Native American WAR CLUB: Complete Build with Axe and Angle Grinder

Carving out a ball club from a birch log. This is going to be a prop for the feature film "The Son of the Wolf", based on a Jack London short story.
Get a custom blade here: blackheartforge.etsy.com.
Buy American made clothes and other products: www.allamericanclothing.com/m...
Photo set: blackheartforge.blogspot.com
Enjoy the videos? Consider supporting the Forge through Patreon: www.patreon.com/user?u=2771965
See whats new at
INSTAGRAM: / blackheartforge
FACEBOOK: / blackheartforge
Blackheart Forge T-shirts now available: teespring.com/shop/blackheart...

[@alexlocklair2484]

When he says “early 2020” he had no idea what was in store for him.

[@danzigrulze5211]

Did my first war club similar to your design and the wood I used was pretty green too which produced lots or cracks. Since then I have made at least six of them for friends and family, sourcing my wood from old cypress that grows near my home in southern Louisiana. I made mine all by hand with no power tools. It takes a bit more time but I feel like the finished product has a better feel in the hand as I'm constantly focusing on the overall shape and balance bit by bit. I really enjoyed watching your video and hope to see you make another one that is more ornate in the future.

[@1stinlastout165]

Made a few of them for training purposes one was near perfect from a river bank great to see you making yours the proper way, well-done from the uk

[@johnathangreay987]

Native Americans. Their still here. Glad they well always be here.

[@PrincessKickingButt]

They would get a natural bent burl to make the ball because it would not split along the grain of the ball in middle of a fight. But I understand it's just a prop and it turned out nice,

[@FabulosoSpray]

Could you use stone for the ball head? Already have the handle prepped and carved, thank you for this instructional video!💪

[@darkseid_of_luna]

The ending was so satisfying. Nice job

[@joemummerth8340]

cherry,birch ,maple, dogwood and walnut all work great, and all were used ! so birch is fine for a "using " club !

[@dwightehowell8179]

Nope. It's good for a movie prop.

[@bormatnor]

Good job, glad you switched to the grinder.

[@elimcgraw4066]

Good job. You should make a "gunstock" war club

[@JohnDoe-yg6ed]

They say for every 3” of wood it takes 1 year to dry naturally once cut, so not a surprise that it was still green on the inside

[@daniongrisham2999]

Like the video, great work as usual, I make a lot of primitive weopans, I stack and chop wood as a perfection, I get all the wood I need, it's just easier when I need wood, someone may have asked already, I would like to see you make a gunstock war club, it's a American indan war club shaped like a rifle stock, thanks for the step by step instructions on all your videos, you are a true artist my friend, God bless, have a nice day

[@WristwatchMedic1953]

Loved your video . Thank you

[@ethanstang3722]

thank you for showing us this. how did you find the information for how the native Americans made their root ball clubs?

[@PhilBaumhardt]

It forget website, I just did a quick google search tho. I'll see if I can find it and link it in the description for you.

[@ethanstang3722]

@@PhilBaumhardt thank you

[@connorwills9862]

Great video! Can you share which brand of ax you are using? Looks super smooth

[@PhilBaumhardt]

Its a CRKT Birler

[@Krazykal]

Next time you make this or something similar you might want to try a hoof trimming disk on your grinder instead of the flap disk, just whittles away material instead or grinding.

[@lacymeyer5198]

Wow that's cool

[@stacywilliams1710]

Good job

[@tangsoodoarnis4life]

That thing is bad ass! and I can’t wait for your film to come out.

[@nelmov]

Mi abuelo hacía mazos de verdad con cepas de vid, y una navaja.

[@muthafungmartialartsmfmaak7216]

Hell yeah!

[@user-lv4kt6oq5u]

My eight great grandfather was George Augustus Ninigret a Narragansett chief born in 1690. They say when he signed agreements with colonist he would leave a war club as his mark to intimidate them and let them know he was ready to protect his interest.

[@francescoiusco1133]

What kind of wood Is It advisable to use ?

[@GarySmith-ss1ee]

Horn bean also known as Iron wood is the hardest most dense wood that I know and would probably make a good club, I think the one he made was a little too big

[@sedintisantvilko4746]

COMICALLY OWERSIZED

[@hinano316]

You're very talented 😉

[@JackHammer-ui4yj]

I want one of those lol

[@Z5thegamer]

Over sized but the hitting test didn’t do any justice being that it was on a coffee tin or what ever that was .. I’m sure this thing would smash greatly ., awesome project even better video

[@jonajo9757]

Isn't it supposed to be made from a root?

[@davecarveswood2645]

I read all of the comments and did not find a single reference to how this club resembles male genitalia. Well done, glad everyone could stay on topic.

[@roscoep.coltraine6344]

K whiffle 🦃❗Kinda sounded like you were disappointed.

[@charliebowen5071]

Way too bulky.. it’s needs to be the size of a decent orange.. dexterity and speed were always important

[@lutherpotter8120]

A froe would have taken a lot of work out of the project.

[@mrgooseinasuit3731]

Looks like something a Tustin raider would use from star wars.

