Fijian club

kronckew · 14th July 2014, 09:00 AM

fijian club?

93cm. hardwood, was described as a 'Kiakavo ' tho it does seem to have a 'edge' on the inner curve and a functional spike. age unknown, looks fairly recent tho.

VANDOO · 14th July 2014, 02:11 PM

IT LOOKS TO BE OF PROPER FORM AND SIZE. IT COULD BE FROM THE 1960'S UP TO THE PRESENT. MOST LIKELY NEVER USED FOR DANCE OR CEREMONIE AND BROUGHT BACK AS A SOUVINEER JUDGING FROM THE FIBER WRAP. THE CLUBS MADE IN FIJI IN THE 1960'S HAD NICE CARVING BUT WERE OFTEN WITHOUT THE FIBER WRAP. CHECK OUT THE FORUM POST ON THE FIJI CLUBS FOR COMPARISON TO YOUR EXAMPLE AND POSITIVE ID. IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE FORM.

kronckew · 24th July 2014, 12:47 PM

it arrived today. 93 cm. VERY heavy 1.03kg. fibre weave a bit loose. flared end is indeed wedge shaped, edge on inside of the curve, shaft x-section is set up for a two handed grip. unspecified hardwood appears to be in it's natural color.
not a 'dancing' club. this one means business...the fibre skirt seems a bit tacky & might accidentally come off permanently...

David · 24th July 2014, 06:48 PM

I have seen these clubs described as "Sali". I don't know how accurate that info is though. Here is a bit from one website.
"Also known as Sali or Tebetebe these clubs are similar to Gata clubs but they have wider cheeks and a more pronounced spur. They were used in the same way as a Gata with a cutting edge to snap and cut bone. There is a variety of Sali made from a lighter wood made for ceremonial dances. Sometimes misdescribed as a gunstock clubs."
The Kiakavo is described by the same website as a dance club. It has some similarities of form, but no "cutting edge".
http://www.new-guinea-tribal-art.com...ative-weapons/
AFAIK these are still produced today for tourist consumption. They do make them hefty and functional though. I used to see modern examples of these and other style clubs from the region in the Picton Castle store in their home port in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The Picton Castle is a 3-masted tall ship that regularly sails around the world and they alway picked up such things as they sailed through the region. All very effective weapons, well carved, but new.

kronckew · 26th July 2014, 04:26 PM

the other one i aquired from an aussie in the UK who can't get it thru customs when he returns to oz in the near future.

bit smaller and lighter, the serrated edge has a dished in 'hollow ground' profile, the other striking edges are not flat or rounded but have a sharp tho shallow angled 'edge'. he bought it while in fiji on his way here as a defencive weapon in the 80's... fairly ornately carved of a hardwood, the main part is from the darker heartwood, tho their are streaks of the lighter sapwood showing farther from the centre of the heartwood. feels handy & weaponish. 30" and 600 grams.

kronckew · 26th July 2014, 04:45 PM

and another recent aquisition. billed as a gata.
24" palmwood, carved head and grip. 700 grams. heavy sucker.
well rounded edges the spike has sharp shoulders tho. flat forward side of the spike. front face of the main portion is flat, carving a bit crude with under/over runs. deep patination. some deepish scratches down the side of the spike..
slight pommel swell last half inch or so.

14th July 2014, 09:00 AM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	Fijian club fijian club? 93cm. hardwood, was described as a 'Kiakavo ' tho it does seem to have a 'edge' on the inner curve and a functional spike. age unknown, looks fairly recent tho. Attached Images

26th July 2014, 04:26 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	the other one i aquired from an aussie in the UK who can't get it thru customs when he returns to oz in the near future. bit smaller and lighter, the serrated edge has a dished in 'hollow ground' profile, the other striking edges are not flat or rounded but have a sharp tho shallow angled 'edge'. he bought it while in fiji on his way here as a defencive weapon in the 80's... fairly ornately carved of a hardwood, the main part is from the darker heartwood, tho their are streaks of the lighter sapwood showing farther from the centre of the heartwood. feels handy & weaponish. 30" and 600 grams. Attached Images

26th July 2014, 04:45 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	and another recent aquisition. billed as a gata. 24" palmwood, carved head and grip. 700 grams. heavy sucker. well rounded edges the spike has sharp shoulders tho. flat forward side of the spike. front face of the main portion is flat, carving a bit crude with under/over runs. deep patination. some deepish scratches down the side of the spike.. slight pommel swell last half inch or so. Attached Images

14th July 2014, 02:11 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	IT LOOKS TO BE OF PROPER FORM AND SIZE. IT COULD BE FROM THE 1960'S UP TO THE PRESENT. MOST LIKELY NEVER USED FOR DANCE OR CEREMONIE AND BROUGHT BACK AS A SOUVINEER JUDGING FROM THE FIBER WRAP. THE CLUBS MADE IN FIJI IN THE 1960'S HAD NICE CARVING BUT WERE OFTEN WITHOUT THE FIBER WRAP. CHECK OUT THE FORUM POST ON THE FIJI CLUBS FOR COMPARISON TO YOUR EXAMPLE AND POSITIVE ID. IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE FORM.

24th July 2014, 12:47 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	it arrived today. 93 cm. VERY heavy 1.03kg. fibre weave a bit loose. flared end is indeed wedge shaped, edge on inside of the curve, shaft x-section is set up for a two handed grip. unspecified hardwood appears to be in it's natural color. not a 'dancing' club. this one means business...the fibre skirt seems a bit tacky & might accidentally come off permanently...

24th July 2014, 06:48 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	I have seen these clubs described as "Sali". I don't know how accurate that info is though. Here is a bit from one website. "Also known as Sali or Tebetebe these clubs are similar to Gata clubs but they have wider cheeks and a more pronounced spur. They were used in the same way as a Gata with a cutting edge to snap and cut bone. There is a variety of Sali made from a lighter wood made for ceremonial dances. Sometimes misdescribed as a gunstock clubs." The Kiakavo is described by the same website as a dance club. It has some similarities of form, but no "cutting edge". http://www.new-guinea-tribal-art.com...ative-weapons/ AFAIK these are still produced today for tourist consumption. They do make them hefty and functional though. I used to see modern examples of these and other style clubs from the region in the Picton Castle store in their home port in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The Picton Castle is a 3-masted tall ship that regularly sails around the world and they alway picked up such things as they sailed through the region. All very effective weapons, well carved, but new.