Hi Rick,
I wanted to talk more on your war club and outside the text of the general research I just posted. Your example is a beauty! and not having expertise on authenticating these, which requires specialization in large degree, I just wanted to add observations.
The painted decoration and overall wood seems varnished or oiled, and I am wondering if this might suggest at least latter 19th c. I'm not sure if the tribes using these in earlier periods applied painted decoration on weapons, though of course paints were used on thier own person, horses, tipis etc. I think in degree though, certain colored lines may have been applied on bows and arrows. I wonder how thier paints were made, and if this decoration is consistant with that type paint. I guess I'm thinking forensically
After the advent of Buffalo Bills wild west spectacles and so on, it seems that 'Indian' paraphenalia became quite popular to the public, however it would seem that the most obvious items would have been the cliche' items, especially for example, tomahawks. It would not seem to me that a weapon relatively not known to the average citizen would have been produced in the trade or souvenier industry of the times. Possibly this may have been a ceremonial piece produced in tribal sphere using the commercial materials available from the increasing settler population?
As always, you find fascinating pieces!!! and now to find something of this quality Native American! Outstanding.
All the best,
Jim