Nifo Oti
 

Just found this in my ongoing move!

I picked this up in the Florida panhandle about ten years ago at a little junk shop as a piece of folk art. The shopkeeper didn't have much confidence in it as folk art, as I paid more for lunch that day on the road!

I suspect it is a missionary or navy bring back, arriving here in the second quarter of the 20th century.

There's nothing tourist-market about it. The piece appears to be riven from a log and scraped/whittled into shape. It appears to be made of a somewhat light colored wood that has aged to a dark brown. The wood does not seem to be as dense as palm or other Pacific woods typically used in clubs. There is an old scar where a piece split off of the handle. I tried to show this. An iron staple was hammered into the butt a long time ago, probably for decor enhancement.

One tooth is missing. I believe it is missing from a long time ago.

Overall it measures 29 1/2" long.

My first image was clipped a little too closely!