Post #322650 by Robin on Wed, Aug 1, 2007 7:47 PM

Hi All,

It's taken awhile to actually get going. Lots of ordering and waiting for stuff, and trying to get a working set up together. Whew!

Then with a lot of trepidation....and hemming and hawing about what to actually carve, I decided on a Taiaha, at least part of one. The Taiaha is a Maori weapon. Usually about 60" long it is used in close combat, pointed on one end with a flat broad blade on the other. The pointed end was used to poke at the opponent, and then the staff was swung around to crack the skull with the blade end. The pointed end was usually a head with a long tongue stuck out in defiance. The head was usually carved the same on both sides...I'm not gonna do that...I'm way over my head as it is! This weapon was also used to challenge anyone approaching a 'pa', homestead, to see whether they were friend or foe.

Pardon to all who know this stuff already!

I've been playing around with all my new toys to see what they'll do. It is a real challenge....here's what's happening so far. Can't show the back yet...it's kind of a mess.

Thanks to all for this forum...it is a great place to hang out, learn stuff, make friends and see great work.

[ Edited by: Robin 2008-04-03 19:34 ]