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War clubs, help ID?

John, i know there not knives but you love to research so... these are baffling me. I think the light wood club is american indian because of the bark, looks like birch or cherry. the other 2 im not sure. Any ideas? Thanks for any help.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Squier on March 11, 2016 at 10:37

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on March 11, 2016 at 12:14

I know absolutely nothing about them Michael, except that I like 'em!

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on March 11, 2016 at 16:19

Michael-A little out of my normal wheelhouse, but actually I was just getting ready to research war clubs for a totally different reason- Happy coincidence?? Anyhow, now on the hunt and will reply as I find answers, my friend.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Squier on March 11, 2016 at 16:41

That is a happy cooncidence, but somehow I knew I could count on you to take the challenge. thanks

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on March 11, 2016 at 17:33

I'm definitely interested in what you find out , John.

This is most certainly out of our normal realm of queries .. will be very interesting what you find.

!! . Thanks for researching, John . !!

John McCain said:

Michael-A little out of my normal wheelhouse, but actually I was just getting ready to research war clubs for a totally different reason- Happy coincidence?? Anyhow, now on the hunt and will reply as I find answers, my friend.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on March 13, 2016 at 17:31

Okay Michael-you're going have to work for your supper, so to speak on these-On this club, is the ball stone,wood, or gourd?Is it weighted like a club,or light like a rattle? Is that snake skin wrap? Is that an iron spike? Lastly, are there any tribal markings,etc. The reasons for asking- I have yet to see any war club with a single vertical spike anywhere. They were horizontal, much more practical as clubbing weapons, rather than thrusting.The general shape is similar to an American Indian shaman's spirit stick, with the ball being a gourd filled with rattles.Quite unusual and probably a museum quality piece.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on March 13, 2016 at 17:51

Michael-More homework for you- This appears to be either ebony wood or blackthorn or oak(as in an Irish shillelagh).Ebony wood would mean it came from Southern India,Sri Lanka,Western Africa,or Indonesia.If it was Blackthorn it might have evidence of where thorns were once on the handle material.Shillelaghs were normally coated with butter or lard and shoved up a chimney until they developed that lustrous black finish. Ball headed war clubs were used by many,many countries and are very similar in appearance.However, they were just that (ball shaped).That is what leads me it is likely a shillelagh as they often had irregular heads on the striking surface.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on March 13, 2016 at 18:07

Michael- lastly I am pretty well clueless on this one- I haven't found a war club even remotely close to this. I agree, probably American Indian or even Aleutian or thereabouts and probably extremely old.If you can add any details I will continue searching. I would guess this to be another museum quality piece.I would suggest sending photos of clubs 1 and 3 to a well known museum for identification.Many Indian artifacts such as these can be worth ungodly sums of money and highly sought after by museums.BTW, I spent a pretty fair amount of time and energy on these 3 clubs, and all 3 appear to be quite unique,with no real comparable examples that I can find.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on March 13, 2016 at 18:14

Michael I have to ask, where on earth did you get these gems?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Squier on March 14, 2016 at 10:56

John, thanks. thats more so far than i have. Jan, they come from my dads store inventory, never tagged though.

On the one with the spike, i agree not really a war club but it was an easy lable to get your attention. It is light in weight so the ball could be goird, but it does not rattle. the spike is wrapped with flat brass wire and yes the wrapping on the handle is snakeskin. It had so e kind of butt but its missing.