[@PatNetherlander]

Great build! I’m sure it made the right menacing appearance in the movie! Is it out yet so we can see it?

[@PhilBaumhardt]

Unfortunately there was a hard drive crash during post production, so it's hard to say if or when the movie will ever be released.

[@Rick_Cleland]

@@PhilBaumhardt 😦😦😦

[@Syoma]

Lily Hawk from street fighter brought me here

[@jakelandshark1143]

Great video. I ain’t saying shit about that scraggly beard. It looks too heavy… I imagine it with a longer handle.

[@isaacluthe1061]

how would you stop the wood from splitting?

[@TheLunarMan]

Typically these war clubs were made of dense hardwood, so splitting it would be hard to pull off.

[@johnwood5912]

Here's an old indigenous trick to eliminate those splits. Splitting occurs due to the sap in green wood drying to fast. Do not remove the bark until it is cured and free of sap. T P poles and other such green wood were placed into a flowing creek for at least 2 weeks to wash out the sap. Then allow the sapling to dry slowly in a cool, dark place after coating it with animal fat, but linseed oil works great. The best time to harvest the sapling is in the winter after all the sap has gone down into the roots. The Irish would wait a year to even begin carving a Shillelagh walking stick/fighting club after carefully curing the stout, knotty blackthorn stick. while curing, be sure to keep the ends wrapped with cloth and keep the ends generously oiled, never allowing the cloths to dry out. After shaping the stick, the Irish would place the Shillelagh in a chimney to slowly fire harden for months, or even a year. This chimney process would turn those Irish attitude adjusters a beautiful black. Lots of knots in the sapling makes it hard. Carving a knot is hard work, but worth it for the hardest product. Doing it right is a slow, meticulous process, but the only way to properly cure and harden the instrument. Never leave the finished product out in the yard or in direct sunlight such as on a vehicle seat for extended periods. The sun can still split it. Good hunting... The only "Woodstock" I saw in 1969 was on my Army issued M-14 rifle. Cherokee Cavalry Scout, 5th US Cavalry, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos

[@vortex3648]

What kind of wood is this ? Ia it walnut ?

[@PhilBaumhardt]

Birch. Which would be poor choice for reality but for a prop it was easy to work with and lightweight for the actor.

[@nicodemusblackbird5617]

RIGHT ON THE MELON,

[@Jhumphreypitbull]

I need to know where he got that hatchet I need one like that

[@PhilBaumhardt]

Thats a CRKT Birlier that I restrained the handle with linseed oil

[@rosspoodry2252]

Nice try buddy... it was worth a shot.!!

[@thebrotherhood5199]

I don’t need to make my weapons “look” blood stained

[@duaneburd9350]

Looks like a massive Wang and bag while in the vice hahaha

[@kanaloamadrona9842]

Is it only pine or can it be another trees

[@TheLunarMan]

This type of war club was never made from pine, it was of Cherokee design and was typically made out of dense hardwood like oak or ash.

[@Watcherrye]

Comes in handy if your attacked by cantaloupes. LOL great job dude.

[@tonynapoli5549]

Nice work do like it thanks for sharing 👍

[@PhilBaumhardt]

Thanks Tony!

[@youremybiggestfan]

Thanks Phil i really liked the video.. You have some mighty strong underarms as seen in the end where you smashed that poor guadaloupe watermelon to pieces. Thats really impressive dude. You got a lumber jack physique. Take care of yourself and them gunz brotha!

[@PhilBaumhardt]

Haha thanks Tito, I appreciate the support and thank you for watching the channel.

[@ToyMuseum-lw3pz]

Gloves brand?

[@PhilBaumhardt]

Husky, from Home Depot. I don't think they make them anymore.

[@Louzahsol]

You really need a Japanese saw. They cut on the pull and that is just so much better

[@user-qv6ow2zm1l]

👍👍👍

[@evilsquidward]

🤘

[@mbhsug]

Well done, but you need a new table. 😊👍

[@PhilBaumhardt]

No argument there

[@coryboyd7958]

When I need a log to stay in one place on a table I use a wratchet strap. Works great!

[@PhilBaumhardt]

That sounds like a great idea, thanks for sharing that!

[@edcharbonneau263]

do you sell your art work?

[@PhilBaumhardt]

Right now I sell my work on www.etsy.com/shop/blackheartforge

[@kentcostello8099]

You need to sharpen your axe and put some lard or beeswax on your hand saw . Good job and work tho.

[@noahfranks2892]

put the movie on youtube please

[@Matt-uj6jm]

👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@joesmith6199]

Nice knives! But FYI Bowie knives did not exist before 1828-1830, and were much more a southern thing. a northerner would be much more likely to have a hatchet, tomahawk or maybe a butcher knife. Although i suppose a sort of dirk made from a broken militia sword would be remotely possible.

[@bullluttttt]

that must hurt

[@stro382]

Looks like the Irish shelaily.

[@ivanzakharov6206]

ок

[@sheep1ewe]

Awsome! Yes it's truly make a massive differense to the whole movie with real things compared to plastic and foam props.

