PERHAPS IT WAS CARVED IN AFRICA BY A FRENCH SOLDIER IN HIS SPARE TIME. I KNOW THE BRITISH OFFICERS CARRIED SWAGGER STICKS PERHAPS THE FRENCH OFFICERS DID ALSO. THE SHAFT LOOKS A BIT LIGHT FOR A EFFECTIVE CLUB AND ITS TOO SHORT FOR A CANE (ALTHOUGH NAPOLEAN WAS SAID TO BE VERY SHORT
) SO MY GUESS IS SWAGGER STICK OR BATON.