# Weapon in Last of the Mohicans (1992)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 25, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285 "2011-07-25T17:52:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/1 "2011-07-25T17:52:24Z")
In the 1992 movie The Last of the Mohicans, one of the native-American fellers employs a peculiar weapon. It bears the outline of a musket - except that it does not fire a projectile. Instead it is a melee weapon, employed by grasping what would be the end of the barrel and swinging it so that a blade (affixed where the musket’s hammer would be) impacts the target. Is this weapon historically accurate? If so, is there a specific name for it, or does it fall under the general category of “tomohawk?” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/2 "2011-07-25T18:02:26Z")
[Gunstock club](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunstock_war_club) It’s historical and, while I don’t know if the Mohicans used them, it seems likely enough given their proximity to its European roots. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/3 "2011-07-25T18:04:54Z")
Definitely historically accurate, and deadly as hell. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/4 "2011-07-25T18:26:46Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > In the 1992 movie The Last of the Mohicans, **one of the native-American fellers** employs a peculiar weapon. (my bolding) That would be Chingachgook, the title character and [badass extraordinaire.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tiKM4fxY1U#t=6m23s) Show some respect - even Hawkeye’s barely qualified to hold his coat. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/5 "2011-07-25T21:47:58Z")
When I saw it I was wondering why Russell Means was in a movie. Activist? Yep. Politician? Sure. Actor? Turns out he has quite a resume. > **[Russell Means | Actor, Producer, Soundtrack](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0575184/)** > > Known for: Natural Born Killers, The Last of the Mohicans, Pocahontas ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/6 "2011-07-26T00:08:59Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > [Russell Means - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0575184/) Wearer of ultra-awesome shirts. Sure. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/7 "2011-07-26T12:30:28Z")
Means was in **Stephen Fry in America,** ranting about how the racist white man has wiped out the Lakota language. Fry then went to a nearby high school and filmed kids practicing Lakota. Means wouldn’t last long on the SDMB, mad warclub skilz notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/8 "2011-07-30T05:43:15Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Means was in **Stephen Fry in America,** ranting about how the racist white man has wiped out the Lakota language. Fry then went to a nearby high school and filmed kids practicing Lakota. Do YOU speak Lakota? I mean, I’m several nationalities NOT Lakotan, though I was born on what they considered their land. No? Neither do I, Russ, nor do I consider myself a Roman, Gaul, or Frank. People are mutts. Their success is due to what my wife calls “hybrid vigor,” though she’s usually talking about livestock. Um, not that any offense is intended, because ranchers don’t assume that crossing a Holstein with Hereford might not be an improve— DON’T BLAME ME! Humans have been open to their options for thousands of years. Sorry about your grandma. Native Americans have only a handful of generations (recently) to realize they have been re-added to the stew that is People. In general, we’re mutts, a “worthless” lot, getting by while supporting our kids. We, and Russ, tried to change that, pushing for something beyond mere survival. We know it takes time. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/9 "2011-07-30T06:24:27Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Do YOU speak Lakota? I mean, I’m several nationalities NOT Lakotan, though I was born on what they considered their land. No? > > Neither do I, Russ, nor do I consider myself a Roman, Gaul, or Frank. People are mutts. Their success is due to what my wife calls “hybrid vigor,” though she’s usually talking about livestock. Um, not that any offense is intended, because ranchers don’t assume that crossing a Holstein with Hereford might not be an improve— > > DON’T BLAME ME! Humans have been open to their options for thousands of years. Sorry about your grandma. Native Americans have only a handful of generations (recently) to realize they have been re-added to the stew that is People. > > In general, we’re mutts, a “worthless” lot, getting by while supporting our kids. We, and Russ, tried to change that, pushing for something beyond mere survival. We know it takes time. I have no idea what any of this means. BTW, I met Russell’'s brother Dale several times back in the days when I was helping community based public radio stations get started up. The Lakota and several other tribes were looking for help and we gave it. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/10 "2011-07-31T07:04:30Z")
Sat through it. No challenge because it was totally awesome. But I refuse to read the book, not just because of Twain. Spoilers Ahead: Were Uncas and Alice together more than the scenes I saw? They seemed to like each other, though she was seemingly braindead, but that could be misinterpreted in the past 185 years of me not reading it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/11 "2011-07-31T11:15:54Z")
Had you only not read it for 50 years or so, it would have been much clearer, but you, being at least 135 years old now – wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Know\_Nothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f04885/32.png) [@I\_Know\_Nothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Know_Nothing)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/12 "2011-07-31T17:50:59Z")
I love the movie and I always assumed that was some lame Hollywood made up weapon. All the more reason to still be a fan. > [@dropzone](#): > > Sat through it. No challenge because it was totally awesome. But I refuse to read the book, not just because of Twain. The movie was much better. What I found fascinating about the book were the long passages describing the Mohicans tracking in action. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/13 "2011-07-31T18:31:34Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I have no idea what any of this means. It means Means is decrying a process that is as old a Life just because it happens to be happening to his group at this point in time. Tough shit, Russell. Your people weren’t able to compete, and so they were conquered. \ ***Spike:** I just can’t take all this namby-pamby boo-hooing about the bloody Indians. **Willow:** Uh, the preferred term is- **Spike:** You won. All right? You came in and you killed them and you took their land. That’s what conquering nations do. That’s what Caesar did, and he’s not going around saying, “I came, I conquered, I felt really bad about it.” The history of the world is not people making friends. You had better weapons, and you massacred them. End of story. \* ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/14 "2011-08-03T00:39:30Z")
Meh. He changed his tune pretty quick once he got a couple of arrows stuck in him. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapon-in-last-of-the-mohicans-1992/590285/15 "2011-08-03T02:06:37Z")
> [@I\_Know\_Nothing](#): > > What I found fascinating about the book were the long passages describing the Mohicans tracking in action. As a former Boy Scout who could find that fascinating–interesting–educational–zzzzzz, I know you are making that up. As Cooper did. My copy apologized that the spelling, grammar, and pretty much the whole book had been cleaned up so modern readers could figure out what was going on. You don’t see that in the front of Jane Austen books, because you don’t need to. And she died nine years before The Last of the Mohicans was published. ETA: Though she WAS a woman, and therefore semi-literate. And he was an American, and therefore semi-literate. 😃