Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: swamp monkey on December 27, 2016, 10:09:33 pm

Title: ball head wooden war club
Post by: swamp monkey on December 27, 2016, 10:09:33 pm

This is a war club inspired by the “King Philip” war club in New England.  I liked the shell inlay and dark finish.  So I modified the design for shell pieces and the handle to suit me.  The mussel shells were from a three ridge mussel and some blufers.  The wood is hard maple with a cherry stain followed by multiple dark walnut stain applications.  I finished with 5 coats of tru oil. 

I enjoyed the project and will likely make a few other types of war clubs, but I must say the shell inlay presented a dilemma that flustered me.  I didn’t know what to do first, finish the wood then affix the shells, or the other way around.  If I stained then fixed, I risked needing to sand some excess glue or a shell that wasn’t flush.  Thus, I mess up my finish.  If I fixed then stained, it stained my shells.  I went with the latter because I wanted the shells flush.  It did change the color of my shells some.  I am proud of the wood working but the shell work left me a little flat. 
Live and learn.

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: chamookman on December 28, 2016, 03:53:10 am

Way cool ! Bob

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: Del the cat on December 28, 2016, 05:09:27 am

Very nice "persuader"  :)
Del

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: Buffalogobbler on December 28, 2016, 10:06:27 am

Nice job carving that thing, beautiful and functional at the same time.

Kevin

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: osage outlaw on December 28, 2016, 10:09:21 am

Very nice work.  A war club has been on my to-do list for a while.

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: Aaron H on December 28, 2016, 10:58:08 am

Very cool, I dig the finish work

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: Redhand on December 28, 2016, 11:15:22 am

Way nice war club!

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: High-Desert on December 28, 2016, 11:20:09 am

What a piece! Great job!

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: Onebowonder on December 28, 2016, 01:28:38 pm

Very inspiring Swamp Monkey!  I've been thinking I need to do one of these too.  Pardon me if I blatantly STEAL some of your ideas to do so...   >:D :laugh: ::) 8)

OneBow

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: selfbow joe on December 28, 2016, 03:47:03 pm

Very nice work

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: Badly Bent on December 28, 2016, 11:21:16 pm

Very nice, the shell inlays set it apart from others and are a nice touch.

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: Jodocus on December 29, 2016, 01:48:42 pm

Cool club!

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: bjrogg on December 30, 2016, 04:50:00 pm

Swamp Monkey that is one bad a$$ war club. That thing is so sweet I might even let you hit me in the head with it. Well maybe not but if I was gonna have to get hit in the head with a war club I'd sure like it to be one that looks that good 👍
Bjrogg

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: swamp monkey on December 30, 2016, 07:44:05 pm

Thank you for the kind and encouraging words.

Title: Re: ball head wooden war club
Post by: bowtarist on January 03, 2017, 10:20:18 am

That thing is B. A. man! I've always wanted to try one of those. Even have some wood cut but just haven't attempted it yet. That one is prime!! dp