MOST DESIRED OCEANIC WAR CLUBS 4: SAMOA

[VANDOO]

I START THIS HERE AS PLANNED FOR THE SERIES SO I CAN KEEP THINGS IN ORDER.
THE ISLANDS OF SAMOA LIKE THE FIJI ISLANDS HAVE QUITE A LOT OF INFLUENCE FROM TONGA BUT LIKE FIJI HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE DESIGNS AS WELL. MANY CLUB FORMS ORIGINATED FROM THE SAME NATURAL SHAPES THE MOST PREVELENT BASIC FORM IS FROM THE COCONUT LEAF STALK, IN SAMOA THIS FORM OF CLUB IS CALLED ( LAPALAPA ). THEY ARE CARVED USING AN ADZ. CUTTING FROM THE CENTER LINE TO THE EDGES WHICH FORMS 4 ANGLED FLAT SURFACES WITH A THICKER RIB IN THE MIDDLE AND EDGES TO THE SIDES. THE STRIKING END OF THE CLUB IS WIDE AND TAPERS TO THE SMALLER ROUND GRIP. THIS COPIES THE COCONUT LEAF STALK, IF THE COCONUT LEAF WERE MADE OF HEAVY WOOD THEY COULD HAVE BEEN CONVERTED DIRECTLY INTO CLUBS. PERHAPS THE LEAF STALKS MAY HAVE BEEN USED FOR CLUB PRACTICE AS NOT MUCH HARM WOULD COME FROM SPARING WITH THEM.
THE LAPALAPA'S EARLY FORMS WERE LIKELY QUITE SIMPLE AND SOME HAD BRAIDED SENNIT BANDS IN GROUPS OF 3 TURNS FORMING RINGS ON THE CLUBS STRIKING END. LATER THESE CORD BANDS WERE REPLACED WITH CARVED WOOD RIDGES THAT "MAY " HAVE LEAD TO THE ADDING OF TEETH TO SAMOAN CLUBS. WHEN THESE RIDGES EXTEND BEYOND THE CLUBS STRIKING EDGES CONCENTRATING POWER TO A SMALLER AREA.
THE BUTT END (HANDLE/ GRIP) ON SAMOAN CLUBS FLARES OUT BUT DOES NOT HAVE A FLANGE AS FOUND ON SOME FIJI OR TONGAN CLUBS. THERE IS OFTEN A LUG WITH A HOLE FOR A CORD ON THE BUTT OF SOME FORMS OF SAMOAN CLUBS BUT IT IS ABSENT ON SOME FORMS AS WELL.
1. PICTURE SHOWING COCONUT TREE AND LEAF AND PARTS THERE OF.
2. PICTURE SHOWING PLAIN LAPULAPU AND VARIATIONS EVOLVING FROM THE SIMPLE ORIGINAL FORM.
3 & 4 & 8 A OLD STONE CARVED EXAMPLE HEAVY TONGAN INFLUENCE.44 X5 INCHES FIGURE 8 SHOWS TOP EDGE.
5. 29.25 INCH EXAMPLE WITH A FORKED END
6 & 7. 37 INCH MODERN EXAMPLE, SAMOA
9. 26 X 2.5 IN. VARIATION OF LAPULAPU
10. A PICTURE OF AN EXAMPLE BROUGHT BACK BY CAPTIAN COOK.
11. SAMOA WARRIOR WITH LAPULAPU CLUB
12. ANOTHER PAGE OF VARIATIONS OF LAPULAPU

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE EXAMPLES OF THE LAPALAPA, COCONUT STALK FORM WITH A FEW VARIATIONS.
PICTURES 1. & 2. MODERN EXAMPLE WITH CONTEMPORARY DESIGNS 44 INCHES LONG.
PICTURE #6 IS 91 X 17 X 5 CM.
THE OTHER PICTURES OF SEVERAL VARIATIONS OF FORM WITH SOME THAT CROSS OVER TO ANOTHER FORM. ONE 1950 PICTURE OF TWO MEN MAKEING A CLUB THE OLD WAY.

[KraVseR]

Wow! Thank you!
Forward to continuing)

[KraVseR]

I think that on second image are not lapalapa. They described as talavalu, eight-spiked club. Or you think that talavalu - is the species of lapalapa?

[KraVseR]

I drew three warriors of Samoa. Is that correct?
Figures 1 and 2: The pre-colonial Samoan warriors.
Figure 3: Samoan chief, 19th century.

[VANDOO]

IN THE FIRST POST SECOND PICTURE A & B ARE LAPALAPA FORMS THE OTHER TWO ARE TOOTHED CLUBS BUT ONE CAN STILL SEE THE 4 SIDED RIBBED CENTER FORM. YOUR PICTURES ARE GOOD EXCEPT IN PICTURE 1 THE WARRIOR HAS A AX SHAPED CLUB WHICH CAME ALONG QUITE A BIT LATER AFTER STEEL AXES HAD BEEN INTRODUCED. THE LARGER BLADED DECORATED FORMS SEEN ON EBAY ARE FAIRLY RECENT AND FOR THE TOURIST MARKET. SOME ARE GREAT WALL HANGERS THOUGH.

[KraVseR]

First warrior has the wooden fighting axe, like this:

[VANDOO]

THE BASIC FORM USED IN MAKEING MOST CLUBS IS THE COCONUT LEAFSTALK THE NEXT BASIC FORM IS SAID TO BE THE BANNA LEAF ( LAUFA'I ). THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THE BANNA LEAF HAS A ROUNDED STRIKING END NOT FLAT AS IN COCONUT STALK FORMS. I AM HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A BASIC PICTURE OF THIS FORM AS IT AND THE PADDLE CLUBS ARE SO SIMULAR IN MANY WAYS.
1.BANNA LEAF TO SHOW GENERAL SHAPE.
2. AN EXAMPLE OF COCONUT STALK AND BANNA LEAF FOR COMPARISON. I THINK THESE ARE TONGAN IN ORIGIN BUT MAY BE SAMOAN .
3. THE END LOOKS LIKE BANNA LEAF FORM BUT THE REST IS MODIFIED HEAVY TONGAN INFLUENCE OR TONGAN MADE?.
4. SEVERAL CLUBS THE ONES WITH ROUNDED END ARE BANNA LEAF THE FLAT ENDS ARE COCONUT STALK. ALL ARE TONGAN STATE CLUBS
5. A FEW MORE OF THE GENERAL BANNA LEAF FORM
I DON'T HAVE PICTURES OF CERTIFIED SAMOAN EXAMPLES OF THIS FORM AND AM HAVING TO USE TONGAN EXAMPLES FOR ILLISTRATION SO WILL MOVE ON TO OTHER BASIC FEATURES OF SAMOAN CLUBS.
TONGAN AND SAMOAN CLUBS HAVE A FLAIR TO THE BUTT (PROXIMAL END) WITH NO FLANGES AS FOUND IN SOME CLUBS FROM FIJI. SEE FIGURE #6
TONGAN AND SAMOAN CLUBS OFTEN HAVE LUGS ON THE PROXIMAL END FOR ATTACHING A CORD FOR HANGING OR AS A LANYARD. THIS LUG IS NOT FOUND ON FIJI CLUBS BUT AS TONGAN INFLUENCE WAS STRONG THEY ARE PRESENT IN FIJI AS WELL. SEE FIG. #7 FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF LUG
SOME PICTURES MAY BE PADDLE FORM RATHER THAN BANNA LEAF THE LINE BETWEEN THE TWO IS VERY CLOSE.
OLDER SAMOAN CARVED DESIGNS WERE NOT AS ORNATE AND DID NOT CONTAIN HUMAN FIGURES AS FOUND ON TONGAN CLUBS. THE DESIGNS ON THE OLD ONES WERE DEEPLY CARVED AND FILLED WITH WHITE LIME. THE DESIGNS OFTEN RESEMBLE THE TAVATAVA DESIGNS OF FIJI BUT AS IT IS A BASIC DESIGN MAY HAVE ORIGINATED INDEPENDENTLY IN SEVERAL PLACES. SEE PICTURES 8,9 &10
THE NEW WAY DESIGNS ARE BEING MADE TODAY ARE DIFFERENT THEY COAT THE CLUB IN BLACK AND THEN SCRATCH THE BLACK OFF DOWN TO THE WOOD MAKEING THE DESIGNS, WHITE LIME IS SELDOM USED THESE DAYS. THE NEW DESIGNS ARE MORE COMPLEX AND ATTRACTIVE THAN THE OLD IN SOME CASES BUT I PREFER THE OLD WAY, BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. :) SEE PICTURES 11 & 12

