MOST DESIRED OCEANIC WAR CLUBS 4: SAMOA

VANDOO · 27th February 2014, 12:09 AM

I RECENTLY AQUIRED THIS UNUSUAL CLUB. IT IS FROM SAMOA AND WAS COLLECTED IN 1931 UNFORTUNATELY SOMEONE RESTORED THE WHITE INFILL WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN LIME. THE FORM IS UNUSUAL AS IT IS A PALM FROND FORM THAT HAS BEEN ALTERED TO INCLUDE A CARVED CANOE ON ONE SIDE. IN SAMOA AS WELL AS OTHER ISLANDS THE CANOE IS A SIGN OF WEALTH AND POWER AND PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN THEIR SOCIETIES. THIS CLUB IS 31.5 IN. LONG AND IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE I HAVE SEEN OF ITS TYPE. THE CANOE IS HOLLOWED OUT BUT WOULD STILL STRIKE A NASTY BLOW.
IN TIME THIS FORM MAY HAVE BECOME TRADITIONAL OR IT MAY HAVE SERVED SOME PURPOSE IN THE TRIBE. EITHER WAY IT WOULD BE A GOOD WEAPON AS THE WOOD IS HARD AND HEAVY AND WELL BALANCED.
PIC. #1. THE SAMOAN CLUB/ CANOE VARIATION. 31.5IN.L.
#2. A CARVED SAMOAN CANOE FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD. 23.25 IN. LONG
#3. 15IN.L. SAMOAN WOODEN AX CLUB
#4. 26 IN.L. CIRC 1960, WOOD NIFO OTI FORM
#5, #6, #7. 31 IN. L. BILATERAL TOOTHED CLUB
#8. 76 CM. WOOD NIFO OTI FORM

blue lander · 6th March 2014, 10:29 PM

This thread inspired me to buy a modern war club off e-bay. It just arrived today and it's pretty nice, but there's a sticker on the butt that says "MADE IN INDONESIA"

VANDOO · 7th March 2014, 04:50 AM

THERE IS A NEW CLUB SIMULAR IN FORM 5 POSTS BEFORE YOUR POST. PICTURE #4. SHOWS A CLUB MUCH LIKE YOURS SAID TO BE MADE IN APIA SAMOA. IT IS UNFORTUNATE WHEN THINGS ARE CARVED IN A DIFFERENT CLUTURE AND COUNTRY AS IT BECOMES AN ITEM WITH NO ETHINOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT. IT DOES EXHIBIT THE LIKENESS OF THE FORM WELL ENOUGH AND WITHOUT THE TAG ONE WOULD TAKE IT AS A MODERN SAMOAN TOURIST CLUB. IT DOES REPRESENT THAT FORM OF CLUB ADEQUATELY BUT HOPEFULLY THE PRICE WAS LOW. I WISH THEY WOULD MAKE SOME CLUBS FROM THEIR CULTURE THOUGH AS IT LOWERS THE PRICE ON THE CLUBS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN SAMOA BY SAMOANS.

blue lander · 7th March 2014, 02:30 PM

The price wasn't too bad, less than $100, and I'm actually fairly happy with it as a hand made decorative piece. The auction description said it was made of vesi wood, I wonder if it really is.

I've uploaded the photo from the auction and it looks like it's propped up on the same rock as several of the clubs from your post. I don't think it'd be too much of a stretch to assume any club with a similar picture was made in Indonesia as well. The "Made in Indonesia" sticker is very small and lightly glued to the bottom of the handle so an unscrupulous seller could easily remove it.

VANDOO · 7th March 2014, 11:29 PM

YES IT WOULD APPEAR MANY OF THE CLUBS CURRENTLY ON EBAY AS WELL AS SOME OF THOSE RECENT ONES PICTURED ABOVE IN THE POST MAY BE FROM THE SAME SOURCE AS YOUR CLUB. IT HAS TO BE THE SAME ROCK AND FISH POND AREA IN SEVERAL PICTURES. SO I GUESS THE BEST WAY TO COLLECT THE MODERN ONES FROM SAMOA WOULD BE TO VISIT SAMOA BUT EVEN THEN CHECK FOR SMALL TAGS.

WELL IT DOES SERVE AS A WARNING AND SUPPLYS NEW INFORMATION ON SOME OF WHAT IS ON THE MARKET THAT IS NOT LEGIT.

