Post #69109 by Basement Kahuna on Mon, Jan 12, 2004 7:41 PM

Here is a Maori Taiaha I just finished carving...full size, unlike those tourist cheapies-6 feet, 2 inches long (my height!)An interesting weapon (you know the Maori stuff is a labor of love to me!)The Taiaha was the primary weapon of the ancient Maori, and used to this day to train the New Zealand army in hand-to hand combat and in some of the military and soccer Haka war chants as well as the passed-down ancient Hakas and disciplines. The Taiaha was to the Maori warrior caste much like the Katana sword was to a Samurai, revered and passed down as family property. It was a deadly weapon when in good hands, and was used in a strict discipline of named blows, thrusts, slices, and parrys. This one is black walnut with hand-cut abalone inlays. The tufting on this one is dyed hemp fibre bound with raffia grass and seagrass braid; originals are usually either made of feather or doghair, but this looks pretty close compared to some photos. The photo of the end is to show the taper..the point is also pretty sharp. The other objects in the last photo are from the Kon Tiki Paradise Room collection..The Patu (short club) is the real thing- a 19th century original, the carving is just exquisite. It is one of the more valuable pieces here. The tiki dates to the 1930's. The Manaia bone carving is one I wear most of my waking hours; a modern piece but a true Maori carving and one I cherish.