[VANDOO]

THE PADDLE SHAPED CLUBS ( FOE, EQUALS PADDLE ) IN SAMOAN ARE ANOTHER FORM WITH VERY SIMULAR OR THE SAME FORM CLUBS FOUND IN TONGA AND FIJI AS WELL AS SAMOA. THERE ARE VARIATIONS IN THE FORM THOSE WITH A OVATE SHAPE AND POINTED ARE REFERED TO AS (AMUAMU ).
I THINK PICTURES 1 THRU 5 ARE OF THE AMUAMU FORM. CLUB #1 IS 3 FEET LONG.
#6. WALLACE ISLANDERS, SAMOA
# 7 & 8. PLATES OF THE VARIOUS PADDLE FORMS SOME MAY BE SAMOAN OR TONGAN.

[KraVseR]

6 picture shows a Samoan warriors?

[VANDOO]

I HAD THEM IN WITH SAMOA AS I HAVE SEEN WALLIS IS. CLUBS REFERED TO AS SAMOAN. BUT I DIDN'T RESEARCH FURTHER AND IT TURNS OUT THE WALLIS ISLANDS ARE NOT SAMOAN BUT LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AREA BORDERING SAMOA, TONGA, FIJI, ECT. TOO LATE TO EDIT SO I WILL HAVE TO LEAVE THE PICTURE THERE.
THE CLUBS WOULD FIT IN THE PADDLE CATEGORY THIS FORM IS WIDELY DISTRIBUTED AND THERE ARE A LOT OF SMALLER HAND CLUBS IN THIS FORM AS WELL AS THE LONGER ONES.
SO I MIGHT AS WELL COVER WALLIS ISLANDS HERE. THE MAIN 3 ISLANDS ARE UVE'A MOST POPULATED, FUTUNA AND ALOFI. ALOFI IS UNPOPULATED BECAUSE REPORTEDLY THE CANNIBAL RESIDENTS OF FUTUNA ISLAND ATE THEM ALL IN ONE RAID IN THE 19 TH. CENTURY. I WONDER IF THEY SMOKED WEED AND GOT THE MUNCHIES? THATS A SCARY THOUGHT A TRIBE OF CANNIBALS WITH THE MUNCHIES :eek:
#1 EXAMPLE OF WALLIS ISLAND CLUB, 108.5 CM. LONG
PADDLE CLUBS USUALLY RANGE IN SIZE FROM 40 TO 47 INCHES.

[VANDOO]

THE REFRENCE I AM USING FOR SAMOA REFERS TO POLE CLUBS AS BILLET CLUBS AND SEPARATES THEM INTO TWO TYPES 1. ROUND BILLET CLUBS AS WE FOUND IN FIJI THEY ARE REFERED TO BY THE TONGAN NAME IN SAMOA ( POVAI)
2. FOUR SIDED BILLET CLUBS USUALLY IN SAMOA THE SIDES ARE NOT EQUAL TWO ARE NOT AS THICK AS THE OTHERS, SOME BEING CLOSER TO SQUARE THAN OTHERS. THIS FORM IS FOUND IN TONGA AND FIJI AS WELL. PERHAPS BOTH FORMS ARE REFERED TO AS POVAI IN SAMOA?
THE WOOD PREFERRED FOR MAKING CLUBS IN SAMOA WAS CALLED PAU BUT IRONWOOD WAS ALSO USED.
THE TWO FORMS OF BILLET CLUBS USUALLY FORMED A BLUNT END THE SQUARE FORMS OFTEN HAD A LUG AT THE PROXIMAL END.
PIC. #1 & 2 SQUARE FORM OF BILLET CLUB ,TONGA, FIJI AND SAMOA?
PIC. #3 & 4 CLOSE TO PALM STALK FORM BUT MAY FALL INTO BILLET FORM? 53 CM.LONG.
PIC. # 5 VARIOUS SAMOAN CLUBS THE FIRST TWO ON THE LEFT ARE POVAI.
PIC. #6 POVAI WITH HOLE AND LANYARD.

[Billman]

Hi, not my area of expertise - but one that I wander to occasionally as some of the Oceanic war clubs appear to be shaped like large wooden billhooks...

My query is did this shape exist before European explorers visited and settled the islands, or were they an attempt to copy an iron and steel tool they had seen in the hands of the 'white man'?????

[VANDOO]

THE FIRST PICTURE LOOKS TO BE A WOODEN COPY OF A MACHETE AND WAS NOT AROUND BEFORE CONTACT. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME SIMULAR FORM OF WOODEN TOOL USED AS THE BLADE SHAPE SERVES WELL FOR VARIOUS CHORES.?
ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE READ THE MAORI CLUBS LIKE YOUR PICTURE #3 WAS IN USE BEFORE CONTACT WITH EUROPEANS. IT WAS ONE OF 3 BASIC FORMS OF SHORT CLUBS AND WAS CALLED WAHIKA.
THE 2ND PICTURE IS OF A SAMOAN NIFO OTI THERE WAS A CLUB FORM BEFORE CONTACT BUT THE EXAMPLE YOU SHOW, BECAUSE OF ITS SHAPE IS LONG AFTER CONTACT. ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE READ THE STEEL FORERUNNERS OF THIS FORM IS THE BLUBBER KNIVES USED BY WHALERS. IT HAD A BLADE MUCH LIKE YOU SEE HERE AND A HOOK USED TO DRAG THE CHUNKS OF BLUBBER AFTER THEY WERE CUT. BLUBBER IS TOO SLIPPERY AND GREASY TO MOVE BY HAND OR WITH TONGS SO HOOKS AND HOLES WITH TOGGLES WERE USED.
THE SAMOANS LIKED SHARP STEEL AS A WEAPON AND A LARGE STEEL BLADE WAS MUCH MORE FORMIDIBLE THAN WOODEN CLUBS. THE BLADE FORM MAY HAVE BEEN A REGULAR WHALEING TOOL OR COULD HAVE BEEN MODEFIED TO FASHON IT WITH A HOOK LIKE THE NIFO OTI CLUB AS THE NATIVES PREFERRED? TRADE WAS ESTABLISHED AND WHALERS BROUGHT EXTRA BLADES TO TRADE IN SAMOA FOR PROVISIONS AND FAVORS. THEY WERE USED FOR WORK AS WELL AS WAR AND CEREMONIE.
THE FORM LATER WAS USED FOR THE KNIFE DANCE AND STILL LATER THE FIRE KNIFE DANCE. THE WOODEN ONES LIKE YOUR EXAMPLE WERE MOSTLY FOR TOURISTS OR USED FOR CEREMONIES. SOME OLDER WOODEN ONES MAY HAVE BEEN USED IN BATTLE BY THOSE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD A STEEL ONE. :confused:
UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T FIND A PICTURE OF THIS COMBINATION KNIFE AND HOOKED WHALEING TOOL. I FIND LONG KNIVES AND SPADES AND HOOKS ON POLES BUT NOTHING LOOKING LIKE THE SAMOAN KNIFE. BUT SOMEONE WROTE IT DOWN SO IT MUST BE TRUE :rolleyes:
I FOUND THIS PICTURE OF WHALEING TOOLS.

