metal weapons and tools in the pacific

[Clubs & Arrows]

Hello Ausjulius,
The Samoans had the Nifo Oti which was a long rectangular blade with a small hook curling away from the top edge. You can find it in:
Early Photography - Tonga and Samoa 1855 - 1900 by Kurt During, and in the book Samoan Art and Artists by Sean Mallon. The Samoans fought with these during the civil wars during the mid to late 19th century.
Now, the same type of piece has the blade set on fire and is danced with at Polynesian themed events.

As far as Papuan blades, I'm afraid that I can't help.

Best regards,
Joe

[ausjulius]

Originally Posted by Clubs & Arrows

Hello Ausjulius,
The Samoans had the Nifo Oti which was a long rectangular blade with a small hook curling away from the top edge. You can find it in:
Early Photography - Tonga and Samoa 1855 - 1900 by Kurt During, and in the book Samoan Art and Artists by Sean Mallon. The Samoans fought with these during the civil wars during the mid to late 19th century.
Now, the same type of piece has the blade set on fire and is danced with at Polynesian themed events.

As far as Papuan blades, I'm afraid that I can't help.

Best regards,
Joe

hi thanks yes the tongan one i sa was very much like that only longer blade and handle and more narrow , the hook at the back was moe hooked,.. but id say the weapon was the same,, maybe the tongans used the same tool? or maybe the item was takento tonga??? as the missionaries in the 19th centuary traveled about about i guess that is how,, unless the image was from samoa and was miss quoted as a image of tonga..

thanks for the info,,
does anyone have an exsample of these weapons?

how well was the work in them? and were they well hardened,? what was the steel composition?

[Clubs & Arrows]

Here are some pics of a pair that I purchased a while back. These were collected by a Mormon Missionary that was in Samoa during 1929 and 1930. The blades are British steel. One is marked with a Boar's head over the words "Endure / Josh Beal & Sons / Best Cast Steel / Sheffield", and the other appears to be Birmingham / England, but I can't make out what's stamped above it.

The longer of the two is just under 39" overall in length, with 19 5/8" of the total being the blade. The second is 37 1/2" overall in length, with 20 1/4" of the total being the blade. The steel blades are 1/8" in thickness. The coconut fiber cord is pretty unraveled, but hanging on.

[Tim Simmons]

Wow this is What do you make of this beautiful piece, I am not sure any more?

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=razor

[ausjulius]

wow!!!, nice.. seems those were british made blades,,so i guess there was enougth demand for them to produce them i a quantity,, has anyone got any of the clubs these weapons were based on?

[ausjulius]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Wow this is What do you make of this beautiful piece, I am not sure any more?

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=razor

yes the curl on that one looks much more like the tongan weapon i saw,, but that choppers handle and such look more to be african it i were to guess..

[Tim Simmons]

My thoughts were also African. It was sold as being from the south seas, I have shown it to other collectors that thought the handle was similar to south seas work. Other African collectors say they have not seen anything like it. I based my African origin on the zig-zag paterns on the steel ferrle only because I have a South Sudan spear with similar work on the socket part of the blade.
In all seriousness these patern forms are very much universal for humans the world over. I find the similarity in form most interesting. I am also very inspired by the photo of the Tongan/Samoan dignitary posing with the weapon. My example is a very pretty item much time has been spent on its construction. I now really do wonder about the possibility of this being a prestige item from the South Seas?

This swan is from Sweden I believe, so I would not rule out the decoration which is indeed common on many carved items from the South Seas?


Also as in this Fijian? bowl which I have been encouraged to believe is early 20th century, it has seen use anyway? and the flash is on.


Yes it has three legs.

[Tim Simmons]

Look here-

http://webprojects.prm.ox.ac.uk/arms...ms/1928.59.21/

I really do think Samoan. My example is very sharp so it could be a bush knife but it is also very beautiful so I doubt that. Are these always a standard size? I also doubt that.

[elv]

I've done a bit of a study on photos that have been publicly available of Nifo'Oti (I've sighted eight early Nifo'Oti) and most of the early examples were manufactured by Joseph Beal & Sons in Sheffield. Some had no markings so they gave no clue to their origin. It is unclear exactly when they were exported to Samoa. Several of the Joseph Beal & Sons blades have different markings - indicating different shipments.

Below is a compilation I've made of the markings. I've included the logo of the websites where they were found. It would be interesting to hear from collectors that have a Nifo'Oti that I don't have a photo of yet.

While there is no doubt these Nifo'Oti (translated Tooth cutter and modelled on pre-european contact wooden Nifo'Oti) were used for warfare - they were primarily used as an agricultural and multi-purpose tool. Being a prized possession of the chiefs and higher class. This is also indicated by the regular display of Nifo'Oti rather than other weapons in early photographs.

Originally Posted by Clubs & Arrows

Here are some pics of a pair that I purchased a while back. These were collected by a Mormon Missionary that was in Samoa during 1929 and 1930. The blades are British steel. One is marked with a Boar's head over the words "Endure / Josh Beal & Sons / Best Cast Steel / Sheffield", and the other appears to be Birmingham / England, but I can't make out what's stamped above it.

The longer of the two is just under 39" overall in length, with 19 5/8" of the total being the blade. The second is 37 1/2" overall in length, with 20 1/4" of the total being the blade. The steel blades are 1/8" in thickness. The coconut fiber cord is pretty unraveled, but hanging on.