Philippine Spear

Lew · 11th January 2007, 12:33 PM

Looks like a whale harpoon to me and not a Philippine spear.

Lew

Bill M · 11th January 2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Looks like a whale harpoon to me and not a Philippine spear.

Lew

Yup.

asomotif · 11th January 2007, 02:28 PM

I have 2 slightly similar harpoons with crudely forged points and the shafts being roughly made. they came from a collection of more than 30 indonesian spears.

ligpo2001 · 12th January 2007, 08:37 AM

May I know the purpose of having the harpoon head detachable from the shaft?

Does the Indonesian harpoon also have rattan bindings?

asomotif · 12th January 2007, 10:10 AM

The detachable point makes that the shaft/stick does not break.
And although I have never caught any seamamal myself, I can imagine that if the point would be fixed rigidly to the shaft it would also make it impossible to hold on to the harpoon.

The 2 harpoons I have have very simple rattan bindings and some black rope also wrapped around the shaft.
maybe If I have time this weekend I will make some pictures.

Best regards,
Willem

Freddy · 12th January 2007, 10:47 AM

Willem, I'm not sure from your picture. But this could also be a Congolese harpoon spear.

asomotif · 12th January 2007, 11:11 AM

hello Freddy,

The picture posted here is not mine.
And Congo or Philipines, any guess goes.

Best regards,
Willem

Congoblades · 13th January 2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Looks like a whale harpoon to me and not a Philippine spear.
Lew

Whale harpoons have no detachable heads

(www.wereldorientatie.net)

nKante · 13th January 2007, 06:43 PM

I have seen some whale harpoons with detatchable heads. It was used by relatively modern hunters. They attached several plastic jugs to the line to serve as floaters. They stuck the whale with four or five harpoons. The floaters slowed the whale down enough to deliver the death blow. I don't recall exactly how it was delivered. I've also seen detatchable heads when hunting seal. A small breathing hole is cut into the ice. A feather is placed at the end of the hole. The hunter lays on the ice for days at a time with his eyes locked on the feather. When the prey breaths through the hole, the feather moves, indicating the prey is in place. The hunter then jabs his harpoon through the hole, usually stabbing the prey in the face. He pulls out the shaft, leaving the prey suspended by the attached line. He then cuts out a hole large enough to remove the kill.

Congoblades · 13th January 2007, 07:13 PM

@nKanta
You are right, I was to fast with my conclusion

Just found this picture of whale spears with detatchable heads
(http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nmfs/figb0195.htm)

Tim Simmons · 13th January 2007, 07:26 PM

I do not see the thread starting harpoon as a whale harpoon. The whole thing is too light, the cordage too light and simple. Can you imagine pulling a dead whale through water on such cordage. I am an angler and can spend an entire day at the river and only catch a lump of weed, try pulling that through water on light line.

Tim Simmons · 13th January 2007, 07:39 PM

Who remembers "Mountain" and the art work on the album cover to Nantucket sleigh ride. Ahh youth wasted on the young

nKante · 13th January 2007, 07:41 PM

Personally I would use a heavier harpoon. But then again I've never hunted whale. I agree that the original harpoon probably is not for something as large as a whale, but I believe that the line attached to the head is not for reeling in. For whale harpoons, floaters would most likely have been attached in order prevent the animal from diving. In some hunts the whales mouth was sewed shut after death in order to trap air as a way to maintain boyance. It was then towed back to solid ice by the tail. This line would have benn the most sturdy.

ligpo2001 · 14th January 2007, 03:07 AM

I agree with Tim that this spear will not be effective for whales and other large marine animals.

What confuses me if that if I were to assume that the weapon is for small mammals, then how come it was made with only one barb? Logic would indicate that one barb will be less effective in holding the head in place within the speared animal that if there were more barbs.

12th January 2007, 08:37 AM	#4
ligpo2001 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 16	Harpoon May I know the purpose of having the harpoon head detachable from the shaft? Does the Indonesian harpoon also have rattan bindings?

13th January 2007, 07:13 PM	#10
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	@nKanta You are right, I was to fast with my conclusion Just found this picture of whale spears with detatchable heads (http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nmfs/figb0195.htm) Attached Images

14th January 2007, 03:07 AM	#14
ligpo2001 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 16	Not for large animals I agree with Tim that this spear will not be effective for whales and other large marine animals. What confuses me if that if I were to assume that the weapon is for small mammals, then how come it was made with only one barb? Logic would indicate that one barb will be less effective in holding the head in place within the speared animal that if there were more barbs.

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11th January 2007, 12:33 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Looks like a whale harpoon to me and not a Philippine spear. Lew

11th January 2007, 02:28 PM	#3
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	I have 2 slightly similar harpoons with crudely forged points and the shafts being roughly made. they came from a collection of more than 30 indonesian spears.

12th January 2007, 10:10 AM	#5
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	The detachable point makes that the shaft/stick does not break. And although I have never caught any seamamal myself, I can imagine that if the point would be fixed rigidly to the shaft it would also make it impossible to hold on to the harpoon. The 2 harpoons I have have very simple rattan bindings and some black rope also wrapped around the shaft. maybe If I have time this weekend I will make some pictures. Best regards, Willem

12th January 2007, 10:47 AM	#6
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Willem, I'm not sure from your picture. But this could also be a Congolese harpoon spear.

12th January 2007, 11:11 AM	#7
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	hello Freddy, The picture posted here is not mine. And Congo or Philipines, any guess goes. Best regards, Willem

13th January 2007, 06:43 PM	#9
nKante Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 72	I have seen some whale harpoons with detatchable heads. It was used by relatively modern hunters. They attached several plastic jugs to the line to serve as floaters. They stuck the whale with four or five harpoons. The floaters slowed the whale down enough to deliver the death blow. I don't recall exactly how it was delivered. I've also seen detatchable heads when hunting seal. A small breathing hole is cut into the ice. A feather is placed at the end of the hole. The hunter lays on the ice for days at a time with his eyes locked on the feather. When the prey breaths through the hole, the feather moves, indicating the prey is in place. The hunter then jabs his harpoon through the hole, usually stabbing the prey in the face. He pulls out the shaft, leaving the prey suspended by the attached line. He then cuts out a hole large enough to remove the kill.

13th January 2007, 07:26 PM	#11
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,891	I do not see the thread starting harpoon as a whale harpoon. The whole thing is too light, the cordage too light and simple. Can you imagine pulling a dead whale through water on such cordage. I am an angler and can spend an entire day at the river and only catch a lump of weed, try pulling that through water on light line.

13th January 2007, 07:39 PM	#12
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,891	Who remembers "Mountain" and the art work on the album cover to Nantucket sleigh ride. Ahh youth wasted on the young

13th January 2007, 07:41 PM	#13
nKante Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 72	Personally I would use a heavier harpoon. But then again I've never hunted whale. I agree that the original harpoon probably is not for something as large as a whale, but I believe that the line attached to the head is not for reeling in. For whale harpoons, floaters would most likely have been attached in order prevent the animal from diving. In some hunts the whales mouth was sewed shut after death in order to trap air as a way to maintain boyance. It was then towed back to solid ice by the tail. This line would have benn the most sturdy.