Ball Mace War Club Hey Uath L@@K

[COAL CREEK FORGE]

It's very much like an ancient Mesopotamian mace. They were used for smiting back in the Ancient Timez. A very similar mace was used by the Inca.

I can relate to that,a leather sand bag and a mace probably forged alot of body armour in that period

[Wolf_1989]

As to how a ball-headed mace was hafted in ancient times:

We don't have any surviving examples of ancient mesopotamian maces with the handles. We only have the heads, and they were in very widespread use; probably more so than swords and axes.

But by observing artistic depictions of ancient mesopotamian rulers, it's believed that the handle was made by taking a shaft slightly larger in diameter than the hole in the mace's head and carving it down for almost the entire length, leaving a large diameter portion right at the tip so the head doesn't come loose and fly off when swung. The head would be slid down the handle right to the tip until snug and probably set with a form of glue. Then the rest of the handle may have been wrapped the entire length with rawhide. This is just conjecture though.

In those days, a good, kind, and wise ruler was called a "good shepherd". A cruel and tyrannical ruler was called a "lord of the mace".

[COAL CREEK FORGE]

As to how a ball-headed mace was hafted in ancient times:

We don't have any surviving examples of ancient mesopotamian maces with the handles. We only have the heads, and they were in very widespread use; probably more so than swords and axes.

But by observing artistic depictions of ancient mesopotamian rulers, it's believed that the handle was made by taking a shaft slightly larger in diameter than the hole in the mace's head and carving it down for almost the entire length, leaving a large diameter portion right at the tip so the head doesn't come loose and fly off when swung. The head would be slid down the handle right to the tip until snug and probably set with a form of glue. Then the rest of the handle may have been wrapped the entire length with rawhide. This is just conjecture though.

In those days, a good, kind, and wise ruler was called a "good shepherd". A cruel and tyrannical ruler was called a "lord of the mace".

Uh-oh does this mean i'm creul and tryannical

[scotchleaf]

I swear I was searching for just such a ball 2 nights ago for a similar project! Could you use a metal bar for the haft?

[Wolf_1989]

Uh-oh does this mean i'm creul and tryannical

Have you done any smiting yet?

[SamuraiDave]

Holy Moses! That thing is crazy cool!
I was wondering around the yard setting up soaker hoses earlier today thinking about how I would make one of these!

So... How many of those ball bearings do you have?

[COAL CREEK FORGE]

I swear I was searching for just such a ball 2 nights ago for a similar project! Could you use a metal bar for the haft?

Metal bar stock would make it awful heavy,but you'd never destroy it

[scotchleaf]

Where did you get the ball? How did you anneal it? Wouldn't an Iron or brass ball work well? How About forged steel? I ended up buying a cold steel battle mace - but yours is much better looking.

[COAL CREEK FORGE]

Have you done any smiting yet?

Not much i'm still learnin

[COAL CREEK FORGE]

Holy Moses! That thing is crazy cool!
I was wondering around the yard setting up soaker hoses earlier today thinking about how I would make one of these!

So... How many of those ball bearings do you have?

5 or 6 left wolf is down for one of em

[COAL CREEK FORGE]

Where did you get the ball? How did you anneal it? Wouldn't an Iron or brass ball work well? How About forged steel? I ended up buying a cold steel battle mace - but yours is much better looking.

I've had these thing's layin around for a few year's back when i was into dumpster diving.they're out of an electric motor.Any thing would work let your imagination run wild.

[BobSig]

That is awesome

[scotchleaf]

would a lead ball hold up to bashing?

[Wolf_1989]

Any suitable material would work. The very first maces of this type were made of stone and for a long time it was common for the stone versions to be used on the same battlefield as the newer ones made of copper or bronze.

A bronze one would be cool. I don't have anything made of bronze. Yet.

[COAL CREEK FORGE]

That is awesome

Thanks BobSig

[COAL CREEK FORGE]

would a lead ball hold up to bashing?

Lead would be to soft scotchleaf

[rwn2000]

the bearing ball store has 2" soft steel balls for a good price.
"Soft Polish AISI 1018 Carbon Steel Balls are used in applications not requiring a hardened ball. They have a bright finish but are not lapped as are bearing balls. Soft Polish balls are not hardened and can be welded, drilled and tapped. Soft Polish carbon steel balls are less resistant to rust than chrome steel or stainless steel balls."

I', just saying/////

BTW, nice work, Coal Creek.

[COAL CREEK FORGE]

the bearing ball store has 2" soft steel balls for a good price.
"Soft Polish AISI 1018 Carbon Steel Balls are used in applications not requiring a hardened ball. They have a bright finish but are not lapped as are bearing balls. Soft Polish balls are not hardened and can be welded, drilled and tapped. Soft Polish carbon steel balls are less resistant to rust than chrome steel or stainless steel balls."

I', just saying/////

BTW, nice work, Coal Creek.

2 inch's would be pretty small,by the time your hole is drilled i'don't think you'd have much knock down power.I get these few used up i'll start dumpster diving again

[SamuraiDave]

I'd be real interested. Although I'm out of work (again) and I don't have enough time to use the toys that I already have.

I went to wally world, as I haven't been out of the house in 3 days due to a Final I have in a class tomorrow, and looked at tow balls. They would work, but you would have to figure out how to anneal them.

BTW, someone bought a tow ball, used it, and then returned it. You could tell cause all the chrome was missing from where it had been worn off in use. Some people really blow my mind as to how cheap they are.

That being said.
One of these days I'm going to get a special made something or other from Coal Creek Forge.
Axe, spike hawk, spontoon hawk, ball mace, or a Tomahawk... something or other.

[COAL CREEK FORGE]

I'd be real interested. Although I'm out of work (again) and I don't have enough time to use the toys that I already have.

I went to wally world, as I haven't been out of the house in 3 days due to a Final I have in a class tomorrow, and looked at tow balls. They would work, but you would have to figure out how to anneal them.

BTW, someone bought a tow ball, used it, and then returned it. You could tell cause all the chrome was missing from where it had been worn off in use. Some people really blow my mind as to how cheap they are.

That being said.
One of these days I'm going to get a special made something or other from Coal Creek Forge.
Axe, spike hawk, spontoon hawk, ball mace, or a Tomahawk... something or other.

3 day's cooped up indoor's,i'd be flippin out after a couple of hour's