Card/Transcription No.: 468

468

Note Upon the Ancient Egyptian Single-Stick.
(See Nos. 582 and 619)

A slender round stick, ranging from 60 to 95 cms. long, thicker
at one end than the other, and used apparently as a weapon of
attack and defence. In contradistinction to the modern form
single-stick the thicker end of the Ancient Egyptian weapon
formed the point end, ferruled with metal, and the thinner end
the handle.
Protection for the hand was furnished by a leather 'guard',
somewhat like the 'basket-hilt', made rigid by means of wire and
adorned in some cases with open gold-work ornament (see 619, A to
D). The handle or 'grip' of the single-stick was packed with
leather bound with string in order to insulate and prevent the
passage of repercussion passing to the hand (see 582, C.)

From scenes upon the monuments depicting a kind of 'Cudgel-play'
or 'Single-sticking' guards, cuts and parries appear to have
formed at least part of the play, but a short stick bound to the
left forearm was also used to ward off strokes not parried with
the single-stick and which obviously served as a shield to ward
off the adversary's blows.