There is the possibillity that EVERYONE is right. It is not inconceivable that this WAS a club, modified by a matlow (by tapering the handle) to use as a spike. The fids I have seen all seem to taper evenly (conical) a shape not reflected by Tims example, but it does have the binding next to the 'head' which 'packs out' the shaft and would provide better handling (two handed) for use as a fid.
Bearing in mind the ideal types of wood used for clubs and Fids are the same ....it would make an almost ideal replacement at short notice.
Hi Rick,
what I meant was that larger sailing ships would have a larger range of rope thickness.....and would require thicker rope to cope with higher 'stress loading' because of the larger masts and sails etc they 'supported'.