Coup Stick
The coup stick, or counting-coup staff, is a decorated staff or lance carried by Plains warriors such as the Lakota, Cheyenne and Crow for the act of 'counting coup', touching an enemy in battle without killing him. Among the Plains peoples touching a living enemy was ranked the bravest feat of war, above killing, and each time a warrior counted coup he added an honour, often marked on the staff with an eagle feather. The four grades of war honour were carefully ranked, and a man could also count coup on enemies' horses or possessions. Such sticks were wrapped with cloth and fur, hung with fea