contributions of VANDOO to this site are evident and his presence and wit are sorely missed!

kronckew · 12th December 2017, 01:01 PM

There's never any botanists around when you need them. Used to be one behind every tree.

Vandoo would have known. We have other gurus almost as good tho. Maybe one will stumble across this thread.

thinreadline · 14th December 2017, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

There's never any botanists around when you need them. Used to be one behind every tree.

Vandoo would have known. We have other gurus almost as good tho. Maybe one will stumble across this thread.

ha ha ... how true ... as it happens I am a botanist !

thinreadline · 14th December 2017, 04:50 PM

The way the shaft swells out towards the grip end is very reminiscent of the weapons of Zulu and other Bantu tribes of S E Africa . Many years ago I bought the contents of a Boer War / Zulu war museum and amongst the hundreds of artefacts there were 2 clubs very reminiscent of this example ( though not as impressive I have to say ) .Unfortunately I dont appear to have saved any photographs of them ... unless I posted any on this site .

Roland_M · 12th December 2017, 03:33 PM

Hello,

this is truly an impressive club, I really like him. It is definitely no movie-requisite, because it is much too heavy and dangerous for that purpose.

I searched a little bit in the entrails of the internet and I found this: "Micmac root club"

Please search for "Micmac root club" I think the similarities are obviously.

I would say, you probably have a Micmac Native American Root Club.

Regards,
Roland

drac2k · 12th December 2017, 04:20 PM

After some more research,I think Kronckew might be on the right track.I wasn't able to pinpoint a Micmac example like mine.I also found a Tasmania Huon war club that was somewhat similar.

David · 12th December 2017, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drac2k

After some more research,I think Kronckew might be on the right track.I wasn't able to pinpoint a Micmac example like mine.I also found a Tasmania Huon war club that was somewhat similar.

Well, first of all, the accepted spelling for that tribe is Mi'kmaq, not Micmac. That might help in your searches. However, the root clubs that Roland is talking about seem to have belonged more to the Penobscot tribe who existed in northeastern U.S. (Maine) and parts of eastern Canada. The examples i have seen of these clubs all seem to have tribal decorations on them though, so i wouldn't think that Drak's club is one of them.

drac2k · 12th December 2017, 08:43 PM

Well, it was around noon, so maybe I was thinking "Big Mac,"..................seriously when I looked up Micmac, it appeared to be an acceptable entry as was Mi'kmaq; maybe Micmac is slang.

David · 13th December 2017, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drac2k

Well, it was around noon, so maybe I was thinking "Big Mac,"..................seriously when I looked up Micmac, it appeared to be an acceptable entry as was Mi'kmaq; maybe Micmac is slang.

Not slang Drak, simple outdated terminology. Yes you will find hits there, but that spelling hasn't been officially used in some time. Still, even when searching under "Micmac", when you open those links they usually identify the club as Penobscot.
I did find this example that doesn't seem to have any decorative carving like yours, but couldn't find much info on it beyond the image.

Roland_M · 13th December 2017, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drac2k

Well, it was around noon, so maybe I was thinking "Big Mac,"..................seriously when I looked up Micmac, it appeared to be an acceptable entry as was Mi'kmaq; maybe Micmac is slang.

Here are my results: https://www.google.de/search?q=Micma...w=1670&bih=902

As a former lathe machinist I can clearly say, this club was not made with a lathe.

The denotation "Micmac" is from german Wikipedia (The Mi’kmaq, also Míkmaq, Micmac or Mic-Mac (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi%E2%80%99kmaq)).

Roland

colin henshaw · 13th December 2017, 02:41 PM

That very small hole with the concentric rings look to me like the natural growth rings of the wood, and the tiny hole is where the central pith would have been.

I agree that the piece is likely Native American (Penobscot or similar).

11th December 2017, 10:42 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	Worlds Ugliest War Club I'm not quite sure of what I have here; it was listed as an Indian rootstock club, but I've never seen one like this.The head is massive(approx. 6"x7"), and it has a total length of 27".It is made of a heavy dense wood and the club weighs approx.6 or 7 lbs.I have never seen one of these clubs with the roots made into spikes. I would sooner think that this belonged to "the Gangs of New York," or Fred Flinstone rather than an American Indian Tribe.I guess it could be a movie prop, however, it does appear to be very old. Attached Images

12th December 2017, 10:57 AM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	Looks more like a large fijian ulu rootball club. see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16802

12th December 2017, 11:53 AM	#3
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	I did see some similarities, however, my example looks cruder and the rootball is unlike the other examples in my view; if I could find a botanist, maybe they could identify the tree and that could give an indication of the region. On a further reflective note, the continuing contributions of VANDOO to this site are evident and his presence and wit are sorely missed!

12th December 2017, 01:01 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	There's never any botanists around when you need them. Used to be one behind every tree. Vandoo would have known. We have other gurus almost as good tho. Maybe one will stumble across this thread.

14th December 2017, 04:50 PM	#6
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	The way the shaft swells out towards the grip end is very reminiscent of the weapons of Zulu and other Bantu tribes of S E Africa . Many years ago I bought the contents of a Boer War / Zulu war museum and amongst the hundreds of artefacts there were 2 clubs very reminiscent of this example ( though not as impressive I have to say ) .Unfortunately I dont appear to have saved any photographs of them ... unless I posted any on this site .

12th December 2017, 03:33 PM	#7
Roland_M Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 523	Hello, this is truly an impressive club, I really like him. It is definitely no movie-requisite, because it is much too heavy and dangerous for that purpose. I searched a little bit in the entrails of the internet and I found this: "Micmac root club" Please search for "Micmac root club" I think the similarities are obviously. I would say, you probably have a Micmac Native American Root Club. Regards, Roland

12th December 2017, 04:20 PM	#8
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	After some more research,I think Kronckew might be on the right track.I wasn't able to pinpoint a Micmac example like mine.I also found a Tasmania Huon war club that was somewhat similar.

12th December 2017, 08:43 PM	#10
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	Well, it was around noon, so maybe I was thinking "Big Mac,"..................seriously when I looked up Micmac, it appeared to be an acceptable entry as was Mi'kmaq; maybe Micmac is slang.

13th December 2017, 02:41 PM	#13
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	That very small hole with the concentric rings look to me like the natural growth rings of the wood, and the tiny hole is where the central pith would have been. I agree that the piece is likely Native American (Penobscot or similar).