[VANDOO]

STRANGELY THE ROOTSTOCK CLUB DID NOT FIND ITS WAY TO SAMOA ALTHOUGH THE FORM WAS USED A LOT IN FIJI AND SOME IN TONGA.
THE (FA'AAUFALA) CLUB WAS PATTERNED AFTER THE PANDANUS FRUIT AND HAS THE SPIKES AND KNOBS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE MACE. THESE CLUBS ARE USUALLY 30 INCHES OR LESS.
1. SAMOAN MACE CLUB
2 & 3 RECENT SAMOAN MACE CLUB
4 & 5. SAMOAN MACE FORM 1930'S LIKELY NOT A MACE BUT THE TOP OF A CEREMONIAL STAFF USUALLY 2 SEEN FLANKING THE SEAT OF ROYALTY DURING CEREMONIES 29 INCHES LONG , APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SAWED OFF FROM A LONGER POLE.

[Billman]

Many thanks

Natives adopted/adapted Euopean tools as well... The first image is from my archive (poached from the web) as Samoan, the second as Maori....

The whaling knife has a native made handle. The spiked billhook is unique - the forge weld indicates a possible marriage of an old billhook blade to a boarding axe. The two axe heads are early, probably pre 1850...

[VANDOO]

BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLES I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE UNUIQUE MAORI AX WITH THE BILLHOOK,AX HEAD. THE OTHER ONE IS VERY COOL WITH A WHALEBONE HANDLE.
IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THE AX HEADS WERE VERY POPULAR TRADE GOODS WITH THE MAORI AS WELL AS OTHER OCEANIC PEOPLES AND IN THE AMERICAS AS WELL. THE SAMOANS NO DOUBT LIKED THEM TOO BUT THE SAMOAN HOOKED KNIFE WAS MORE POPULAR AS A TRADE ITEM THERE AND IS NOT SEEN ELSEWHERE AS FAR AS I KNOW.

[VANDOO]

UNILATERAL TOOTHED CLUBS, ONLY ONE EDGE WITH TEETH. THERE ARE NO DOUBT OTHER FORMS IN SAMOA BUT THE NIFO OTI IS THE MOST POPULAR AND IS PERHAPS THE CLUB THAT BEST REPRESENTS SAMOA. WHY THIS IS REMAINS UNKNOWN TO ME SO MY GUESS WOULD BE THAT SOME FAMOUS WARRIOR OR CHIEF FAVORED THIS CLUB AND MADE IT FAMOUS.
NIFO =TEETH OTI = TO CUT, THE HOOK IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN USED TO CARRY THE SEVERED HEAD OF THE ENEMY HOME (TRUE OR FALSE ?) BUT IT IS A RECURRING STORY AND I HAVE HEARD IT TOLD ABOUT THE PHILIPPINE HEAD AX BACK SPIKE AS WELL.
THE BASIC FORM IS STARTED THE SAME AS THE COCONUT LEAF STALK CLUBS WITH THE HOOK CARVED ON ONE SIDE OF THE CENTER RIDGE AND THE TEETH ON THE OTHER. THE TEETH ARE USUALLY OF THE FORM WITH FOUR SIDES AND WITH EITHER NO SPACE OR VERY LITTLE BETWEEN THEM. FOR SOME REASON MANY NIFO OTI ARE USUALLY NOT CARVED WITH THE LUG AT THE PROXIMAL END FOR TIEING A CORD. VARIOUS EXAMPLES OF THE CLUB THE 4 TH CLUB IS FROM 1880. ONE PICTURE IS OF A NIFO OTI AND A ( FA' AAUFALA MACE CLUB. THE PICTURE OF THE WARRIOR WITH THE KNIFE FORM OF NIFO OTI WAS TAKEN IN 1908.

[VANDOO]

#1 THERE ARE SEVERAL FORMS OF TEETH USED IN POLYNESIAN / OCEANIC CLUBS HERE IS A PICTURE SHOWING THE VARIOUS FORMS.
SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE EARLY FORMS OF NIFO OTI THAT HAD NO TEETH OR HOOK. THIS IS SPECULATION AS THE FORMS EXHISTED AT THE SAME TIME BUT THIS IS A FORM LIKELY TO HAVE EVOLVED INTO THE TOOTHED CLUB WITH HOOK. THIS CLUB DID HAVE A EDGE FOR STRIKING WHERE THE TEETH WERE LATER PLACED AND STRANGELY THE FORM WENT BACK TO THE EDGED FORM WITH THE ARRIVAL OF STEEL BLADES.
SEVERAL EXAMPLES AND ONE EXAMPLE THAT IS A UNILATERAL TOOTHED EAR FORM AND A BILATERAL TOOTHED FORM OF NIFO OTI.

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE THE HOOKED AND BLADED FORMS OF THE NIFO OTI CLUB IN BOTH WOOD AND STEEL.
THE TWO WOODEN ONES PICTURED TOGETHER ARE PRE 1940.
THE BOOK PLATE WITH TWO EARED CLUBS AND 2 NIFO OTI IS FROM 1917

[Billman]

Hypothesis - the Samoans has wooden clubs with or without teeth, but with a decoratiive (?) back hook before European contact. The similarity with hooked blubber knives, maybe seen on whaling ships that stopped at the islands, or maybe by Samoan crew members who worked on them, led to the adoption of steel blades, made in England during the early 19th century. Like the tomahawks that were traded with native americans by both English and French traders, these blubber knives were traded for valuables (e.g. pearls) with native Samoans.

My first image, above shows an obvious wooden copy of a machete, complete with carved rivet heads on the handles. Several of your later images, show a style of war club that is almost identical in shape to an English double edged billhook - it would be interesting to know if this shape predates European contact, or is a wooden copy of a billhook????

Below: left a Westmoreland pattern with a double edge, right a Hertfordshsire pattern with a single edge, but a curved hook on the back. There are many other regional patterns of double edged billhooks.

