Bear Knife

R APPLEBY

R APPLEBY

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Joined
Mar 11, 2003
Messages
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Well I'm not back to work in the shop yet but I did manage to finish the sheath on this one which I have had completed for some time and I am very pleased with the way it turned out.

Hope you all enjoy the pics.

First some trivia;

The American Indian was much given to ceremonies. As an example the
Bear Cult among the Assiniboine, Dakota, Black foot and Sarsi tribes paid
homage to the Grizzly for his strength and ferocity. To take one carried with
it high honors.
The Bear knife was considered by the Bear Cult a sacred object to be used
in rituals as well as in battle. If it were offered to an aspirant or proposed
candidate, he had to undergo severe personal punishment in order to prove
his worthiness as a keeper of the blade.

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Specs;

Blade; 6 3/8th inch x 3/16ths x 1 1/2 inch double hollow ground spear point
browned saw steel with hidden tang.

Handle; Black Bear jaw bone ( teeth have been left in for aesthetics ) with
slabbed oak scale and bolster. Rawhide sewn over wood and bone
and lashed with rawhide lacing. total handle length is 6 inches.

OAL; 12 3/8 inches

Sheath; 8/9oz leather covered in rawhide and adorned with a buckskin fringe
horse hair tassels, brass and horn beads and brass and tin cones.

Price; $300.00 (SOLD)Shipped USPS priority mail CONUS
Paypal prefered paypay same as e-mail addy.

Thanks for lookin
 
Last edited:
Thats a very cool blade Bob. That sheath work is amazing. I love those primitives and that style.

Larry
 
Are the teeth at all uncomfortable to hold? I love the sheath and that kind of thing goes great with reinactment garb. I hope you do more like this as its a really cool piece.
 
barrabas74 said:
Are the teeth at all uncomfortable to hold? I love the sheath and that kind of thing goes great with reinactment garb. I hope you do more like this as its a really cool piece.
Click to expand...

Thanks Barrabas, No I don't find the teeth uncomfortable. The grip fills the palm well and there isn't that much pressure at the base of your fingers. The teeth are 100% as they were and have been secured into the jaw bone. I would like to point out that this knife as is all my knives 100% all functional tool and would shave the nuts off a knat:D

Funny thing about me doing primitve pieces is I don't set out to make them. I get the inspiration when I go digging through my bits and pieces box looking for material for my project at hand. I get an idea and I just grows from there.
 
R APPLEBY said:
Thanks Barrabas, No I don't find the teeth uncomfortable. The grip fills the palm well and there isn't that much pressure at the base of your fingers. The teeth are 100% as they were and have been secured into the jaw bone. I would like to point out that this knife as is all my knives 100% all functional tool and would shave the nuts off a knat:D

Funny thing about me doing primitve pieces is I don't set out to make them. I get the inspiration when I go digging through my bits and pieces box looking for material for my project at hand. I get an idea and I just grows from there.
Click to expand...

I love the primitive pieces, I am yet....YET to have one even though I do French and Indian reinactments from time to time. Its good to hear that the teeth cause no issue. I have held one of your knives, though I've never shaved a nats nuts off I know its very sharp.

The detail in the sheath I think really set the piece off all together. Great idea.
 
Dusty One said:
Is there a belt loop on the back side of the sheath ?
Click to expand...

No Belt loop. I realize with todays sheaths you would expect a belt loop. I have done a lot of research and found most all early native american sheaths used a simple lanyard or tether so in order to keep an authentic look and feel to the project thats what I have done. I provide enough adjustable lanyard to to permit the wearer a multitude of carry positions simply and quickly.
 
Will the knife fit in the sheath for left handed carry or was it formed exactly for right hand carry??
 
Bob,

Can't help posting, just to say that's one heck of a great knive and sheath. Great overall package!

Dave
 
That is a pretty cool Bob. Looks like you have some time in the leather work. Native style pieces are not easy to come by.

Floyd
 
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