This is an exceptional early Celtiform ball head war club tomahawk dating to the 18th century from the Eastern Plains Native American Indians. The piece shows a root ball head war club with forge iron blade which is firmly secured in the head as if it had grown there. The use of iron for the blade indicates that the piece is a post-contact specimen and the workmanship suggests that the entire war club, including the blade, is of Indian manufacture. This places the piece at being from the 18th Century. Similar examples of Celtiform war clubs can be seen in Harold L. Peterson’s “American Indian Tomahawks” on page 101, pictured / figure 102, 103 and 104. These examples are attributed to the Indians of Oklahoma with this example very well originating from there as well. The blade has a tapering widening blade which then tapers at the back to a spike, making this Celtiform war club one of the earliest examples of a crude Pike Tomahawk or Spike Tomahawk. Various blacksmith folds, hammer marks and other techniques of blacksmith manufacture or working can be seen on the iron. The outer edge of on both sides has an engraved rolled edge which extends on both sides along with forged molded and filed lines on the flat outer and under edge. The haft handle has a rich patina from honest authentic age and use, with this being a very solid and heavy example. The entire wood surface has a shiny patina from much age and use and the metal has a deep chocolate brown patina from the same. This is truly a fantastic early example with amazing Celtiform design as it would have been a formidable weapon in its time. The haft also shows incised carved lines along the head and at the pommel end. Provenance: From a historic Eastern Montana American Indian Collection, where the piece was found to be an authentic original, one of the finest collections of American Indian weaponry and antiquities in Montana. Measures overall 26”L with a 8.25”L axe with a 1.75”L blade. The ball head is approximately 1 7/8”x1 7/8”x3”.