[VANDOO]

IN THE POST ABOVE THERE IS A PICTURE OF 4 CLUBS THE LAST ONE TO THE RIGHT MAY BE THE CLOSEST TO A BILL HOOK. THIS BOOK WAS PUT OUT IN 1917 AND THE CLUBS COLLECTED BEFORE THAT AND MAY HAVE BEEN OLDER WHEN COLLECTED. I SUSPECT THE FORM WAS PRESENT IN SAMOA BEFORE CONTACT BUT CAN NOT BE SURE. THE ISLANDS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE EARLY 1700'S THE BRITISH ARRIVED AND BECAME ACTIVE THERE IN 1722 AND MISSIONARIES AND TRADERS ARRIVED IN THE 1830'S. GERMANY STARTED PLANTATIONS THERE SEVERAL YEARS LATER AND THE UNINTED STATES ARRIVED IN 1877. ALL 3 COUNTRIES HAD ALLIENCES WITH DIFFERENT SAMOAN TRIBES AND THIS LED TO TWO SAMOAN CIVIL WARS STARTING IN 1886 AND ENDING IN 1899. THE BILL HOOK WOULD UNDOUTABLY HAVE ARRIVED FOR WORK ON PLANTATIONS AND WOULD ALSO SERVE AS A WEAPON TO USE AGAINST OPPOSING FACTIONS. THIS IS LIKELY WHEN LARGE NUMBERS OF BILLHOOK /CANE KNIVES/ NIFO OTI WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPORTED. THE EUROPEAN POWERS WOULD HAVE BEEN CAREFUL NOT TO SUPPLY THE SAMOANS WITH FIREARMS BUT NO DOUBT SUPPLIED LOTS OF BLADED WEAPONS AND TOOLS. THE WHALERS MAY NOT HAVE PLAYED A IMPORTANT PART IN THIS BUT THE EARLY BLUBBER KNIVES MAY HAVE STARTED THE DESIRE OF THE SAMOANS FOR THE NIFO OTI FORM OF KNIFE INITIALLY. ALL JUST CONJECTURE
THE SAMOANS DID TAKE HEADS SO THE STEEL WEAPONS MADE THIS ACTIVITY MUCH EASIER SO CLUBS BECAME SECONDARY WEAPONS WHERE STEEL WAS AVAILABLE.
I WONDER IF TOOLS SUCH AS THE BILLHOOK WERE USED ON SHIPS? THEY WORK WELL FOR CLEARING AN AREA AND COULD BE USED TO CLEAR A CAMP OR PATH ON LAND BUT WHAT WOULD A CARPENTER OR SAILOR USE ONE FOR ON A SHIP? A MODIFIED BILLHOOK MAY HAVE BEEN USED FOR FLENSING WHALE BLUBBER , THE LONG HANDLE AND BLADE WOULD BE GOOD FOR MAKEING THE LONG DEEP CUTS AND THE HOOK ON THE BACK USED TO MOVE THE STRIPS OF BLUBBER. THERE SHOULD BE LOTS OF INFORMATION ON WHALEING IN MUSEUMS AS IT WAS A JOB ROMANTISIZED AND WRITTEN ABOUT A LOT IN THE HEYDAY OF THE BUSINESS. THE HAZZARDS OF THE PROFESSION FAR EXCEEDED ANY OF TODAYS TV PROGRAM MOST DANGEROUS JOBS. :)

[VANDOO]

A BIT MORE SAMOAN HISTORY I CAME ACROSS. THE ISLANDS HAD LARGE SANDLEWOOD TREES AND THE ISLANDERS USED THE OILS FOR MEDDICINAL PURPOSES. THE LEAVES WERE USED FOR THE FUNERAL BED AND THE WOOD WAS BURNED AT THE FUNERALS OF CHIEFS AND IMPORTANT PEOPLE. THE EUROPEAN SANDLEWOOD TRADE STARTED IN SAMOA IN 1860'S TO 1900 WHEN THE SANDLEWOOD WAS ALL GONE. THIS TRADE MOVED FROM ISLAND TO ISLAND WITH THE SAME RESULTS EVERYWHERE IT WENT. :(
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN YET ANOTHER OUTSIDE INFLUENCE THAT CHANGED ISLAND LIFE AND BROUGHT IN NEW IDEAS AND STUFF.

[VANDOO]

THE FIRST 6 PICTURES ARE THE LAST OF THE UNILATERAL TOOTHED CLUBS.
#3 & #4 THREE EXAMPLES OF NIFO OTI THE SMALLEST ONE FROM 1920 OR BEFORE 36 IN.,32 IN. ,& 22IN. LONG.
PICTURES #1 & #2 OF WOODEN FORMS OF THE KNIFE 25 INCHES & 17 IN. LONG,
PICTURE #5 OF A RECENT EARED AND TOOTHED FORM.
PICTURE #6 A OLD STEEL WORK KNIFE MAY HAVE BEEN USED AS A WEAPON 35.5 INCHES LONG.

THE NEXT FORM IS BILATERAL TOOTHED CLUBS (TEETH ON BOTH SIDES) CALLED ( FA'ALAUFA'I ) SEE PICTURES 7 THRU 12
ONE FORM IS REFERED TO AS 8 SPIKED CLUBS THEY HAVE 4 TEETH ON EACH SIDE TOTALING 8. THE TOOTH COUNT SEEMS TO BE UNIMPORTANT AFTER 8 FOR SOME REASON AS THERE ARE NO 10 OR 12 SPIKED CLUBS. :confused:. ONE PICTURE OF 3 CLUBS WOULD BE REFERRED TO AS A TOOTHED PADDLE FORM LONG ONES 38 IN.AND SHORT ONE 21.5 IN.
THE OTHER PICTURES OF A CLUB WITH A MORE ROUNDED END FAVORS THE BANNA LEAF FORM AND HAS THREE SETS OF 8 TEETH EACH.

[VANDOO]

SEVERAL MORE VARIATIONS OF BILATERAL TOOTHED CLUBS. SOME APPEAR TO HAVE A TOOTHED STRIKING AREA WHILE OTHERS SEEM TO HAVE THE TEETH NEAR THE GRIP PERHAPS TO KEEP THE ENEMY FROM GRABBING THE CLUB THERE. THE SHORTER ONES USUALLY HAVE THE TEETH NEAR THE GRIP AND LIKELY FUNCTIONED MORE FOR STABBING AND THRUSTING THAN FOR SKULL OR BONE BREAKING.
TWO PICTURES OF A RECENT CLUB IN BANNA LEAF FORM SHOWING MODERN STYLE DECORATION 37 IN. LONG, TALAVALU IS THE NAME IN THE DESCRIPTION.
TWO PICTURES OF A CLUB WITH SPIKES ON 4 SIDES NEAR THE GRIP.
THREE PICTURES OF A CLUB WITH A SHARP THRUSTING END AND TOOTHED GRIP 33.5 X 4 IN. WIDE LATE 1800'S.
#12 A PICTURE OF 4 OLD CLUBS CIRC 1817
#11. TRADITIONAL OLD TALAVALU FORM

[VANDOO]

MORE VARIATIONS OF SAMOAN TOOTHED CLUBS.
PICTURES # 1, 2 & 3 TALAVALU FORM,
#4 PLATE WITH 4 CLUBS ONE SHOWING THE SIMPLE BLANK FORM BEFORE TEETH ARE ADDED.
#5 PLATE OF THE SAMOAN STATE CLUBS
#6 A SPIKED FORM 3 VIEWS
#7 THRU 12 VARIOUS FORMS OF TOOTHED CLUBS.

[VANDOO]

EAR SHAPED CLUBS FA' ALAUTALINGA, OR LAUTALINGA THE SIZE RANGE FOR THE SHORT FORM IS APPROXIMATELY 18 IN. TO 26.5 IN. LONG.
PICTURES#1 & 2 PLATES FROM A 1917 BOOK
#3. 38 X 18 CM.
#4.& 5. PAGO PAGO 1925, 24INCHES LONG
#6. RECENT EARED CLUB
#7.& 8. ANOTHER RECENT EXAMPLE, 18 IN. LONG
#9. 20 IN. LONG EXAMPLE
#10. ANOTHER RECENT FORM OF EARED CLUB.
#11. A OLD PICTURE FROM A BOOK 1917
#12. A OLD EXAMPLE.

