Whip #63
4' snake whip, BB and ball chain core with some lead tape for additional heft, 8 plait belly, 12 plait overlay, requested colours black, dark blue and red. It's a bit hard to distinguish the blue from the black but the overall impression, at least to me, is that it looks like a nasty bruise. Having a little extra weight add to that impression. It's a nice little cracker. I wish I had time to make whips for myself because I really like how these snakes have been turning out.
Bloodwood – FAIL!
Not sure exactly why, but my bloodwood cudgel cracked while I was practicing with it today. I surmise that there was an inherent weakness in the wood grain and while I was whacking at a free swinging padded post I managed to hit against a corner of that post. I was mildly upset about this as the length and feel of this cudgel was just about right for me. However, not all is lost: I can cut off the jagged portion and still be left with a mighty fine stick.
Sticks
With the early failure of the day's bow project I spent some time hand shaping some sticks with my spokeshave. First up was a hickory Irish stick. It wasn't too bad to work with the shave but it seemed to be more sensitive to grain direction than my previous experience with red oak. Made this one to just over 38". It's lighter than my granadillo stick so it's less taxing for repeated drills.
After a break I decided to finish off my bloodwood stick. Or cudgel, rather, since I made it so that one end gently opened up and became heavier instead of having a distinct knob. This bloodwood is gorgeous but it is brutal to work. My shave was dull not too long after I started working and I didn't have a sharpening stone available so it was quite the chore to shape and smooth the stick out. But I am very happy with how it turned out. I'm going to have to find some more.
Bow #2 – FAIL!
Doh! Snapped as I was flexing it during tillering. So close. Should have backed it.
At least I didn't spend a ton of time on it. And I did make a tillering stick last night so I can use that in future.
I think I'll just work on an Irish stick for the rest of the morning.
Shark Tooth Weapons of Ancient Hawai’i
Part of the material of the book Warrior Arts and Weapons of Ancient Hawai'i is available on Google Books, including the chapter on the construction of shark tooth weapons. There was a recent episode of Deadliest Warrior that demonstrated a recreation of an Aztec war club made of wood embedded with obsidian that functions much the same way as these shark tooth weapons. It was amazing to watch it smash then cut like a chainsaw through whatever flesh it hit. These weapons may not be durable but when they work they are pretty fearsome.