A New Idea re Weapons of Oceania and a Poll

Ian · 6th December 2025, 11:52 PM

I have been talking with the owner of this site, Dr Lee Jones, and the other Moderators about a new focus on weapons of the indigenous peoples of Australasia, Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia, etc., who make up the Pacific region referred to as Oceania. There is relatively little information about these weapons to be found on this Forum and not much more online.

My interest in raising this subject is that following my return to Australia in 2018, I have seen many more of these weapons and observed a number of auctions where old collections are being broken up and sold. The variety of weapons coming on to the market recently has been impressive. This provides an opportunity to archive examples of the weapons as a resource for members here and the wider online audience, and to raise interest in them.

My proposal is to create a series of "Museum Pages" to document Oceanic weapons by country and by type of weapon. These pages would be for information only and not for discussion. Should members wish to discuss items on the "Museum Pages," they could create a new thread for that purpose, referencing or linking to the item on the particular Museum Page. An index of the various "Museum Pages" would appear as a "sticky thread" near the top of the Ethno Forum page.

To set this up would require a lot of work and time. I'm willing to do that, provided there is sufficient interest from the membership of this site. Hence, a poll to assess that level of interest.

Ian.

Bob A · 7th December 2025, 06:25 PM

As indigenous peoples and their cultures have been disappearing, a repository of available information strikes me as important.

Oceania is outside my sphere for the most part, though a couple cassowary-bone daggers might give the lie to that statement. Just the same, the more we are exposed to, the more interest is likely to be generated, and the faster data could be accumulated.

A worthwhile endeavor, and thank you for being willing to take it on!

Jim McDougall · 7th December 2025, 08:56 PM

Brilliant idea, and a most esoteric area of ethnographic arms with VERY little literature out there. The only real reference material I have found has been mostly in "Tribal Arts" periodical which is a rich resource that delves into these areas. There are a couple of old references such as Montague on weapons of tribal peoples .

These are interesting areas, and I think a dedicated informative venue would be most helpful and encourage interest in these areas. You are a brave soul to take this on, and I'm sure your work would be greatly appreciated and recognized.

Outstanding idea!!!

Ian · Yesterday, 01:42 AM

Bob and Jim, thank you for your encouragement. As you both note, there is very little readily available information on these weapons.

Regards, Ian.

A. G. Maisey · Yesterday, 07:23 AM

Ian, as with Jim & Bob, I am of he opinion that this would be a very worthwhile undertaking, however it is an area that is not of any interest to me at the present time --- I still have an immense amount that I need to address in my chosen field, & I simply to do not have sufficient time to diversify into a different area of study.

However, I do wish you every success in getting this initiative off the ground, the door to this field of knowledge is closing fast, anything that you might be able to do preserve some understanding before it all goes, probably forever, would be a very worthy endeavour.

kronckew · Yesterday, 08:16 AM

Their is a fair amount of info from VANDOO in his series of 'Most Desired' Oceanic weapons.

Ian · Yesterday, 11:39 AM

Thanks Wayne. Yes, VANDOO posted a number of items some time ago and I plan to include his threads in the information that I assemble. I plan also to acknowledge his pioneering efforts here in this area of ethnographic weapons.

Ian · Yesterday, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Ian, as with Jim & Bob, I am of he opinion that this would be a very worthwhile undertaking, however it is an area that is not of any interest to me at the present time --- I still have an immense amount that I need to address in my chosen field, & I simply to do not have sufficient time to diversify into a different area of study.

However, I do wish you every success in getting this initiative off the ground, the door to this field of knowledge is closing fast, anything that you might be able to do preserve some understanding before it all goes, probably forever, would be a very worthy endeavour.

Thank you, Alan. I agree that the knowledge and skills in producing and using these old weapons is disappearing. There are, however, a significant number of items in the hands of collectors and museums. There has been a trend, promoted by some prominent dealers and financial managers, to invest in ethnographic items of indigenous peoples of the Pacific. These "financial assets" are then traded among the wealthy, including some serious collectors. As a result, they appear at auction every so often. Their provenance can be traced from auction to auction, sometimes being sold multiple times by the same auction house. This practice has clearly been happening for decades. I am speaking of conditions in Australia, of course, and I cannot speak for the wider market.

Recycling of pieces through private sales and auctions is one way of preserving them. Those weapons that come up for auction offer an opportunity to record them and create an archive here. Some of these go back to first contact between indigenous peoples and Europeans, and some even predate first contact. Most "early" examples, however, are from the 19th C. In Australia, an 18th C Aboriginal item is considered very old.

Alan, Oceanic weapons are not my primary area of interest also. However, I think this Forum should do what it can to record these diverse weapons before, as you note, many of them disappear forever.

Regards, Ian.

David · Yesterday, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Ian, as with Jim & Bob, I am of he opinion that this would be a very worthwhile undertaking, however it is an area that is not of any interest to me at the present time --- I still have an immense amount that I need to address in my chosen field, & I simply to do not have sufficient time to diversify into a different area of study.

However, I do wish you every success in getting this initiative off the ground, the door to this field of knowledge is closing fast, anything that you might be able to do preserve some understanding before it all goes, probably forever, would be a very worthy endeavour.

