: OK. That sounds good to me.
: I am afraid I am much of learner in this area having just built my first SoF
: (Delighted with it... two outings so far and it has behaved well.) I am
: beginning to get a bit more immersed in the history. I must say i enjoy
: the history thing.
: Thank you
: Brian

Brian,
I tried to post this yesterday, but somehow it never showed up here...
As you've figured out already, the tool you're wondering about is a norsaq. It is used by the Inuit hunter to throw his harpoon. Here is an old picture of a hunter and his kayak with all his hunting gear. The harpoon with the norsaq attached is hanging at the side of the kayak. If needed the norsaq could be grabbed and used as a hand paddle, as in the case of capsize with a lost paddle. There are a number of rolls performed as part of the Greenland championships using the Norsaq (http://www.qajaqusa.org/QK/rolls/rolls.html). And, I agree with you -- the history of this stuff is fascinating.

-John