Ball headed war club

[MJH]

Hi, I've recently began learning various crafts, one of the projects I really would like to make is an 18th century style Native American war club, as used by the northeastern U.S. tribes. For anyone who is not familiar with these, it is a ball usually carved from the root of a tree with a ~2' handle carved from the trunk, often somewhat curved. I dug up a hornbeam tree (aka musclewood or ironwood) and sealed the cut end with paraffin wax. As I've studied more on the net, I don't know if the tree I harvested will work, it's about 5-6" in diameter and doesn't have a burled root.
Anyway, I have a few questions and I don't know who or where to ask; are there any commercial or other sources to obtain a suitable hardwood with the root still attached? As the winter is ending I'm concerned that I'll have to wait another year to hunt for more wood, as I've heard it's best cut in winter(?). Has anyone made one of these or know of any plans/patterns/info to use? Should I strip the bark off the tree I have to let it season (hornbeam is very prone to checking)? The reason I asked here was because I think some of the same techniques and materials used for sticks should be applicable. Any advice is appreciated, Thanks!

[Waitpinga Whittler]

I can't speak about war clubs, or hornbeam wood, but if I was making a walking stick with a knob handle from a root ball and stem, I'd dip all exposed wood in parafin wax and put it away in a cool dry place for at least a year, two years if more than a couple of inches thick. Don't peel the bark until the wood has seasoned.

Hope it helps... good luck and don't forget to post a photo of the finished piece.

[Dicky]

If you are looking for strength, Ironwood (hornbeam) is strong but Musclewood (blue beech) is so strong that pioneers used it to make wedges for splitting other woods.

[dnstehly]

I carve in American hornbeam quite often. You are correct regarding its tendency to check or crack. I generally allow this wood to dry for at least one year or more before working. When cured, it is extremely hard and does not carve easily with blade or gouge. You will probably want to employ power carving techniques.

[mpounders]

I am working on a cane that has the handle made from the rootball and the shaft is the trunk of the tree. I believe the tree is Hickory. The trunk was about 1 1/2" thick at the bottom and the rootball was fairly large with a burl like appearance. I cut it at Thanksgiving and took the bark off in December. It is still green and easy to cut, but I brush it with Pentacryl every now and then and wrap it up in a garbage bag if I'm not able to carve on it for a while. It is quite heavy for it's size, possibly because it is still green, and the wood is very tough. It cuts easily with gouges, but I've snapped a little bit off the ends of a couple of blades on my utility knife. Power carving seems to work well though and I think it will be a really neat cane. It is definitely heavy enough to work as a club!

[Marvin Little]

As you probably already know, many of the war clubs consisted of a rock wrapped in leather and attrached to a wooden handle. Many species of trees have a root ball. I use a lot of sassafras, dogwood and cherry. These do not have a tap root and are easier to dig up. Many will have a primary root that makes a good built in handle for a walking stick or cane.

Marvin

[nameless]

Originally Posted by MJH

I don't know if the tree I harvested will work, it's about 5-6" in diameter and doesn't have a burled root.

Please, know what you want, and are doing, before jumping up and killing fellow beings. (I know, too late...)
That said, what I do when I wanted make a club, is to do my homework before touching wood or blade.
I got on the internet and researched every picture of a (ball-headed) club that i can find, study everything said about them, etc... until I catch the 'spirit' of what I'm looking for.
I have, in my research, accumulated a world class research library compiled from here and obscure there on the net about war clubs from the South Seas, a wonderland of information from 'club' cultures, to the Eskimos and other cultures. I learned, also, about the cultures and warriors that used the clubs, even learning styles of club-fighting besides the swing-and-bash method.
Eventually there was an empathic understanding, and I was ready to begin.
Only then do I go and (if I have to) 'harvest' some poor 'volunteer'. By then, I am so focused and attuned, the club actually makes itself, often surprising me with it's beauty and grace.
(There are kits for the 'less involved' that you will find in your quest on the net.)
Traditional 'ball-headed' clubs are not carved from the root burl and trunk (sapling!), they are carved from either a smaller branch growing at an angle from a larger branch, or simply a thick planck (3-4" or so) of a good appropriate wood (easily available on ebay)

"You got to pay your dues if you want to sing the blues, and you know, it don't come easy!"

good luck

The last photo shows the traditional tooth stuck into the wood at the business end (no need for a 'notch' here!)!

[dhjrcarver]

MJH,
As a woodcarver and a historical reenactor,I have carved a few ball warclubs.The best source (and most common) is a maple that is growing out from the side of a ditch or creek.This will have a rootball and the handle will have the proper curve.They are easiest carved while green then dried by burrying in sawdust or placing in a plastic bag for a while every day.
Nameless,I would love to see your documentation stating that traditional woodland ball clubs were not made from the rootballs.I have handled a large number of originals and almost every one was carved from a root ball.
Don Holsinger

[nameless]

Originally Posted by dhjrcarver

MJH,
As a woodcarver and a historical reenactor,I have carved a few ball warclubs.The best source (and most common) is a maple that is growing out from the side of a ditch or creek.This will have a rootball and the handle will have the proper curve.They are easiest carved while green then dried by burrying in sawdust or placing in a plastic bag for a while every day.
Nameless,I would love to see your documentation stating that traditional woodland ball clubs were not made from the rootballs.I have handled a large number of originals and almost every one was carved from a root ball.
Don Holsinger

I bow to the evidence of your greater experience here; mine has been more limited. Salaam!

[dhjrcarver]

Nameless
I didn't mean for my statement to be a salaam! As a reasearcher on Native American woodcarvings ,I am always searching for new information.I was hoping you had something I haven't seen yet.
Don Holsinger