AS ART

A PREMIER COLLECTION OF HAND CARVED  SWORDFISH & MARLIN BILLS with woven handles, similar to their Polynesian War Implement counterparts in Hawaii's history.  Captain John's reclamation of the fish bills for use as artwork mirrors our own philosophy of recycling as much of an animal as possible.

BLUE MARLIN:

The knot work and design is created by Captain John.  Each bill is unique, like people - no two are alike, each vary in style, shape and character. 

Blinded as a child, Capt. John spent four years in the Salem, Oregon Blind School only to have his sight restored in later years.  While at school, he learned the basic art of weaving, hammock making, caning and working with his hands.  As an adult, Capt. John became a commercial fisherman where basic knots were second nature and soon became an abiding hobby.  He has over 50 years of experience in the art of tying knots.

SWORD FISH

After commanding fishing vessels in Hawaii, he chose fish bills (Marlin and Swordfish) as his medium, turning the fish bills that are normally thrown overboard into works of art.   Fish, minus their bills, are packed in ice and sold on land for human consumption.  Capt. John's Swordfish Art has been presented to the National Marine Fisheries service in Washington D.C. as a representation of how fish by-products (waste) can be used as an art form and representation of Polynesian Culture and History.  His artistry has been accepted by the Pacific Handcrafters  Guild in Honolulu,  Hawaii where not only the art is judged, but the knowledge and history of each item as well.

We are pleased and proud to share some of his work here for you to see and purchase.

SEE A FULL ARTICLE ON THE HISTORY OF THE USE OF FISH BILLS at the bottom of this page

Artist unknown

#KNIFE-1  

11" long x 2-1/4" wide, Solid black genuine STINGRAY HIDE, rawhide laced edge, cowhide back; snap closure, 3-3/4" slot belt opening.  Stainless steel knife with wood & brass handle is FREE.

   

 

#B-21-SOLD

Swordfish bill wrapped and set with tiger shark teeth

Custom shadow box (wire hanger on back) with large swordfish bill, shaped and tied in the LUA design weaponry.

23 tiger shark teeth added.
Braided raffia, 2 turks heads, and a criss-cross around and over each tooth.

No glass (none needed)
Frame measures 35-1/2" long x 10" tall x 2-3/4" deep
Chocolate brown microsuede backing

Sword itself measures 30" long x 4-1/4" widest including the teeth

$795  SOLD

  

#B-24-SOLD

SHADOW BOX, Triple matted, Suede & basket weave design; Museum glass (use damp cloth only, no Windex or ammonia)

TWO SWORDFISH BILL DAGGERS

First bill:  Dark curved bill begins with an overhand knot followed by a crown knot then a Turks head knot.  A twisted weave followed by a Turks head knot at the base, and a coxcomb knot over the bill and a Turks head as a finish knot, using seine line; measures 18-5/8" long x 2-1/4" widest.

Second bill begins with an overhand knot followed by a crown knot, then a twisted knot and a Turks head knot.  A running Turks head knot then continues to the base of the bill with a Turks head knot to complete, using black leather line; measures 17-1/8" long x 2-1/4" widest.

FRAME measures 25-1/8" long x 12-1/4" tall x 2-5/8" deep.

$745  SOLD

Artist unknown

#B-32-SOLD

Swordfish bill sword is 23" long x 1-3/4" widest, edged with (RARE) lower Six gill shark teeth; black and medium brown and natural cotton cording wrap.  Three Mako shark teeth protrude from the end of the handle as another formidable weapon.

$575  SOLD

#B-35-SOLD

Swordfish bill sword is 27" long x 2" widest; mixed TIGER SHARK TEETH and (RARE) upper SIX GILL SHARK TEETH.  Off-white cotton cording wrap and medium brown wrapped handle; 2 Mako shark teeth form another weapon off the end of the handle.

#KNIFE-2-SOLD

11" long x 2-1/4" wide, with Black genuine STINGRAY HIDE with white ellypical center; rawhide laced edge, cowhide back; snap closure, 3-3/4" slot belt opening.  Stainless steel knife, made in Pakistan with wood & brass handle is FREE.

$115  SOLD

LINKS TO OTHER KNIFE PRODUCTS ON OUR WEBSITE:

Gators Page 6  (#GK611, 612, 613 and G696-9 series)

Alaska Page 2 (KNIVES category)

   

#B-1-SOLD

34-1/4" SWORDFISH BILL SWORD, Overhand knot, Crown knot,  Turks head knot & herringbone weave using med-dark brown seine line

$410  SOLD

   

#B-2-SOLD

27" SWORDFISH BILL SWORD, Overhand knot, Crown knot, Turks head knot followed by herringbone weave, using dark brown seine

$240  SOLD

   

#B-3-SOLD

32" SWORDFISH BILL SWORD with 2 Mako shark teeth added as a guard.  Overhand knot followed by Crown knot, Turks head and herringbone weave.  Turks head & braided knot added & wrapped around each tooth guard, using black leather line.