[Billman]

Wonderful images, thanks very much...

Ref billhooks on ships - it was quite probable a) billhooks are an ideal tool for cutting firewood or splitting kindling for the galley stove b) many ships carried soldiers/marines and a billhook was often carried as an infantry/pioneer tool c) a billhook was often included in an emigrant's tool kit, so may have been carried by early settlers travelling on privately owned ships...

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE EXAMPLES OF THE EAR SHAPED CLUBS.
PICTURES #1, 2, & 3. IS 18 X 4.5 INCHES.
# 4. 31 INCH LONG FORM FOUND IN TONGA ,SAMOA AND FIJI
# 5 & 6. SAMOAN DANCE PADDLE NOT A CLUB. 28IN. LONG X 8.5 WIDE X 2.25 THICK
# 7. MODERN 36 INCH LONG
# 8 & 9. 67 X 16 CM. OLDER CLUB
# 10 & 11 TWO RECENT EXAMPLES
#12. THE HEAD OF A OLDER CLUB.

[VANDOO]

THE SAMOANS HAD A CLUB FOR THROWING MUCH LIKE THE ULU CLUBS FROM FIJI. THE SAMOAN NAME WAS OLO OR OLEMO THEY WERE SHORT AND MADE OF HARD HEAVY WOOD AND OFTEN HAD A HOLE THRU THE BUTT FOR A CORD. THESE SAMOAN CLUBS HAVE MORE IN COMMON WITH TONGAN CLUBS THAN THE FIJI FORM AND THE GOOD OLD ONES ARE USUALLY NOT DECORATED. I HAVE NOT SEEN MANY EXAMPLES OVER THE YEARS WHICH MAKES ME WONDER IF THEY WERE VERY COMMON IN SAMOA. IF COMMON WHY DO WE SEE SO MANY FROM FIJI AND SO FEW FROM SAMOA AND TONGA?
ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IS SOME OF THE OTHER FORMS OF SHORT CLUBS MAY HAVE BEEN THROWN AND FILLED THIS NICH. THE SHORT WIDE EARED CLUB PICTURE #10 AND THE SHORT CLUB WITHOUT TEETH PICTURE #11 THAT MAY HAVE LED TO THE NIFOOTI FORM ARE GOOD POSSIBILITYS. JUST CONJECTURE AS I HAVE NO REFRENCES :shrug:
#1. 2. & 3. A OLD EXAMPLE 15.5 INCHES LONG.
#4. A MODERN FANCY TOURIST MODEL
#5. ANOTHER TOURIST VARIATION BOROWING FROM FIJI DESIGN
#6. MODERN TOURIST VARIATION
#7. A OLDER PERHAPS 1960S EXAMPLE BUT STILL FOR TOURISTS
#8 & 9. MODERN EXAMPLES IN FORM BUT MADE INTO FULL SIZE CLUBS #8 IS 25 IN LONG AND #9 CLOSE TO 30IN.
#10. SHORT FORM OF EARED CLUB
#11. SHORT FORM OF EARED CLUB POSSIBLE PREDECESSOR OF THE NIFO OTI TOOTHED CLUBS.

[VANDOO]

#1 & 2. BOOK PLATES OF VARIOUS SAMOAN WEAPONS
#3. SAMOAN CHIEF DURING SAMOAN WARS PERIOD 1880'S
#4. & 5. WARRIORS FROM SAMOAN WARS PERIOD 1880'S.
#6. SAMOAN KNIFE DANCE 1910
#7. 1920 TO 1930 SAMOA
#8. 1952 SAMOAN KNIFE DANCE
#9. 1906 PAGOPAGO SAMOA
#10. SAMOA
#11. SAMAON KING MATAAFA
#12. SAMOAN SPEARS.

[VANDOO]

MORE PICTURES
# 1 & 2. TRADE ENGLISH BILLHOOK TYPE BLADE FOR TRADE IN SAMOA BEAL AND SONS, IT IS LIKELY JUST THE BLADES WERE SENT AND THEN MOUNTED LOCALLY THE SAME SYSTEM WAS USUALLY USED WITH AX HEADS.
# 3, 4 & 5 VARIATIONS ON THE LAUFA'I (BANNA LEAF FORM CLUB)#3 IS 20 IN. LONG, #4 IS 54 CM. LONG.
#6 & 7. LAUFA'I FORM WITH RIDGES / SMALL TEETH, #6 IS 32.5 IN. LONG
#8 EARED CLUB IS 24 INCHES LONG
#9 VARIATION OF NIFO OTI TOOTHED CLUB
# 10 CLOSEUP DETAIL OF NICE SAMOAN LIME FILLED DESIGN
# 11 & 12 BILATERAL TOOTHED CLUBS

[drac2k]

VANDOO,
On your 14th post you gave an example of whaling tools;I believe those to be Chinese polearms, one of them being a Chinese Tiger Fighting spear of which I have just acquired 2 of the spear heads.They are very massive.
I am very much enjoying your posts on clubs !
Respectively,
David

[VANDOO]

THANKS FOR THE CORRECTION YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT IT LOOKED LIKE A TIGER SPEAR TO ME AND THE ONE RIGHT UNDER IT LOOKED LIKE A BOAT HOOK. THE INTERNET SITE IDENTIFIED THEM AS WHALEING TOOLS I GUESS THEY JUST TOLD ME A WHALE OF A TALE :D . TAKEING A BIT MORE TIME I FOUND A FEW PICTURES SHOWING SOME REAL EXAMPLES UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT FOUND ONE RESEMBELING THE SAMOAN KNIFE.
PICTURE #1 THE ORIGINAL MISLEADING PICTURE
#2. A BLUBBER HOOK IN USE
# 3. A DISPLAY OF FLENSING TOOLS AT A MUSEUM.
# 4 & 5. WHALEING TOOLS #5 SHOWS THE ENDS NOT IN PICTURE #4 THE HEAD SPADE USED PRIMARELY TO REMOVE THE HEAD. AND WHAT IS CALLED THE BOARDING KNIFE A LONG SHARP BLADED KNIFE WHICH IS USED TO CUT LARGE STRIPS OF BLUBBER OFF THE CARCASS.
#6. A FANCIFUL DRAWING FROM 1574 FRANCE SHOWING A FEMALE WHALE BEING FLENCED EVEDINTELY THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A BAG PIPE AND CONDUCTOR THE SMELL AND SOUNDS WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE BEEN VERY MEMORABLE. :p

