New Plains club

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	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	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	#2
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 183	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	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	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

27th November 2015, 10:56 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	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	#4
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.