I had the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks in Hawaii this summer, and made a visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Right in the front gate, they have several cases with a variety of items on display from each of the major cultures, including weapons.

I thought y'all might be interested in seeing what they had. The pictures aren't that great, because I took them with my cell phone, and the light and glare off the glass weren't cooperating. All I can say is, I'm going to need shark's teeth. Lots and lots of shark's teeth...

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq132/Stormsforge/2012-07-18152245.jpg
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And finally, in it's own case is this one:

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I can't, for the life of me, figure out what the spiritual leader of a worldwide religion would need with this thing, but it's still pretty cool.

 There are some REALLY cool clubs and things there man!  Did you see the one with the birds head and what looks like a sideways celt head embedded in the mouth?

When I was a kid, back in the early 60s, the neighbor was a WWII vet who had been in "The Islands" during the war.  (that was all he ever said, no idea where he was specifically)
Anyway, he had a big collection of indigenous weapons; mostly fishing spears carved from bamboo in various ways, as well as some arrows.
Everything, from shafts to heads, had been carved from bamboo and they were all wickedly barbed.

Wish I had taken pictures back then, but I don't think my "Brownie" box camera would have done very well!

I have to admit, the things the islanders managed to do with nothing other than wood was purely amazing! I was always surprised you seldom see any flint work or knapped stone, because I thought flint was volcanic in origin.

nope... flint is a biochemical rock. however, Chert (a type of fine-grain quartz) is often referred to as flint.

and wood is the world's most useful material

Well, if God gave his angels some amazing flaming swords, I can't see why Mister Hinkley shouldn't wield that sword while praying  :D
Another topic that goes directly into the Index, thanks Kjev.
Greetings,
Mauro.

I must be a spiritual polynesian. I like hitting tthings with clubs too much for it to be a coincidence.

So no slings then ?

I REALLY love the looks of that two handed shark tooth club. Man! That is too sweet looking. Better start gathering up shark teeth and looking for a prime piece of wood, because daddy is about to have a brand new toy!

I live in freaking IDAHO where the biggest thing is a stupid sturgeon, more like a prehysteric catfish than a shark. Anyone know where I can find shark's teeth?

Mauro Fiorentini wrote on Sep 12^th, 2012 at 1:05am:

Well, if God gave his angels some amazing flaming swords, I can't see why Mister Hinkley shouldn't wield that sword while praying  :D Another topic that goes directly into the Index, thanks Kjev. Greetings, Mauro.

Glad to contribute to the Index.

The two times I saw Hinckley, he was in his upper 80s. On the other hand, so is the founder of my karate style, and I'd never attempt anything with him. He'd hand me my tail in a heartbeat.

In the Book of Mormon, a shipbuilder named Hagoth is mentioned briefly (this is no attempt to preach or spout religion, that's simply the source of the name). One of the more famous weapons in the book is the "Sword of Laban." Someone jokingly asked if that thing was the "Boarding Pike of Hagoth."

Pretty a lame joke, but the best I could come up with to try and impress my wife.

Did they mention what kind of wood was used?  When I was stationed on Okinawa, there was a Museum of the Pacific that had quite a few of the various weapons used by different ethnic groups and also by the different island groups.  I wish I had taken lots of pictures also.

Curious Aardvark wrote on Sep 12^th, 2012 at 8:12am:

I must be a spiritual polynesian. I like hitting things with clubs too much for it to be a coincidence.

c_a, that was Plato's reply.

This is some cool stuff, as pretty as the sharp bits are look at that woodcarving.  Polonesian/Maori woodcarving is so great...

Recently I was at a rock and mineral show (stalking the booths that had any sort of fossils) and came across a box full of fossilized shark teeth from Morocco.  I was staring at them contemplatively when my 13 year old brother came to see what I was looking at.  He took one look at the teeth and the expression on my face and said 'You're thinking about making one of those islander swords, aren't you?'  Caught red handed!