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE PICTURES. #1 & #2 A FORM OF BILATERAL CLUB WITH VERY THIN TEETH LIKELY AROUND 1950'S TO 1960'S WITH WHITE LIME INLAY, 27 INCHES LONG.
#3 TWO EARED FORM CLUBS. THE LARGE ONE IS MODERN OF EXTRA LARGE SIZE WITH NO WHITE LIME INLAY. THE SMALLER IS OF THE USUAL CORRECT SIZE AND DID HAVE LIME INLAY NOW LONG GONE. SMALL ONE 20 INCHES LONG AND LARGE ONE 31.5 INCHES LONG
#4. THREE CLUBS OF SIMULAR FORM AND AGE TWO 37 INCHES LONG AND ONE 21.5 INCHES LONG
#5 ,#6 & #7 A PRE CONTACT EXAMPLE WITH BATTLE DAMMAGE AND STAINING TO THE STRIKING END. THIS IS THE KIND OF DAMMAGE AND STAINING TO BE EXPECTED FROM A CLUB THAT HAS SEEN ACTUAL USE IN WAR. THIS IS A VERY HEAVY HARD WOOD WITH NO SIGNS OF DECORATION BUT HAS THE LUG ON THE POMMEL FOR A CORD WHICH IS FOUND IN TONGA AND SAMOA 29.5 INCHES LONG.
#8 , #9 & #10. THREE CLUBS ONE WITH BLACK MARKINGS 49 INCHES LONG MAY NOT BE SAMOAN BUT RESEMBLES A SAMOAN FORM. ONE MORE OF A SPEAR 51.5 INCHES LONG. THE SHORT ONE IS A SAMOA SOUVINEER AROUND WW2 ERA. 27 INCHES LONG.
#11 & 12 A SQUARE BILLET FORM OF CLUB DEEPLY CARVED EITHER TONGA OR SAMOA LIKELY 1960'S, 31.5 INCHES LONG

[KraVseR]

I have a question: what weapon uses Samoan police?

[VANDOO]

IN THE POST ABOVE PICTURE #8 OF 3 CLUBS THE MIDDLE ONE WITH BLACK MARKINGS IS NOT FROM SAMOA :o THE OTHER TWO ARE.
THE COLONIAL GERMAN COMANDERS AND TROOPS WERE ARMED WITH PISTOLS AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY THOUGHT THEY MIGHT NEED. THE SAMOAN CONSTABLES IN WESTERN SAMOA ( GERMAN FROM 1887 TO 1914) HAD RIFLES USUALLY WITHOUT THE BOLTS ON GAURD DUTY. BOLTS AND AMMO WERE ISSUED WHEN POLICE WERE MUSTERED FOR COMBAT OR FORAYS AGAINST RESISTANCE. FOR LOCAL CONTROL PERHAPS A BATON SUCH AS POLICE USED IN MANY COUNTRIES AT THE TIME.
NEW ZEALAND TOOK OVER IN 1914 WW1 AND DRAFTED AND FORMED LARGE NUMBERS OF SAMOAN TROOPS FOR USE IN WW1. THE POLICE PROBABLY WERE EQUIPED THE SAME AS UNDER THE GERMANS. WESTERN SAMOA GOT ITS INDEPENDENCE IN 1962. UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE A PICTURE OF THE POLICE WITH THEIR ARMS.

[VANDOO]

I WILL COVER MODERN CLUBS IN THIS POST THERE WAS QUITE A VARIETY OF THESE CLUBS COMING OUT OF WESTERN SAMOA TO BE FOUND ON EBAY. THERE ARE NOT AS MANY ON EBAY FOR NOW BUT I HOPE THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE OLD CARVERS HAVE PASSED OR JUST STOPPED CARVING DUE TO LACK OF DEMAND. THESE CLUBS SOMETIMES FOLLOW OLD FORMS AND DESIGNS AND SOMETIMES INCORPORATE NEW DESIGNS OR MODIFICATIONS. SOME CROSS OVER INTO PURE FANTASY AND SOME ARE MADE IN SMALLER THAN ORIGINAL SIZE FOR TOURIST TRANSPORT AND SOME ARE MADE IN LARGER THAN ORIGINAL. SOME CLUBS ARE STAINED DARK AND THEN CARVED TO SHOW THE LIGHTER WOOD SOME ARE JUST CARVED WITH DESIGNS INTO THE WOOD AND LEFT NATURAL. TAPA DESIGNS ARE USED BOTH MODERN AND OLDER TRADITIONAL. SOME CLUBS CROSS OVER INTO FIJI AND TONGAN FORMS OTHERS ARE STRICTLY SAMOAN. TODAYS CLUBS DO NOT FEATURE THE OLD TRADITIONAL WHITE LIME INFILL IN THE CARVINGS. IN A 100 YEARS OR SO NO DOUBT THESE WILL BE COLLACTABLE ESPECIALLY IF CARVING THEM COMES TO AN END. IN THE MEANTIME THEY ARE WELL DONE PICES OF ART AND ARE AFFORDABLE IF ONE WANTS A REPLICA OF A RARE OR EXPENSIVE FORM OF CLUB OR A NICE WALL HANGER.
PICTURES 1,2 & 3. THESE THREE CLUBS ARE SAID TO COME FROM WESTERN SAMOA FROM THE VILLAGE OF UAFATO IN THE REMOTE FAGALOA BAY AREA OF UPOLU ISLAND. THEY FURTHER STATE THAT THERE ARE 8 VILLAGES THERE WHERE THE TRADITIONAL WOOD CARVINGS ARE STILL DONE. THESE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN CARVING CLUBS FOR MANY GENERATIONS FOR CENTURIES. UNFORTUNATELY NEVER HAVING VISITED I CAN ONLY REPEAT WHAT WAS WRITTEN BY THE SELLER. THIS SELLER DID HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF CLUBS FOR QUITE A WHILE ON EBAY.
4. A SHORT HAND CLUB SAID TO BE COMING FROM APIA THE CAPTAL OF WESTERN SAMOA.
5. A FANTASY 36 INCH LONG FIJI CANNIBAL FORK CLUB WITH A TWISTED SPIRAL HANDLE. :rolleyes:
6. A 37 INCH, TALAVALU FORM OF CLUB
7, 8 & 9. VARIOUS AX FORMS BASED MOSTLY ON FANTASY DESIGNS THE LONGER SINGLE BLADED FORM BEING CLOSEST TO THE ACTUAL FORMS FOUND.
10. ANOTHER TRADITIONAL CLUB FORM WITH A FANTASY SPLIT TIP.
11 & 12 VARIOUS SHORT ITEMS FOR TOURISTS.

[KraVseR]

Thanks, and what weapon uses Samoan police today? What kind of handguns?

[VANDOO]

THIS IS THE LAST OF THE PICTURES I HAVE ON HAND AND NO NEW INFORMATION HAS SURFACED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD PICTURES OF ANY EXAMPLES YOU MAY HAVE IN YOUR COLLECTIONS OR PICTURES THAT ARE DIFFERENT OR BETTER THAN THOSE ALREADY IN THIS REFRENCE. ANY REVELANT QUESTIONS, NEW INFORMATION OR CORRECTIONS TO THIS TOPIC ARE WELCOME.
PICTURE #1 & #2 . 1900 APIA SAMOA WARRIORS
#3. PALM LEAF FORM SAMOAN CLUB
#4. TYPICAL SAMOAN SOUVINEERS MOST SMALL ENOUGH FOR A SUITCASE
#5, #6, & #7. SHORT REPLICA SOUVINEER CLUBS , MUSEUM REPLICAS
# 8. 1913 WARRIOR CARD
# 9. & # 10. SAID TO BE CLUB BROUGHT BACK BY MISSONARY IN 1850 , 30 INCHES LONG.
#11. BRONZE STATUE SAMOA
#12. I LOOKED FOR SAMOAN CLUB STAMPS BUT ALL I COULD FIND WERE BATS :p

[VANDOO]

