New Plains club

Pukka Bundook · 26th November 2015, 03:50 PM

Tim,

The short handled types were still popular, even if not exactly what we expect to see.

Yellow Wolf, (Nez Perce warrior) had a "copluts' with a handle only about 10 inches long. He was shown in a dream how to make it and what size it should be. He even brained a grizzly -bear with it.
On his, the stone was perfectly round and covered in rawhide.
He was 'intructed' to make the handle short, so it could not be grabbed by an opponent.
Yellow Wolf fought alongside Joseph and Looking Glass in their famous retreat.

Richard.

Tim Simmons · 26th November 2015, 05:46 PM

Thanks for that Richard. I like it all the more

kronckew · 26th November 2015, 07:21 PM

now that it's over (and i didn't win it) there was a recent auction on ebay for a 'Inca Boleadora Macana War Club' 45cm (17.7in.) long that look much like yours. vendor said it was an alpaca leather braided handle. parallel evolution? or was it really a plains club?

stekemest · 26th November 2015, 09:51 PM

The Inca did indeed have boleadoras with heads like that, but they usually don't come with their handles intact. So I guess this is at least partially a reconstruction.

However, it is not always clear whether a stone head was used for boleadoras or for maces. "Macana" is the term for maces, not for boleadoras. But they had wooden handles. You can see a boleadora and a macana (or 'porra') depicted by Guaman Poma (see below). Maces come with a huge variety of different shapes.

kronckew · 27th November 2015, 10:56 AM

he did mention that the handle was hard and dessicated when he got it, and that he'd had it 'had it professionally preserved'. wish i'd bid a bit more now. i didn't because he'd threw in the jarring macana bit, which i knew involved a wood haft. ah, well - can't win 'em all.

Pukka Bundook · 27th November 2015, 03:47 PM

Kronckew,

The handle on the one you posted looks a bit too new to me. I know braiding has been around a long time, but this looks identical to the style we see now on hackamores and bullwhips.
Don't feel bad you didn't get it. :-)

Richard.

Tim Simmons · 23rd June 2023, 01:11 PM

Found myself with this club in my hand and lead me to have a further look in the NMAI Data Base for some other items that may reflect styles or similar forms of construction. Mine club is a metal "steel/iron" bar with a hide weave.

One example using steel/iron; Dakota? number 1/1163 acquired 1906. Collection history unknown. Formerly collection of Abel E Brook {1833-1917} renowned Civil War Fire Arms collector.

The example with the hide weave rather like my example . Chiricachua Apache , number 2/1868 acquired 1909 MAI staff during field work.

Makes me very happy with my example.

26th November 2015, 07:21 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,278	now that it's over (and i didn't win it) there was a recent auction on ebay for a 'Inca Boleadora Macana War Club' 45cm (17.7in.) long that look much like yours. vendor said it was an alpaca leather braided handle. parallel evolution? or was it really a plains club? Attached Images

26th November 2015, 09:51 PM	#4
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 186	The Inca did indeed have boleadoras with heads like that, but they usually don't come with their handles intact. So I guess this is at least partially a reconstruction. However, it is not always clear whether a stone head was used for boleadoras or for maces. "Macana" is the term for maces, not for boleadoras. But they had wooden handles. You can see a boleadora and a macana (or 'porra') depicted by Guaman Poma (see below). Maces come with a huge variety of different shapes. Attached Images

23rd June 2023, 01:11 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,958	Found myself with this club in my hand and lead me to have a further look in the NMAI Data Base for some other items that may reflect styles or similar forms of construction. Mine club is a metal "steel/iron" bar with a hide weave. One example using steel/iron; Dakota? number 1/1163 acquired 1906. Collection history unknown. Formerly collection of Abel E Brook {1833-1917} renowned Civil War Fire Arms collector. The example with the hide weave rather like my example . Chiricachua Apache , number 2/1868 acquired 1909 MAI staff during field work. Makes me very happy with my example. Attached Images

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26th November 2015, 03:50 PM	#1
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Tim, The short handled types were still popular, even if not exactly what we expect to see. Yellow Wolf, (Nez Perce warrior) had a "copluts' with a handle only about 10 inches long. He was shown in a dream how to make it and what size it should be. He even brained a grizzly -bear with it. On his, the stone was perfectly round and covered in rawhide. He was 'intructed' to make the handle short, so it could not be grabbed by an opponent. Yellow Wolf fought alongside Joseph and Looking Glass in their famous retreat. Richard.

26th November 2015, 05:46 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,958	Thanks for that Richard. I like it all the more

27th November 2015, 10:56 AM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,278	he did mention that the handle was hard and dessicated when he got it, and that he'd had it 'had it professionally preserved'. wish i'd bid a bit more now. i didn't because he'd threw in the jarring macana bit, which i knew involved a wood haft. ah, well - can't win 'em all.

27th November 2015, 03:47 PM	#6
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Kronckew, The handle on the one you posted looks a bit too new to me. I know braiding has been around a long time, but this looks identical to the style we see now on hackamores and bullwhips. Don't feel bad you didn't get it. :-) Richard.