Thanks Tom, interesting observation , if I recall he was indeed a maritime man, and it would be difficult to say where he obtained this item, or for that matter the others. Since he was situated in the midwest at the period noted it seemed plausible that the St.Louis association may well be, and it is as difficult to retrace provenance with these naval guys as to discern the diffusion of various weapons with trade. In any case, it is a truly fascinating item from the Ainu regardless
