Tomahawks & War Clubs

Tomahawks | War Clubs

About Tomahawks

Tomahawks are Native American small fighting axes, originally with stone heads mounted in wood handles.

In the 1600s, European traders began providing iron and brass heads to trade with the various tribes, in a great number of variations. Highly decorated versions were presented to tribal leaders as gifts.

The small axe was a useful tool to the settlers as well, and local blacksmiths and gun makers made many fine specimens. The pipe tomahawk was a fairly rare variation, often highly decorated.

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About War Clubs

In the 1500s, when their European trade muskets ran out of powder and shot, the American Indians undoubtably discovered in the midst of battle that their empty muskets made devastating clubs. War clubs in the stylized shape of gunstocks became popular amongst the Northeastern tribes, and the weapon spread to across the Great Plains to the Pacific Coast. These clubs, carved from straight-grained hardwoods, weighed  several pounds, and often had spear or knife points (of antler, bone, flint or metal) attached to increase their lethality. The clubs, like tomahawks, were often embellished with carvings, feathers, leather, paint, beads, brass tacks, scalplocks, etc. These weapons still were in use in the late 1800s.

Note: No original examples I have seen indicate that they started out as an actual firearm, as there are no lock or barrel inlets, and many are flat and board-like. The shape was probably an attempt to capture the lethal "magic" of the firearm. However, the versatility of this club as a close-quarters combat weapon becomes apparent as soon as it is handled. It can be used to parry, thrust and trap, one or two-handed, and every surface creates blunt force trauma.