I RECENTLY AQUIRED THIS UNUSUAL CLUB. IT IS FROM SAMOA AND WAS COLLECTED IN 1931 UNFORTUNATELY SOMEONE RESTORED THE WHITE INFILL WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN LIME. THE FORM IS UNUSUAL AS IT IS A PALM FROND FORM THAT HAS BEEN ALTERED TO INCLUDE A CARVED CANOE ON ONE SIDE. IN SAMOA AS WELL AS OTHER ISLANDS THE CANOE IS A SIGN OF WEALTH AND POWER AND PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN THEIR SOCIETIES. THIS CLUB IS 31.5 IN. LONG AND IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE I HAVE SEEN OF ITS TYPE. THE CANOE IS HOLLOWED OUT BUT WOULD STILL STRIKE A NASTY BLOW.
IN TIME THIS FORM MAY HAVE BECOME TRADITIONAL OR IT MAY HAVE SERVED SOME PURPOSE IN THE TRIBE. EITHER WAY IT WOULD BE A GOOD WEAPON AS THE WOOD IS HARD AND HEAVY AND WELL BALANCED.
PIC. #1. THE SAMOAN CLUB/ CANOE VARIATION. 31.5IN.L.
#2. A CARVED SAMOAN CANOE FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD. 23.25 IN. LONG
#3. 15IN.L. SAMOAN WOODEN AX CLUB
#4. 26 IN.L. CIRC 1960, WOOD NIFO OTI FORM
#5, #6, #7. 31 IN. L. BILATERAL TOOTHED CLUB
#8. 76 CM. WOOD NIFO OTI FORM

[blue lander]

This thread inspired me to buy a modern war club off e-bay. It just arrived today and it's pretty nice, but there's a sticker on the butt that says "MADE IN INDONESIA"

[VANDOO]

THERE IS A NEW CLUB SIMULAR IN FORM 5 POSTS BEFORE YOUR POST. PICTURE #4. SHOWS A CLUB MUCH LIKE YOURS SAID TO BE MADE IN APIA SAMOA. IT IS UNFORTUNATE WHEN THINGS ARE CARVED IN A DIFFERENT CLUTURE AND COUNTRY AS IT BECOMES AN ITEM WITH NO ETHINOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT. IT DOES EXHIBIT THE LIKENESS OF THE FORM WELL ENOUGH AND WITHOUT THE TAG ONE WOULD TAKE IT AS A MODERN SAMOAN TOURIST CLUB. IT DOES REPRESENT THAT FORM OF CLUB ADEQUATELY BUT HOPEFULLY THE PRICE WAS LOW. I WISH THEY WOULD MAKE SOME CLUBS FROM THEIR CULTURE THOUGH AS IT LOWERS THE PRICE ON THE CLUBS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN SAMOA BY SAMOANS.

[blue lander]

The price wasn't too bad, less than $100, and I'm actually fairly happy with it as a hand made decorative piece. The auction description said it was made of vesi wood, I wonder if it really is.

I've uploaded the photo from the auction and it looks like it's propped up on the same rock as several of the clubs from your post. I don't think it'd be too much of a stretch to assume any club with a similar picture was made in Indonesia as well. The "Made in Indonesia" sticker is very small and lightly glued to the bottom of the handle so an unscrupulous seller could easily remove it.

[VANDOO]

YES IT WOULD APPEAR MANY OF THE CLUBS CURRENTLY ON EBAY AS WELL AS SOME OF THOSE RECENT ONES PICTURED ABOVE IN THE POST MAY BE FROM THE SAME SOURCE AS YOUR CLUB. IT HAS TO BE THE SAME ROCK AND FISH POND AREA IN SEVERAL PICTURES. SO I GUESS THE BEST WAY TO COLLECT THE MODERN ONES FROM SAMOA WOULD BE TO VISIT SAMOA BUT EVEN THEN CHECK FOR SMALL TAGS. :rolleyes: WELL IT DOES SERVE AS A WARNING AND SUPPLYS NEW INFORMATION ON SOME OF WHAT IS ON THE MARKET THAT IS NOT LEGIT.

[VANDOO]

A INTERESTING VARIATION OF NIFO OTI CLUB RECENTLY CLOSED ON EBAY. IT WAS RATHER LARGE FOR THE TYPE 51 INCHES LONG AND 10 POUNDS. THE WORD SAMOA IS CARVED ON IT SO IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A OLDER TOURIST PIECE FROM SAMOA, LIKELY AROUND 1930'S. THE UNIQUE FEATURE IS THAT IT HAS TWO SPIKES ON THE TOP EDGE.
picture #1,#2,#3,#4 the club mentioned above.
#5. 14.5 in. long samoan club
#6. 2 samoan clubs longest 26.5 in. L
#7. 21.5 IN. SAMOAN CLUB
#8 & #9. 60 CM. LONG 1900 SAMOAN CLUB.

[kronckew]

The price wasn't too bad, less than $100, and I'm actually fairly happy with it as a hand made decorative piece. The auction description said it was made of vesi wood, I wonder if it really is.

I've uploaded the photo from the auction and it looks like it's propped up on the same rock as several of the clubs from your post. I don't think it'd be too much of a stretch to assume any club with a similar picture was made in Indonesia as well. The "Made in Indonesia" sticker is very small and lightly glued to the bottom of the handle so an unscrupulous seller could easily remove it.

i found a similar one on e-pray. unfortunately i did not find your post before that. reasonably nice display club, evident rough carved tool marks, stained black then carved to show a light brown wood underneath. sold as 'samoan' and again, vesi wood. i suspect the wood probably would look better unblacked as a nice grain appears in the carved bits. 20 inches, hemp wrapped grip. 354 grams. luckily fairly cheap, especially compared to the other offerings of hawaiian shark toothed koa wood.

nice 'made in indonesia' sticker. easily removed. surprised hawaiian vendor didn't bother to remove it, while he needs to update his online descriptions, at least he left the sticker on. i think i'll stick to maori clubs for the moment ;)

i'll do a bit more caveating of my emptors in future. :D

[blue lander]

I was half tempted to return mine, but I decided to keep it since as you say it looks nice and it appears to be hand made. I don't recommend playing with it much, the hemp wrapped around the handle is just glued on, and will eventually slide off if you handle it too much.

[ward]

Barry,

Your pics and posts are invaluable.

thanks

[kronckew]

re:hemp wrap.

i noticed that, mine was loose at the front already, and only the last few turns near the 'pommel' end were glued. i tightened it as much as i could & soaked tre cord in a 50:50 mix of outdoor acrylic wood glue & water, gluing it further to itself as well as the handle. seems to have worked. been debating whether to give it a hand rubbed boiled linseed oil finish as the wood appears a bit dry. the edges of the main section are sharper than i expected. they would definitely hurt if used. i am however not intending to go into battle with it.might kill a melon tho...

i thought the axe shaped ones were a bit too touristy. i now note they may be closer to the real thing :rolleyes:

p.s. - i photoshopped out the traditional perch rock, it was same as yours! :D


p.p.s. - i just was struck by the last photo in vanadoo's post no. 38 above. the artist must have been scared by a viking longship. looks just like one of their dragon figureheads. :) is this evidence the viking made it to the south pacific? thor heyerdahl, where are you when we need you?

[dvpriem]

My father was on the SS Mariposa and went to Samoa and Fiji in 1935. He brought back a club. It does not look like a tourist item and he said it was an authentic "war club". Based on clubs I have seen on this site, and those with simple designs and some simple ribbing, I think it may be Samoan. Can anyone enlighten me whether if it is Samoan and what "type" of club it is? Club is 30 inches long.

