Te Butu

Te butu. Small dagger set with shark's teeth. Butu are designed to exact facial injuries to opponents targeting the forehead and the eyes so as to obscure vision or leave visible disfigurement. These small handheld weapons are easily concealed on a person and were often held and used by women. This small handheld weapon consists of six wii n bakoa (shark’s teeth) perforated at the base and lashed to a wooden handle. The wooden handle is long and cylindrical with matte surface treatment. A series of drilled depressions along each long side edge of the handle creates the grooved ridge in which the wii n bakoa slot in securely lashed with kora (coconut sennit cordage), three to each side. The shark teeth are natural in colour, while the wooden handle is medium brown in colour. Another drilled hole is located towards the grip end through which a suspension cord of kora is threaded through. The handle has a decorative woven band of baan ni kaina around its circumference incorporating a chevron motif.