Samoan club gamble.

Tim Simmons · 1st December 2010, 09:26 PM

Just got this. Very poor pictures, bit of a gamble. The damage is also a little off puting, but heck one in perfect condition would go for a Kings ransom. When I researched and found clubs of this type in quite prestigous collections with roughly the same damage. I thought luck be a lady tonight and I think she was.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Picture from "Samoan arts & artists"

This link is good too.

http://www.imj.org.il/imagine/collec...itemNum=342163

Lew · 1st December 2010, 09:57 PM

Tim

That is a big gamble based on those pics but there is one pic that shows good patina.

Good Luck

Lew

VANDOO · 2nd December 2010, 04:39 AM

LOOKS LIKE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE WITH ATTRACTIVE CARVING. IT IS TYPICAL OF THESE CLUBS LOSING TEETH DUE TO THE KIND OF MAHOGANY USED TO MAKE THEM. I HAVE A FEW EXAMPLES WITH MISSING TEETH AS WELL. MINE ARE MOSTLY AROUND 1920'S TO 1930'S. IF I WERE MAKEING A CLUB TO TAKE INTO BATTLE I WOULD PREFER A HARDER MORE DURABLE WOOD AS THIS WOOD BREAKS VERY EASILY BUT IS SOFTER AND EASIER TO CARVE. IT MAKES ME WONDER IF THEY ARE FOR CEREMONY OR SALE TO THOSE WHO TRAVEL. PERHAPS THEY PREFERRED TO LEAVE THE POINTS BROKEN OFF AND STICKING INTO THE ENEMY.

KuKulzA28 · 2nd December 2010, 08:52 AM

A good resource for Samoan material things can be found [here].

[Here] is their article on nifo'oti type clubs.

It would seem as if the wooden nifo'oti had less practical combat value than the metal bush-knives that were all the called the same... If I am not mistaken, Samoan fire-dancers still use blunt bladed flaming nifo'oti for their fire-dances. The bush knives can still be found in Fiji I think, but I have never been to Fiji and I am no expert.

Tim Simmons · 2nd December 2010, 04:54 PM

Yes a massive gamble

.

It will be here soon. Provides us with a bit of entertainment

But as Lew says there are pictures that hint, and in my mind quite strongly to a good age and patina. We will know soon. In the meantime here is some more information on Samoan clubs from "Samoan Art & Artists, University of Hawaii Press" The hair spliting on the function of the club does not bother me. One will know if made to knock brains out as soon as it is in your hands if you have had any form of martial arts or weapons training. I hope I can upload these extracts in the right order. Do look at the link about "Te Rangi Hiroa"

http://www.natlib.govt.nz/collection...ter-henry-buck

Tim Simmons · 6th December 2010, 07:33 PM

Lady luck has been most obliging, smothering me with her charm. Not only is it very pleasant but arrived just as I got out of the car on my return from walking the dogs.

The pictures are not the most subtle but it is dark outside. Huge old club. You can see considerable wear to the distall end. Is that through combat or dance? I could believe these are ceremonial dance clubs but also if used with two hands and having had a life spent swinging clubs they would also be powerful weapons. All I can say is that I would not want to be hit by either side of the club.

1st December 2010, 09:26 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Samoan club gamble. Just got this. Very poor pictures, bit of a gamble. The damage is also a little off puting, but heck one in perfect condition would go for a Kings ransom. When I researched and found clubs of this type in quite prestigous collections with roughly the same damage. I thought luck be a lady tonight and I think she was. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT Picture from "Samoan arts & artists" This link is good too. http://www.imj.org.il/imagine/collec...itemNum=342163 Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 1st December 2010 at 09:35 PM. Reason: spelling

2nd December 2010, 04:54 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Yes a massive gamble . It will be here soon. Provides us with a bit of entertainment But as Lew says there are pictures that hint, and in my mind quite strongly to a good age and patina. We will know soon. In the meantime here is some more information on Samoan clubs from "Samoan Art & Artists, University of Hawaii Press" The hair spliting on the function of the club does not bother me. One will know if made to knock brains out as soon as it is in your hands if you have had any form of martial arts or weapons training. I hope I can upload these extracts in the right order. Do look at the link about "Te Rangi Hiroa" http://www.natlib.govt.nz/collection...ter-henry-buck Attached Images

6th December 2010, 07:33 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Lady luck has been most obliging, smothering me with her charm. Not only is it very pleasant but arrived just as I got out of the car on my return from walking the dogs. The pictures are not the most subtle but it is dark outside. Huge old club. You can see considerable wear to the distall end. Is that through combat or dance? I could believe these are ceremonial dance clubs but also if used with two hands and having had a life spent swinging clubs they would also be powerful weapons. All I can say is that I would not want to be hit by either side of the club. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 6th December 2010 at 07:55 PM. Reason: SPELLING Spelling

1st December 2010, 09:57 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Tim That is a big gamble based on those pics but there is one pic that shows good patina. Good Luck Lew

2nd December 2010, 04:39 AM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	LOOKS LIKE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE WITH ATTRACTIVE CARVING. IT IS TYPICAL OF THESE CLUBS LOSING TEETH DUE TO THE KIND OF MAHOGANY USED TO MAKE THEM. I HAVE A FEW EXAMPLES WITH MISSING TEETH AS WELL. MINE ARE MOSTLY AROUND 1920'S TO 1930'S. IF I WERE MAKEING A CLUB TO TAKE INTO BATTLE I WOULD PREFER A HARDER MORE DURABLE WOOD AS THIS WOOD BREAKS VERY EASILY BUT IS SOFTER AND EASIER TO CARVE. IT MAKES ME WONDER IF THEY ARE FOR CEREMONY OR SALE TO THOSE WHO TRAVEL. PERHAPS THEY PREFERRED TO LEAVE THE POINTS BROKEN OFF AND STICKING INTO THE ENEMY.

2nd December 2010, 08:52 AM	#4
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	A good resource for Samoan material things can be found [here]. [Here] is their article on nifo'oti type clubs. It would seem as if the wooden nifo'oti had less practical combat value than the metal bush-knives that were all the called the same... If I am not mistaken, Samoan fire-dancers still use blunt bladed flaming nifo'oti for their fire-dances. The bush knives can still be found in Fiji I think, but I have never been to Fiji and I am no expert.