DORIS YAZZIE NAVAJO Question

[montyeg1]

First off I apologize if this question has already been asked. I did search the maker and did not see the answer I am looking for. I bought this knife at an auction and did not know anything about it. All it has on the knife is “Old Smokey”. The work on the knife looks like the work of Doris Yazzie Navajo. I do not see any marking on it other than the old Smokey. Has she ever designed a knife and not put her name on it or could this be a knock off of her work. Any help would be greatly appreciate.

https://imgur.com/a/Y3b2EiU

https://imgur.com/awjUMjn

 

[knarfeng]

Based on some web searches, her name appears to be "Doris Yazzie" and she appears to be of the Navajo Tribe. She does inlay work in the Navajo style.
I see she did a lot of Schrade knives and I found a Buck knife she did. Your knife appears to be patterned after a Buck knife, but is not an actual Buck. It does not appear to me to be a Schrade, either.

Here's a knife that Doris Yazzie actually worked her magic on.

Look how crisp the lines are between the pieces of turquoise. Then look at yours. Your handles do not appear to me to have inlaid stone on them.

I'm not an expert in this type of knife, but yours does not look legit to me.

 

[killgar]

The handle design looks identical to this knife. This knife was identified as a "David Yellowhorse" customized knife. With the marking "DY-NAVAJO". But of course "David Yellowhorse" and "Doris Yazzie" have the same initials, and are both Navajo, so it's possible is was incorrectly identified.

It looks to me like that marking (DY-NAVAJO) is a Doris Yazzie mark, but like you said, your knife doesn't have any marking.

 

[knarfeng]

Aside from the handle, the OP's blade looks off.

 

[killgar]

Here's an "Old Smoky" with the same handle design reportedly done by Doris Yazzie, with the "DY-NAVAJO" mark. From what I'm reading, her registered trade name is "DY Navajo Knife Works". But I don't know who that is registered with, possibly the Navajo tribe.

I'd say that without the "DY-NAVAJO" mark your knife will remain a mystery. Unless you could get her to confirm otherwise (and if she's still alive).

 

[jfk1110]

Here's an "Old Smoky" with the same handle design reportedly done by Doris Yazzie, with the "DY-NAVAJO" mark. From what I'm reading, her registered trade name is "DY Navajo Knife Works". But I don't know who that is registered with, possibly the Navajo tribe.

I'd say that without the "DY-NAVAJO" mark your knife will remain a mystery. Unless you could get her to confirm otherwise (and if she's still alive).

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