Sword

Made of a short sawfish snout or jaw, teeth intact, to which is joined a rough handle made of a continuous piece of reed looped around (broadest at end) and held by loose cane strips interlaced around the two sides and over a reed down the middle. Ends of the two reeds are inserted in the bone. One side of the bone is painted in broad diagonal stripes of red, white and black, which suggest New Guinea. Sawfish swords are used in many parts of the Pacific, but the handle on this one makes it rather unusual.