Hi Ian. I have quoted Alan'a post above because it is basically my own postion. Best of luck with this project!

Jim McDougall · Yesterday, 11:01 PM

I can never forget Barry (Vandoo) and Jimmy Manteris! Those guys were an exciting core of interest in Oceania! and while as been noted, I have not typically been interested in this field, but when items are presented and with some sort of context and informational dynamics, one cannot help but be intrigued.

That is why a venue as Ian has suggested would be worthwhile, and promote interest and from my perspective, perhaps historical material that would be interesting.

What Alan and David have noted regarding the financial and investment properties of items in these esoteric fields is indeed a factor which has become altogether too prevalent in ethnographic arms in general, not just these.
That is the reason a number of collectors recently have effectively 'jumped ship' in acquiring these arms, many moving into other fields such as regulation military etc.

In these circumstances the best thing for collectors is knowledge, and in fields with so little informational material, a venue like this would not only be helpful, but essential.

Again, thinking of Vandoo and Jimmy....miss those guys!!!!

View Poll Results: Are you interested in the weapons of indigenous people of Oceania?
Yes, I wish to know more about these weapons	14	93.33%
No, that's not my area of interest	1	6.67%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll

6th December 2025, 11:52 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,593	A New Idea re Weapons of Oceania and a Poll I have been talking with the owner of this site, Dr Lee Jones, and the other Moderators about a new focus on weapons of the indigenous peoples of Australasia, Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia, etc., who make up the Pacific region referred to as Oceania. There is relatively little information about these weapons to be found on this Forum and not much more online. My interest in raising this subject is that following my return to Australia in 2018, I have seen many more of these weapons and observed a number of auctions where old collections are being broken up and sold. The variety of weapons coming on to the market recently has been impressive. This provides an opportunity to archive examples of the weapons as a resource for members here and the wider online audience, and to raise interest in them. My proposal is to create a series of "Museum Pages" to document Oceanic weapons by country and by type of weapon. These pages would be for information only and not for discussion. Should members wish to discuss items on the "Museum Pages," they could create a new thread for that purpose, referencing or linking to the item on the particular Museum Page. An index of the various "Museum Pages" would appear as a "sticky thread" near the top of the Ethno Forum page. To set this up would require a lot of work and time. I'm willing to do that, provided there is sufficient interest from the membership of this site. Hence, a poll to assess that level of interest. Ian. Last edited by Ian; 7th December 2025 at 12:33 PM.

Yesterday, 08:16 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,262	Their is a fair amount of info from VANDOO in his series of 'Most Desired' Oceanic weapons. Attached Images

7th December 2025, 06:25 PM	#2
Bob A Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 455	As indigenous peoples and their cultures have been disappearing, a repository of available information strikes me as important. Oceania is outside my sphere for the most part, though a couple cassowary-bone daggers might give the lie to that statement. Just the same, the more we are exposed to, the more interest is likely to be generated, and the faster data could be accumulated. A worthwhile endeavor, and thank you for being willing to take it on!

7th December 2025, 08:56 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,711	Brilliant idea, and a most esoteric area of ethnographic arms with VERY little literature out there. The only real reference material I have found has been mostly in "Tribal Arts" periodical which is a rich resource that delves into these areas. There are a couple of old references such as Montague on weapons of tribal peoples . These are interesting areas, and I think a dedicated informative venue would be most helpful and encourage interest in these areas. You are a brave soul to take this on, and I'm sure your work would be greatly appreciated and recognized. Outstanding idea!!!

Yesterday, 01:42 AM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,593	Bob and Jim, thank you for your encouragement. As you both note, there is very little readily available information on these weapons. Regards, Ian.

Yesterday, 07:23 AM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,127	Ian, as with Jim & Bob, I am of he opinion that this would be a very worthwhile undertaking, however it is an area that is not of any interest to me at the present time --- I still have an immense amount that I need to address in my chosen field, & I simply to do not have sufficient time to diversify into a different area of study. However, I do wish you every success in getting this initiative off the ground, the door to this field of knowledge is closing fast, anything that you might be able to do preserve some understanding before it all goes, probably forever, would be a very worthy endeavour.

Yesterday, 11:39 AM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,593	Thanks Wayne. Yes, VANDOO posted a number of items some time ago and I plan to include his threads in the information that I assemble. I plan also to acknowledge his pioneering efforts here in this area of ethnographic weapons.

Yesterday, 11:01 PM	#10
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,711	I can never forget Barry (Vandoo) and Jimmy Manteris! Those guys were an exciting core of interest in Oceania! and while as been noted, I have not typically been interested in this field, but when items are presented and with some sort of context and informational dynamics, one cannot help but be intrigued. That is why a venue as Ian has suggested would be worthwhile, and promote interest and from my perspective, perhaps historical material that would be interesting. What Alan and David have noted regarding the financial and investment properties of items in these esoteric fields is indeed a factor which has become altogether too prevalent in ethnographic arms in general, not just these. That is the reason a number of collectors recently have effectively 'jumped ship' in acquiring these arms, many moving into other fields such as regulation military etc. In these circumstances the best thing for collectors is knowledge, and in fields with so little informational material, a venue like this would not only be helpful, but essential. Again, thinking of Vandoo and Jimmy....miss those guys!!!!