VANDOO · 24th March 2014, 07:32 PM

A INTERESTING VARIATION OF NIFO OTI CLUB RECENTLY CLOSED ON EBAY. IT WAS RATHER LARGE FOR THE TYPE 51 INCHES LONG AND 10 POUNDS. THE WORD SAMOA IS CARVED ON IT SO IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A OLDER TOURIST PIECE FROM SAMOA, LIKELY AROUND 1930'S. THE UNIQUE FEATURE IS THAT IT HAS TWO SPIKES ON THE TOP EDGE.
picture #1,#2,#3,#4 the club mentioned above.
#5. 14.5 in. long samoan club
#6. 2 samoan clubs longest 26.5 in. L
#7. 21.5 IN. SAMOAN CLUB
#8 & #9. 60 CM. LONG 1900 SAMOAN CLUB.

kronckew · 7th July 2014, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue lander

The price wasn't too bad, less than $100, and I'm actually fairly happy with it as a hand made decorative piece. The auction description said it was made of vesi wood, I wonder if it really is.

I've uploaded the photo from the auction and it looks like it's propped up on the same rock as several of the clubs from your post. I don't think it'd be too much of a stretch to assume any club with a similar picture was made in Indonesia as well. The "Made in Indonesia" sticker is very small and lightly glued to the bottom of the handle so an unscrupulous seller could easily remove it.

i found a similar one on e-pray. unfortunately i did not find your post before that. reasonably nice display club, evident rough carved tool marks, stained black then carved to show a light brown wood underneath. sold as 'samoan' and again, vesi wood. i suspect the wood probably would look better unblacked as a nice grain appears in the carved bits. 20 inches, hemp wrapped grip. 354 grams. luckily fairly cheap, especially compared to the other offerings of hawaiian shark toothed koa wood.

nice 'made in indonesia' sticker. easily removed. surprised hawaiian vendor didn't bother to remove it, while he needs to update his online descriptions, at least he left the sticker on. i think i'll stick to maori clubs for the moment

i'll do a bit more caveating of my emptors in future.

blue lander · 7th July 2014, 03:21 PM

I was half tempted to return mine, but I decided to keep it since as you say it looks nice and it appears to be hand made. I don't recommend playing with it much, the hemp wrapped around the handle is just glued on, and will eventually slide off if you handle it too much.

ward · 7th July 2014, 05:28 PM

Barry,

Your pics and posts are invaluable.

thanks

kronckew · 7th July 2014, 05:30 PM

re:hemp wrap.

i noticed that, mine was loose at the front already, and only the last few turns near the 'pommel' end were glued. i tightened it as much as i could & soaked tre cord in a 50:50 mix of outdoor acrylic wood glue & water, gluing it further to itself as well as the handle. seems to have worked. been debating whether to give it a hand rubbed boiled linseed oil finish as the wood appears a bit dry. the edges of the main section are sharper than i expected. they would definitely hurt if used. i am however not intending to go into battle with it.might kill a melon tho...

i thought the axe shaped ones were a bit too touristy. i now note they may be closer to the real thing

p.s. - i photoshopped out the traditional perch rock, it was same as yours!

p.p.s. - i just was struck by the last photo in vanadoo's post no. 38 above. the artist must have been scared by a viking longship. looks just like one of their dragon figureheads.

is this evidence the viking made it to the south pacific? thor heyerdahl, where are you when we need you?

7th July 2014, 05:30 PM	#10
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	re:hemp wrap. i noticed that, mine was loose at the front already, and only the last few turns near the 'pommel' end were glued. i tightened it as much as i could & soaked tre cord in a 50:50 mix of outdoor acrylic wood glue & water, gluing it further to itself as well as the handle. seems to have worked. been debating whether to give it a hand rubbed boiled linseed oil finish as the wood appears a bit dry. the edges of the main section are sharper than i expected. they would definitely hurt if used. i am however not intending to go into battle with it.might kill a melon tho... i thought the axe shaped ones were a bit too touristy. i now note they may be closer to the real thing p.s. - i photoshopped out the traditional perch rock, it was same as yours! p.p.s. - i just was struck by the last photo in vanadoo's post no. 38 above. the artist must have been scared by a viking longship. looks just like one of their dragon figureheads. is this evidence the viking made it to the south pacific? thor heyerdahl, where are you when we need you? Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 7th July 2014 at 05:45 PM.