$325 SOLD

   

#B-4-SOLD

28-1/2" SWORDFISH BILL SWORD with 15 Mako shark teeth added to ONE SIDE ONLY; overhand knot followed by a  Crown knot & Turks head, herringbone weave around each tooth and around the bill in a crisscross design, using Raffia

$270  SOLD

     

#B-5-SOLD

34-1/2" SWORDFISH BILL with 32 Mako shark teeth added to both sides of the bill.  Reveal on the handle.  Overhand knot, Crown knot, twisted braid knot followed by a Turk's head knot, then open area on the handle followed by a Turks head knot twisted & braided knot work around the shark teeth on both sides of the bill, using natural vine line.

$475  SOLD

     

#B-6-SOLD

32-1/2" SWORDFISH BILL SWORD, combination of weaves consisting of overhand knot followed by a crown knot & Turks head knot.  Then a "running Turks head knot" (basket weave), a herringbone weave, followed by another Turks head & another running Turks head and braided line over each one of the teeth crisscrossing over the entire bill and TWENTY SIX Mako shark teeth, using black tarred seine line

$585  SOLD

     

#B-7-SOLD

15" BLUE MARLIN FISH BILL DAGGER with added Buddha figure (bone) and 8 large Tiger Shark teeth.  The base of the Buddha is followed by an open area on the handle.  A herringbone weave is then added, followed by a Turks head and coxcomb weave.  Another Turks head is then added along with braid knots over each shark tooth in a crisscross design, using brown seine line

$285  SOLD

   

#B-8-SOLD

17-1/2" BLUE MARLIN FISH BILL DAGGER; Overhand knot, Crown knot followed by a running Turks head knot and Turks head knot.

$200  SOLD

   

#B-9-SOLD

18-1/4" BLUE MARLIN FISH BILL DAGGER; Overhand knot, crown knot, Turks head knot with herringbone weave, finished with a Turks head knot, using dark brown seine line

$200 SOLD

   

#B-10-SOLD

14-3/4" BLUE MARLIN FISH BILL, using overhand knot, crown knot with square knot macramé knot work over whipping knots, using hemp line over white whipping.

$125 SOLD

   

#B-11-SOLD

13-1/2" BLUE MARLIN FISH BILL DAGGER, Overhand knot, crown knot followed by a square knot macramé knot work over white cotton line (using flax line over white cotton line)

$100  SOLD

   

#B-12-SOLD

12-1/2" BLUE MARLIN FISH BILL DAGGER, using overhand knot, crown knot followed by a square knot macramé knot work over whipping, and a Turks head knot, using dark brown seine line over green seine line

$115 SOLD

   

#B-13-SOLD

11-3/4" BLUE MARLIN FISH BILL using overhand knot, crown knot followed by a Turks head knot and a running Turks head weave.  Ended with a Turks head knot, using Sisal

$75 SOLD

   

#B-14-SOLD

11-1/4" BLUE MARLIN FISH BILL DAGGER, using overhand knot, crown knot followed by a Turks head knot, then a running Turks head knot and Turks head, using black seine line.

$75  SOLD

#B-15-SOLD

10" BLUE MARLIN FISH BILL DAGGER with open handle area; overhand knot, crown knot and Turks head knot work, then a braid knot work on both sides of the bill, finished with a Turks head knot, using black seine line

$75  SOLD

   

#B-16-SOLD

BLUE MARLIN FISH BILL SWORD

SHADOW BOX with SUEDE INTERIOR, Museum glass 

The bill is formed in the design of a "LUA" weapon with 8 tiger shark teeth tied with coconut snit.   Measures 22-3/4" long x 2-1/2" widest; frame measures 29-1/2" long x 10" tall x 2-1/2" deep.

$845  SOLD

   

#B-18-SOLD

30" SWORDFISH BILL SWORD carved with 4 Mako sharks; added handle made of overhand knot, crown knot, Turks head knot & running Turks head knot, herringbone weave and running Turks head knot, whipping & Turks head knot, using dark brown seine line

 

#B-19-SOLD

32-1/2" SWORDFISH BILL SWORD carved with Hibiscus flower and DRAGONS; added greenheart handle.  Turks head knot work along with whipping have been added to the wood, using coconut snit

 

#B-20-SOLD

34" SWORDFISH BILL SWORD carved with MERMAIDS & DOLPHINS.  Added Curly Koa wooden handle tied with coconut snit, using Turks head and whipping knot work applied on both areas of the handle

   

#B-21-SOLD

SHADOW BOX, double matting, Museum glass

SWORDFISH BILL SWORD tied with brown seine line with an overhand knot, Turks head, running Turks head and Turks head. Measures 28" long x 2-3/8" widest; frame measures 36" long x 10" tall x 2-1/2" deep.