[@HeraldodelSantoCielo.]

does the natives had this tecnollogy for do the same

[@seanjorgenson8064]

Clubbing it buddy.

[@georgecuyler7563]

I only watched a third of this video, it's to painful watching you struggle.

[@connorwills9862]

Hey Phil, Your video has been super helpful! Running into some trouble here at the final phase…2 questions if you don’t mind? 1. I used the Sedona red wood stain but it keeps wearing off on my hand every time I touch the handle. Any thoughts on this? I added the boiled linseed oil but it’s almost making it worse. Any clue how to keep the red from wearing off? 2. How many coats of linseed and how do you know if you’re applying it too thick or not thick enough? Thanks man- super helpful video!!

[@PhilBaumhardt]

The sedona red probably needs to dry or be sealed with clearcoat. Skip the linseed if you seal it. I was using raw linseed oil, so I don't know if there is a difference there. Try leaving it in the sun to dry, but linseed oil can take months to be fully dry. As far as how much, it usually doesn't take much but all depends on the porousity of the wood. Wish I could be more helpful, but thanks for watching!

[@connorwills9862]

@@PhilBaumhardt thanks man! I think I will leave it outside for a few days weather permitting and then try the clear coat… even though I already did a coat of linseed lol 😬

[@PhilBaumhardt]

@@connorwills9862 if the linseed is dry, clearcoat should be fine

[@Watcherrye]

If I had a hatchet, I would split wood in the morning. I would split wood in the evening, all over this land. I split out Justice .....well..I got a hatchet and found out that I wouldn't use it near as much as I thought I would. The novity wore off rather fast.

[@nakoawarrior3186]

Dewalt is the shit,.... but the best way to waste away wood is first with a band saw,... or hammer and chisel,...angle grinder you can use a rubber back plate and a 40 grit disc,... they last 4ever and waste wood and shape. a fiberglass back plate stops you from shaping and it cuts gouges in it and a stone is no different. You need to get the rubber backplate from a tool vender I think my discs were norton 40 and 80 grit. A rubber back-plate similar to one on a buffer allows you to do round shapes without gouging. De Walt lasts 5 times longer that other grinders ,.....and their rebuildable. It does look a little big.

[@DarthTwilight]

It's scary just how much you look like my cousin.

[@frostfirei]

Algonquin War Club.

[@hannahharlan3282]

Not just algonquin

[@toobiggdaddy]

One word.............chainsaw.

[@seangere9698]

Phil do you know what your last name translates to in English? Literal translation is tree heart.

[@PhilBaumhardt]

Thanks Sean! I did actually know that, I've always thought that was cool.

[@seangere9698]

@@PhilBaumhardt You're welcome. But in Norwegian it is tree hard or translated to English it would be Hard Tree.

[@xcowboyx22]

Well as others have pointed out is its way to big also when you died your club was buried with you so it wouldn't really be handed down

[@hugofarias2261]

Im thinking why the native americans dont crafted brass swords,if many etnies domains the brass metalurgy to produced brass knifes n the perfurating point from some warclubs.

[@_.Infinity._]

Clubs are more effective even against enemies with armour. If your enemy is wearing a metal armour swords would break, so would knives that's why they had hammers and axes in the medieval wars. Pretty sure the club war effective for them.

[@severcoste3533]

Cineva în 2022

[@camcom76]

Way too big. The indians would not have used a club that was this heavy and slow to swing.

[@kevinhegarty5775]

The Irish were natives? You made a shillelagh

[@kevinmencer3782]

Form follows function. I'm not surprised that a Native American war club looks similar to an Irish war club; they are both designed to do the same thing, and that shape happens to be very effective at accomplishing the desired effect.

[@smaeldelaunay7182]

il parle beaucoup

[@zaccllewellyn8950]

That's. SHILLELAGH and they were imported from Ireland not america

[@DsDex-zk1lx]

I'm sorry God for wasting the limited time you have given me.

[@virgilcaine3291]

Tool noise

[@jonathanking3676]

Do not use this guy as an example. This is not how those weapons were made. They were made from a crucial area of the tree, not a large log.

[@PatNetherlander]

Dude… chill out. Heks making a film prop. It’s not like heks claimed to be making a real historical exact warclub. He’s even stated that in the beginning. It’s sole purpose is to look menacing and stand the few obligatory blows from the script if there are any. And he’s done a great job at that.

[@johncremeans969]

No no no no no I think we're bus the first time you had anything with it what a joke you need a whole different kind of wood to start with you can't make one of these out of straight grain and Dogwood is clearly the way they made this time there's no better word for this it doesn't split it's heavy and hard as sit

[@zov640]

Древесина не правильно подобрана, не ошкурена и не высушина

[@gsfahrerbobo4234]

The Wood what you use is shit , its to soft !!!!

[@PatNetherlander]

As he himself stated: it is a movie prop. It’s only task is to look menacing and stand a few or any scripted blows. Nothing more. Not an accurate historical rebuild. If you want to see those you’ve to look for other more historic channels. Making movie props is almost never about being historically accurate, but most of the time a combination of how the prop is supposed to look in the movie and how easy it can be made in the least amount of time and at no cost.