How cool would that be, though?  One of those bad boys only with fossil shark teeth!  Probably wouldn't hold up as well, but that's not the point.  8-)



Kjev wrote on Sep 12^th, 2012 at 11:44pm:

I live in freaking IDAHO where the biggest thing is a stupid sturgeon

Freaking Idaho maybe, though as a Hoosier it is hard to be sympathetic, but stupid sturgeon?!?!  I hope you are joking, 'cause if not I oughta pop you one buster...

That's some amazing craftsmanship there. I'm pretty sure just seeing those weapons on the battlefield in the hand of your enemy would definitely have some kind of psychological impact.

Maybe not, you would have the same weapons, too.

Very true, I suppose that would balance out the intimidation so both sides were so intimidating, they'd actually match each other.  ;) That would be quite a sight to see a battle between polynesian warriors with these weapons.

Kjev wrote on Sep 12^th, 2012 at 11:44pm:

I live in freaking IDAHO where the biggest thing is a stupid sturgeon, more like a prehysteric catfish than a shark. Anyone know where I can find shark's teeth?

I'm prepared to wrestle the teeth out of a sharks mouth in exchange for sturgeon eggs :-)

Love caviar.

On top of that sturgeon is apparently one of the best fish for smoking going.

I guess the reason polynesians didn't knap flint was that they were too busy catching sharks :-)

No flint to knap.  They did do quite a bit of pecking and grinding on suitable stones, and some that the rest of the world said wasn't suitable.  It just took a couple of years to a couple of decades to finish.

I have a friend that bought some shark teeth on line.  Don't know the site but they weren't very expensive and they came from the US, so you won't have to worry about customs.  They weren't Great White, like a lot of those seemed to come from, so they will probably shatter when you hit someone the second or third time.

Bill Skinner wrote on Sep 14^th, 2012 at 12:26pm:

They weren't Great White, like a lot of those seemed to come from, so they will probably shatter when you hit someone the second or third time.

If you need to hit someone a second or third time with one of those you're doing it all wrong.  ;)

It's interesting how many machete type club weapons were used througout the South Pacific. Slings, spears and flat, blade-like clubs.

Beautiful work.

Those are all teeth from the Tiger Shark. There are lots of sites in North and South Carolina where you can walk the beach and find shark teeth. Try some web sites there.

Bill Skinner wrote on Sep 13^th, 2012 at 11:24am:

Did they mention what kind of wood was used?  When I was stationed on Okinawa, there was a Museum of the Pacific that had quite a few of the various weapons used by different ethnic groups and also by the different island groups.  I wish I had taken lots of pictures also.

I didn't see any mention of it, but I was a little distracted by the toothy things to read signs at the time. I'd imagine hardwoods that would be found in Polynesia, but I know nothing about what grows there other than "Palm Tree," and "bamboo."

This is so exciting!  I love polynesian weapons, particularly Gilbertese ones.  I also love the stuff the Maori and Hawaiians came up with.  Shark tooth knuckledusters are a must-have accoutrement in my opinion.

Eoraptor wrote on Sep 13^th, 2012 at 12:52pm:

Freaking Idaho maybe, though as a Hoosier it is hard to be sympathetic, but stupid sturgeon?!?!  I hope you are joking, 'cause if not I oughta pop you one buster...

I lived in Indiana for a couple of years. Liked the green. Missed the mountains. And when I'm hunting for shark's teeth, yeah, a sturgeon is pretty much useless. Cool, but not what I need. I'm not much of a fisherman anyway.

shark teeth on ebay maybe?

Well, I suppose if you can find "magical spells" on ebay, you ought to be able to find shark's teeth. I'll give it a look.

thought I would add some photos of some weapons I took when I was in NZ awhile back.  :)

These were taken at museum and cultural centres so the light isn't always the best.

The first phot is of some Fijian war clubs.

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This photo is a tightly woven, full length shield from Vanuatu

The technique is the same as that used in making coiled baskets.

There was a full suit of armour made in the same technique, but alas my photo of it came out all blurry.

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A 'Patu'. Maori...

Whanganui / Wanganui museum. shhhhh no cameras allowed..

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Detail of Patu in Auckland Museum

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Ornately carved Taiaha... Maori

In Auckland Museum.

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Collection of weapons... Maori, in Rotorua somewhere

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Weapons being used in cultural show. Rotorua

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