$845 SOLD

   

#B-22-SOLD

SHADOW BOX, double matting, Silk background, Museum glass (use damp cloth only, no Windex or ammonia)

LARGE BLUE MARLIN FISH BILL SWORD shaped 7 tied in the "LUA" design weapon.  23 tiger shark teeth added using braided raffia, 2 Turks heads knots and a crisscross around and over each tooth; measures 29-1/2" long x 4-3/8" widest; frame measures 35-1/2" long x 10-1/4" wide x 2-5/8" deep.

$725  SOLD

   

#B-23-SOLD

SHADOW BOX, Museum glass (use damp cloth only, no Windex or ammonia)

MARLIN FISH BILL SWORD tied & shaped as a "LUA" weapon, 15 tiger shark teeth added, using whipping, braided raffia and Turks heads; measures 16-1/2" long x 1-1/2" widest; frame measures 24-3/8" long x 10-1/4" tall x 2" deep.

$955  SOLD

      

#B-25-SOLD

SWORDFISH BILL

25" long using 4 Mako shark teeth as a guard.  Handle made with Overhand knot followed by Crown knot, Turks head and herringbone weave.  Turks head & braided knot added & wrapped around each tooth guard, using black leather line.

$425  SOLD

   

#B-26-SOLD

BLUE MARLIN BILL

22-3/4" long, using a total of 14 tiger shark teeth.  Handle made with Overhand knot followed by Crown knot, Turks head and herringbone weave.  Turks head & braided knot added & wrapped around each tooth guard, using black leather line.

$575  SOLD

 

#B-28-SOLD

SWORDFISH BILL ONLY

29" long, carved, then inlaid with 4 carved bone Mako sharks

Sword is repaired from crack on back, barely visible on back, not visible on front.  Stable.

$385  SOLD

#B-31-SOLD

Swordfish bill sword is 26" long x 2" widest; edged with MAKO SHARK TEETH; black cotton wrap; 2 damaged mako shark teeth protrude from the end of the handle.

WITH GATOR SKIN Handle & SHEATH

A one-of-a-kind item!  Genuine swordfish bill, with a gator skin/hide handle guard riveted and lashed to swordfish bill.  Includes gator hide sheath, back side of sheath is smooth black buffalo leather hand stitched to the gator hide.  Full measurement of sheath is 36" long x 6" wide; swordfish bill is 34.5" long (26" long blade to the hand cutout)

#G-650    $425.00  SOLD

Hand carved SWORDFISH & MARLIN BILLS

 

#B-27

SWORDFISH BILL ONLY

27" long, carved, then inlaid with 4 mother-of-pearl carved mako sharks.

$425  SOLD

 

#B-29

SWORDFISH BILL ONLY

27-1/4" long, carved then inlaid with 4 mother of pearl carved mako sharks

$425  SOLD

 

#B-30

SWORDFISH BILL ONLY

26-1/8" long, carved of fish and seaweed, then inlaid with 4 bone mako sharks and 3 hammerhead sharks

$350  SOLD

 

#B-31

SWORDFISH BILL ONLY

28-1/2" long, carved with seaweed, 3 hammerhead and 4 mako sharks

$375  SOLD

FISH BILLS

POLYNESIA

Throughout the history of Polynesia many battles were fought at sea and on land as natural resources would dwindle and conflicts over power and rule were contested.  During this time, the Polynesians developed a type of weaponry that used bills from large Swordfish and Marlin, and wood.  

When the village fishermen caught the fish they would eat the fish and keep the bills to make into weapons.  After drying the bills, they used natural fibers from native plants such as the Olona shrub to tie the bills onto wooden spears shaped wood  from kauila and uhiuhi trees.  Tiger shark teeth and rock adzes (Polynesian arrowheads) were fastened onto the tip and sides of the handcrafted spears to add more destructive power.

Modern reproductions of Polynesian weaponry are more decorative than functional.  With the decline of available natural resources, weapon crafters use other materials such as koa wood hemp fiber to produce replicas of ancient Polynesian weapons.  Some mako shark teeth have replaced tiger shark teeth, and various types of textured cording have been added as artistic enhancements.

MARITIME

As in ancient times, many hours are spent at sea going to and from the fishing grounds.  Mariners and fishermen world over used Marlin fish bills for splicing and line work aboard whaling and sailing ships.  bills were often shaped as daggers and other useful items.  Even today the term "marlinspike seamanship" as used by the Navy and Coast Guard came from the actual history of the Marlin billfish.

The bills come from swordfish, blue marlin and striped marlin.  The fish range in weight from 40 to 1000 pounds.  When the billfish are caught, the bills are removed as part of the cleaning process, treated and dried.  The fish are then sold individually at the United Fish Auction in Honolulu, Hawaii.  

Educational information, compliments of Captain John.