27th February 2014, 12:09 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I RECENTLY AQUIRED THIS UNUSUAL CLUB. IT IS FROM SAMOA AND WAS COLLECTED IN 1931 UNFORTUNATELY SOMEONE RESTORED THE WHITE INFILL WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN LIME. THE FORM IS UNUSUAL AS IT IS A PALM FROND FORM THAT HAS BEEN ALTERED TO INCLUDE A CARVED CANOE ON ONE SIDE. IN SAMOA AS WELL AS OTHER ISLANDS THE CANOE IS A SIGN OF WEALTH AND POWER AND PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN THEIR SOCIETIES. THIS CLUB IS 31.5 IN. LONG AND IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE I HAVE SEEN OF ITS TYPE. THE CANOE IS HOLLOWED OUT BUT WOULD STILL STRIKE A NASTY BLOW. IN TIME THIS FORM MAY HAVE BECOME TRADITIONAL OR IT MAY HAVE SERVED SOME PURPOSE IN THE TRIBE. EITHER WAY IT WOULD BE A GOOD WEAPON AS THE WOOD IS HARD AND HEAVY AND WELL BALANCED. PIC. #1. THE SAMOAN CLUB/ CANOE VARIATION. 31.5IN.L. #2. A CARVED SAMOAN CANOE FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD. 23.25 IN. LONG #3. 15IN.L. SAMOAN WOODEN AX CLUB #4. 26 IN.L. CIRC 1960, WOOD NIFO OTI FORM #5, #6, #7. 31 IN. L. BILATERAL TOOTHED CLUB #8. 76 CM. WOOD NIFO OTI FORM Attached Images

6th March 2014, 10:29 PM	#2
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	This thread inspired me to buy a modern war club off e-bay. It just arrived today and it's pretty nice, but there's a sticker on the butt that says "MADE IN INDONESIA" Attached Images

7th March 2014, 04:50 AM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THERE IS A NEW CLUB SIMULAR IN FORM 5 POSTS BEFORE YOUR POST. PICTURE #4. SHOWS A CLUB MUCH LIKE YOURS SAID TO BE MADE IN APIA SAMOA. IT IS UNFORTUNATE WHEN THINGS ARE CARVED IN A DIFFERENT CLUTURE AND COUNTRY AS IT BECOMES AN ITEM WITH NO ETHINOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT. IT DOES EXHIBIT THE LIKENESS OF THE FORM WELL ENOUGH AND WITHOUT THE TAG ONE WOULD TAKE IT AS A MODERN SAMOAN TOURIST CLUB. IT DOES REPRESENT THAT FORM OF CLUB ADEQUATELY BUT HOPEFULLY THE PRICE WAS LOW. I WISH THEY WOULD MAKE SOME CLUBS FROM THEIR CULTURE THOUGH AS IT LOWERS THE PRICE ON THE CLUBS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN SAMOA BY SAMOANS.

7th March 2014, 02:30 PM	#4
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	The price wasn't too bad, less than $100, and I'm actually fairly happy with it as a hand made decorative piece. The auction description said it was made of vesi wood, I wonder if it really is. I've uploaded the photo from the auction and it looks like it's propped up on the same rock as several of the clubs from your post. I don't think it'd be too much of a stretch to assume any club with a similar picture was made in Indonesia as well. The "Made in Indonesia" sticker is very small and lightly glued to the bottom of the handle so an unscrupulous seller could easily remove it. Attached Images

7th March 2014, 11:29 PM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	YES IT WOULD APPEAR MANY OF THE CLUBS CURRENTLY ON EBAY AS WELL AS SOME OF THOSE RECENT ONES PICTURED ABOVE IN THE POST MAY BE FROM THE SAME SOURCE AS YOUR CLUB. IT HAS TO BE THE SAME ROCK AND FISH POND AREA IN SEVERAL PICTURES. SO I GUESS THE BEST WAY TO COLLECT THE MODERN ONES FROM SAMOA WOULD BE TO VISIT SAMOA BUT EVEN THEN CHECK FOR SMALL TAGS. WELL IT DOES SERVE AS A WARNING AND SUPPLYS NEW INFORMATION ON SOME OF WHAT IS ON THE MARKET THAT IS NOT LEGIT.

24th March 2014, 07:32 PM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A INTERESTING VARIATION OF NIFO OTI CLUB RECENTLY CLOSED ON EBAY. IT WAS RATHER LARGE FOR THE TYPE 51 INCHES LONG AND 10 POUNDS. THE WORD SAMOA IS CARVED ON IT SO IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A OLDER TOURIST PIECE FROM SAMOA, LIKELY AROUND 1930'S. THE UNIQUE FEATURE IS THAT IT HAS TWO SPIKES ON THE TOP EDGE. picture #1,#2,#3,#4 the club mentioned above. #5. 14.5 in. long samoan club #6. 2 samoan clubs longest 26.5 in. L #7. 21.5 IN. SAMOAN CLUB #8 & #9. 60 CM. LONG 1900 SAMOAN CLUB. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 24th March 2014 at 08:19 PM.

7th July 2014, 03:21 PM	#8
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	I was half tempted to return mine, but I decided to keep it since as you say it looks nice and it appears to be hand made. I don't recommend playing with it much, the hemp wrapped around the handle is just glued on, and will eventually slide off if you handle it too much.

7th July 2014, 05:28 PM	#9
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	Barry, Your pics and posts are invaluable. thanks