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susquesus
Mad Hermit of the North Woods
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
September 03 2003
Status: offline
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 Posted - September 05 2003 : 12:24:05 AM
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I was excited to read the responses to my question regarding Hawkeye's rifle, so now I feel I must ask another. What is the weapon that Chingachgook hurls end over end into the back of a fleeing Huron and eventually sends Magua into the afterlife with? What is it made of? Is it based on anything that is historically accurate?
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Bill R
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
July 03 2002
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 Posted - September 05 2003 : 02:38:11 AM
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| That was a "gunstock" style tomahawk. They did indeed look like that, and they did indeed often have that iron blade in them. Whether or not they were used by the Mohican tribe, or in that 1750's era I'd have to defer to somebody more knowlegeable about the period and the tribes. However, the gunstock profile tomahawk did exist originally. Anybody more knowlegeable about such things wanna pick it up from here? |
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Hawkeye_Joe
Colonial Militia
USA
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July 31 2003
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Posted - September 05 2003 : 04:58:11 AM
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The Gunstock Warclub
The gunstock warclub, in its many forms, was a prominent item in both the Plains and Woodland regions. Development seems to have started in the early seventeenth century. The term "gunstock", though disputed by some, refers to its similarity, in shape, to the white man's longarm, a symbol of great power.
Interpretation of this form was highly individual, ranging from broad, highly ornate, radically flared slabs of wood to slender, barely curved clubs mounted with two or three knife blades. Whether for battle or ceremony, the gunstock warclub represented martial readiness, authority and accomplishment. It became a highly visible palette for a warrior's personal medicine. Paint, brass tacks, carving, hair, feathers and hanging appendages were favored decorations.
This gunstock warclub is of a type found in areas between the western Woodlands and the eastern Plains. It is copiously tacked, yet not outlandish in appearance. Its broad blade compliments the wide triangular configuration of the wood. Snakeskin, suggesting swiftness, covers the grip; while the painted bear paw attests to the club's ability to cleave and pulverize.
The weapon was grasped with one or both hands. A heavy, crushing blow might be delivered with the non-bladed side, or the club could be swung point-first so as to completely bury the spear or knife blade in the enemy.
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HAWK
"The scum of every nation gravitates to the frontier."
Benjamin Franklin 1750
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for
lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
Benjamin Franklin 1759
The existence of flamethrowers is proof that someone, somewhere, said to himself, "I want to set those people over there on fire, but I don't feel like walking over there to do it."
"Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist."
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Fitz Williams
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 19 2002
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Posted - September 05 2003 : 11:07:15 PM
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| I have heard it described by Indian reenactors as the "blue hockey stick". |
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susquesus
Mad Hermit of the North Woods
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
September 03 2003
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Posted - September 06 2003 : 12:16:13 AM
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| "The Blue Hockey Stick"--The color of the weapon is what initially confused me, it definitely looks blue or green. It didn't look like wood, was it just painted or covered with something? |
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Hawkeye_Joe
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
July 31 2003
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Posted - September 06 2003 : 03:24:09 AM
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| It was blue..and painted and very very plain.. the one at Chimney Rock is so damn plain, it's like a rough cut 2X12 cut to shape and the blade attached .. then the shoulder strap tacked to it.. looks very "slap dash"..if you get My drift.. |
HAWK
"The scum of every nation gravitates to the frontier."
Benjamin Franklin 1750
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for
lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
Benjamin Franklin 1759
The existence of flamethrowers is proof that someone, somewhere, said to himself, "I want to set those people over there on fire, but I don't feel like walking over there to do it."
"Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist."
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Fitz Williams
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 19 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - September 09 2003 : 12:56:12 AM
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| I haven't been up to Chimney Rock in a few years, but I heard the items from the movie had been removed. Is anything still there? Rich? |
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richfed
Sachem
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 13 2002
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Posted - September 09 2003 : 05:49:53 AM
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| All gone ... moved out in May of 1999, just in time for us to replace them with a soon-to-be raffled Eric Schweig mask! His mask sat in there on public display until the Gathering when Eric went up to the Skyline Lounge and brought it down to the Bunk House to raffle off on Sunday night. As for the props, I was told they were sent to a Fox museum in California somewhere ... |
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Scott Bubar
Colonial Militia
USA
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May 17 2002
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Posted - September 09 2003 : 8:55:58 PM
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I seem to recall from *somewhere* that this was referred to as Chingachgook's "Nuclear Warclub" on the set in light of it's outlandish size.
There were two "real" versions (i.e. wood as opposed to rubber). One is the one that was at chimney rock. The other is owned (or at least was) by Randall King, who made many of the knives for the movie.
The clubs were made by King's friend, Jim Yellow Eagle Morgan.
There's mention of this in the "Musings" here, with a nice shot of Magua and King "interacting":
http://www.mohicanpress.com/mo06008.html
I contacted Randall King for some information, possibly about this, but I believe also about what I believed at the time to be Magua's "telescoping" tomahawk. In any event, he was very helpful.
I believe he also said that someone other than Jim Yellow Eagle had added some of the finishing touches.
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~~Aim small, miss small. |
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Scott Bubar
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
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Posted - September 09 2003 : 8:59:41 PM
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| Of course, then there's those nutcrackers. |
~~Aim small, miss small. |
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What is it Pt.2--Chingachgooks weapon
