A question on an Indian Weapon

10 Responses to A question on an Indian Weapon

1. Edmund Bodwell says:

   February 12, 2015 at 1:43 PM

   A coup stick wasn’t really a weapon, it was to be used to count coup on an enemy by touching an enemy and riding away. It was considered the greatest coup to humiliate the enemy and to show great bravery in battle.

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   • admin says:

     February 12, 2015 at 3:04 PM

     Edmund
     thank you for your information I will pass it along

     Reply
2. ed borris says:

   February 12, 2015 at 2:12 PM

   As far as I know it was an act of bravery in a battle to touch a living opponent with a coup stick and escape without being wounded. If you were wounded it still counted but the glory wasn’t the same. There were other ways to count a coup , touching the first dead opponent in battle, stealing from your opponent or striking an opponent. The stick was primarily used to touch the oppoenent not necessarily harm him.

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   • admin says:

     February 12, 2015 at 3:04 PM

     Ed
     Thank you also as it will be great help

     Reply
3. erwin says:

   February 12, 2015 at 4:25 PM

   wondering if any silent movie or BH show using real Indian in action will depict the way they did!!?

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   • admin says:

     February 12, 2015 at 5:30 PM

     Erwin
     Not anything I could find

     Reply
4. Wayne W says:

   February 12, 2015 at 6:35 PM

   A common tactic in counting coup was to ride up (or run up before horses) on one’s enemy brazenly and tap (or strike) the opponent either on the head or shoulders and then turn and ride (or run) away taunting and mocking the enemy. That showed much more courage than actually killing an enemy as a dead enemy could no longer harm you – by leaving your opponent alive and able to harm you you were taking a bigger risk and therefore earning more honor. Each feather in the bonnet of a Sioux or Cheyenne (among other tribes) warrior represented a coup, a kill, or wounding of an opponent. They were like ribbons worn on today’s soldiers’ uniforms. Each feather was notched or painted in such a way as to tell others what type of deed was performed to earn it.

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5. Greg Liska says:

   February 13, 2015 at 6:08 AM

   I know one movie showed it being done. I just am not sure which. I think it was Dances With Wolves. A Brave runs up and bops a cavalry trooper from behind and rides past him. The trooper just looks on baffled. I remember there was narration going on in the movie, stating something to the effect that ‘we’ had a lot to learn about ‘their’ ways. I’m sure somebody will recall this scene and remember which movie it was.

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6. Jake says:

   February 14, 2015 at 3:43 AM

   Little Big Man also shows a Cheyenne counting coup.

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7. Greg Liska says:

   February 14, 2015 at 6:55 AM

   That was it! I thought that might have been, but could not remember enough details of the scene. I recall when I saw it that the only reason I knew what had just happened was because I had read a book on Native American warfare tactics and customs.

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