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Periphetes the Corynetes is often called the clubber. He is said to have roamed the roads between Athens to Troezen. He was a son of Hephaestus and Anticleia. "Like his father, he was lame in one leg with only one eye as a Cyclopes would have." http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/The_Myths/Theseus_Adventures/theseus_adventures.html This connotation links the clubber with the Cyclops found in the Odyssey. In one tail Theseus kills the clubber by throwing a bolder at him. In another tradition he uses his brass rod to kill him. The bolder is symbolic of the authority Theseus gained from the arms and sandals of his father. It was what hid them but also the test of competence and thus the ability to hold said authority. The lands between Troezen and Athens were called Corynetes. Thus in the first tale it’s the authority of his father and mother that allows Theseus to conquer Corynetes, In the second case Theseus fools the clubber into giving him his rod and authority, which he uses to conquer Corynetes.

"I am Periphetes the cudgel man and I'm going to bash you're head with this club," he said. "That's a mighty fine club you have there," replied Theseus.

"Pure brass."

"I bet it isn't."

"Yes it is."

"It's just wood wrapped in brass."

"Here, look at it to make sure."

Periphetes handed the club to Theseus. Theseus knocked Periphetes in the side of the head with it. "Not bad," thought Theseus, "not bad at all. I think I'll keep this." http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/The_Myths/Theseus_Adventures/theseus_adventures.html

In both stories Theseus takes and uses the brass rod as his weapon and is often symbolised as holding it. Thus this brass rod becomes the symbol of his authority and inclusively his military might. It was not his fathers sword that became the symbol of his authority and might, but his unity with the clubber who would “bash his enemies into the earth" or conquer them making them his vassals The clubber is the son of Hephaestus, who is the Greek god of technology and fire. The club is made of brass and this new metal alloy in those times made it superior to the copper sword of King Aegeus of Athens. In other word the clubber had gain authority by way of the use of brass and this unity between Theseus and the clubbers people created the alliance that began Theseus age of a unified free ancient Greek people. The metaphor of the rod is both to reflect the authority of the people who have strength by way of their technology, like Hephaestus the ruler who reflects them or heroes is a spitting image of the god who represents the edge pf technology and metal working. The trick is that Theseus gained the technological upgrade of the Corynetes and with an equal strength and their authority as an ally people Theseus added these people to the alliance forged by way of the authority of his father and mother and the Medea, the corythean allied through Theseus' father.
If one merges the story of Theseus said above one realises that fooling or better yet gaining without real foolingthe clubber meant gaining the peoples technology and trust till technological equality caused them to ally under Theseus. the technological upgrade once made now represented Theseus' people’s authority or the bolder of his father, the very authority that allowed Theseus to do what he did, while the other story focuses on the use of the authority gained by the use of brass. Both end with the Corynetes’ brass rod of authority being representative of the authority and might of Theseus, who represents the new rise of the unity of a free ancient Greece, a freedom symbolised by the end of the minion control over Athens, but that is for later.