In Fig. 8 is shown a short-handled flail, which is about 2-1/2 ft. long with a dark handle of wood, studded with brass or steel nails.  A steel band is placed around the handle near the top.  The imitation of the steel band is made by gluing a piece of tinfoil on a strip of cardboard and tacking it to the handle.  A large screw-eye is screwed into the top of the handle.  The spiked ball may be made of wood or clay.  Cover the ball with some pieces of linen, firmly glued on.  When dry, paint it a dark brown or black.  A large screw-eye must be inserted in this ball, the same as used on the end of the handle, and both eyes connected with a small piece of rope twisted into shape.  The rope is finished by covering with tinfoil.  Some short and heavy spike-headed nails are driven into the ball to give it the appearance shown in the illustration.

A Russian knout is shown in Fig. 9.  The lower half of the handle is of wood, the upper part iron or steel, which can be imitated by covering a piece of wood that is properly shaped with tinfoil.  The whole handle can be made of wood in one piece, the lower part painted black and the upper part covered with tinfoil.  A screw-eye is screwed into the upper end.  A length of real iron or steel chain is used to connect the handle with the ball.  The ball is made as described in Fig. 8.  The spikes in the ball are about 1 in. in length.  These must be cut from pieces of wood, leaving a small peg at the end and in the center about the size of a No. 20 spike.  The pegs are glued and inserted into holes drilled into the ball.

In Fig. 10 is shown a Sclavonic horseman’s battle-axe which has a handle of wood painted dark gray or light brown; the axe is of steel.  The blade is cut from a piece of 1/4-in. wood with a keyhole saw.  The round part is made thin and sharp on the edge.  The thick hammer side of the axe is built up to the necessary thickness to cover

[Illustration:  Ancient Weapons]

the handle by gluing on pieces of wood the same thickness as used for the blade, and gradually shaping off to the middle of the axe by the use of a chisel, finishing with sandpaper and covering with tinfoil.  Three large, round-headed brass or iron nails fixed into the front side of the handle will complete the axe.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century horseman’s battle-axes shaped as shown in Fig. 11 were used.  Both handle and axe are of steel.  This axe is made similar to the one described in Fig. 10.  When the woodwork is finished the handle and axe are covered with tinfoil.

** How to Make a Round Belt Without Ends [243]

A very good belt may be made by laying several strands of strong cord, such as braided fishline, together as shown in Fig. 1 and wrapping them as

[Illustration:  Method of Forming the Belt]

shown in Fig. 2.  When wrapped all the way around, the ends are tied and cut off.  This will make a very good flexible belt; will pull where other belts slip, and as the tension members are all protected from wear, will last until the wrapping member is worn through without being weakened.  —­Contributed by E. W. Davis, Chicago.