[kronckew]

.. Can anyone enlighten me whether if it is Samoan and what "type" of club it is? Club is 30 inches long.

it does look like others in this thread. i'm not one of the experts, hopefully one will be along soon to classify it. looks like a nice one tho.

[VANDOO]

dvpriem YOUR CLUB DOES APPEAR TO BE OF SAMOAN ORIGIN AND MOST CLOSELY MATCHES THE BANANA LEAF FORMS. UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF THE PICTURES IN THIS POST UNDER THE BANANA LEAF FORM ARE FROM TONGA. YOUR EXAMPLE IS A BETTER EXAMPLE OF THE SAMOAN INTERPRETATION OF THE FORM. IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SUSPENSION LUG ON THE BUTT AND HAS A SET OF RIDGES AND THE WHITE SHELL INLAY THAT IS COMMON ON WW2 AND OLDER SAMOAN CLUBS. CONGRATULATIONS ITS A NICE EXAMPLE OF THE FORM AND LOOKS TO BE WW2 OR OLDER
PIC'S OF A COUPLE MORE EXAMPLES OF SAMOAN ITEMS.
1. 27 IN.LONG. CLUB
2. 45 IN. LONG DANCE SPEAR 1960'S
3 & 4 & 5. 29 IN. LONG CLUB UNUSUAL NOTCHED STRIKING/THRUSTING END.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE SAMOAN CLUBS FOR REFRENCE.
#1. & #2. 20 INCH L. SHORT CLUB
#3. 19TH CENTURY CLUB/ SWORD, 33INCH LONG, BLADE 14.5 IN. NIFO-OTI TRADE BLADE.
#4. 32.5 IN. SAMOAN WOODEN SWORD CLUB
#5 & # 11, SMALL SAMOAN SOUVINER CLUB DATED 1942, UPOLU WESTERN SAMOA
#6. & #7. SAMOA CIRC 1850 TO 1899 , 76 CM. LONG UNUSUAL UNILATERAL TOOTHED FORM
#8 THRU # 10. 67 CM. LONG

[VANDOO]

#1. & #2. samoa nifo oti form club variation with inset steel blade 24 in. long
#3. & #4. samoan ear form of club, 78 cm. L. 19th. century
#5. old trade card samoan shiefs procession 1903 card
#6. old trade card samoa tree houses 1903
#7. King Maleitoa samoa 1875
#8., #9. & #10. 65 cm. long samoa toothed club
#11. 22 in. samoan club
#12. modern samoan souvineer clubs.

[VANDOO]

#1. REPLICA CLUB DISPLAY, MUSEUM
#2. BILATERAL TOOTHED CLUB
#3. SAMOAN NIFO OTI FORM CLUB
#4. OLD SAMOAN CHIEF WITH GUNS
#5. OLD PRINT SAMOA, VARIOUS WEAPONS
#6., #7. & #8. 47 INCH, SAMOAN CLUB WITH 8 SETS OF RIDGES
#9 & #10. EARED CLUB SAMOA
#11 & #12. OLD FORM OF SAMOAN CLUB

[VANDOO]

HERE IS A INTERESTING SET OF CLUBS SAID TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO NOVA SCOTIA BY A SAILOR CIRCA 1920. THEY APPEAR TO BE CARVED BY THE SAME CARVER AND MOST LIKELY MADE IN SAMOA. THE FORMS ARE A BIT DIFFERENT BUT THE CARVING IS WELL DONE BUT MOST LIKELY CEREMONIAL OR ARTISTIC TOURIST ITEMS. PATINA AND WEAR ABOUT RIGHT FOR 1920'S AND THE WOOD TYPE.
#1 & #2. 1920'S 29 INCH CLUB THE STRANGEST OF THE LOT
#3. , #4. & #5. 1920'S SAMOA 41 INCHES LONG
#6. & #7. 1920'S SAMOA 34 IN LONG
#8. & #9. 1920'S SAMOA 32 IN. LONG
# 10., #11, & #12. 1920'S SAMOA 40 INCHES LONG

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE
#1. , #2., & #3. THE LAST CLUB IN THE SET OF 6 ,SEE FIRST 5 IN ABOVE POST. IT IS HEAVY AND 4 SIDED WITH THE SAME CARVINGS ON ALL SIDES. 35 INCHES LONG
#4., & #5. ANOTHER UNUSUAL FORM OF SAMOAN CLUB. 26.5 INCHES LONG.
#6., & #7. 25 X 6 INCHES SAMOAN WITH BONE INLAY
# 8. 33 INCH SAMOA CLUB
#9. & #10. 43 INCH SAMOAN SPEAR STAFF FORM CLUB/SPEAR
# 11. 22 INCH NIFO OTI WOOD CLUB

[VANDOO]

#1.,#2. & #3. A TYPE OF SAMOAN POLE CLUB WITH SEVERAL SIDES
RATHER THAN ROUND LIKE THOSE FROM FIJI AND TONGA, 28.5 INCHES LONG.

#4., #5, #6. & #7. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE ABOVE CLUB FORM. 19TH
CENTURY, 36 INCHES LONG. THIS TYPE OF CLUB HAS BEEN REFEREED TO AS
FACETED.
#8., #9., #10., & #11. SAMOAN DESCRIBED AS, FA ALAUTALINGA ,29.5
INCHES LONG.
#12. WESTERN SAMOAN CLUB 1942 SMALLER BUT SIMILAR TO THE #1 CLUB.

[drac2k]

As per your request; it measures 31"long and is quite heavy for it's size.You advised me that it was Samoan, probably 1920's, 1930's and that the letters indicated Missionary influence.Any chance you know what it spells out or are they just random?

[VANDOO]

THANKS FOR ADDING THIS EXAMPLE. :D I SUSPECT THIS WRITING IS RANDOM AS FAR AS WE CAN DETERMINE. IT MAY HAVE HAD SOME MEANING TO THE ONE WHO WROTE IT BUT IT APPEARS IT IS NOT WRITTEN IN PROPER ENGLISH SEQUENCE OR ALL LETTERS RIGHT SIDE UP. IT MAY JUST BE HIM SHOWING HIS KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY TO MAKE LETTERS NO DOUBT HIS FAVORITE ONES OR THE ONES HE COULD DO BEST. GIVEN ALL THAT HE WRITES MUCH BETTER ENGLISH THAN I COULD WRITE IN SAMOAN. :D

[drac2k]

My pleasure ; I'm honored that you wanted it in your post.

[VANDOO]

#1. & #2. SAMOAN FANCY CEREMONIAL DANCE CLUB, 24 IN X 6.75 INCH. WIDE
#3. SAMOAN NIFO OTI 37 INCHES LONG
#4., #5. & #6. NIFO OTI, 40 IN. LONG CIRC. 19TH CENTURY
#7. SAMOAN FORM SAID TO BE TONGAN 62 CM. LONG
#8. & #9. UNUSUAL SAMOAN NIFO OTI WITH ROWS OF TEETH ON BOTH SIDES 90 CM. LONG
#10. SAMOA 1800'S CLUB 24 LONG X 10.5 INCHES WIDE
#11. SAMOA , 29 INCHES LONG, FAALAUTALINGA ?
#12. PICTURE AT SAMOAN MUSEUM

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE FROM SAMOA TO FINISH UP THE YEAR, NOT MUCH INFORMATION
#8 IS SAID TO BE SAMOAN WITH TONGAN CARVING STYLE AND DESIGN BUT WITH ( WHITE LIME INLAY COMMON FOR SAMOA BUT NOT TONGA)