Flea market "Indian" turquoise knife

mhawg

mhawg

Joined
Jan 10, 2003
Messages
5,057
OK, This is a friend's new knife. He picked it up for $50 at a local flea market from a "Native American" craftsman named Charlie Red Eagle, or something like that claiming to be from New Mexico. Who uses their real name when selling knives and jewelry at a flea market. Steel back spring, brass liners and steel bolster. I doubt that there is any silver in it and the Turquoise is the crushed & formed type, I think. The black handle material on the front feels and looks to me to be plastic. The back is some kind of wood, possibly laminated also. Mainly what caught my eye was the laminated/sandwiched Damascus/carbon steel blade set off center in the handle. It was ground badly off center leaving one side with most of the carbon steel center exposed and the cutting edge composed of some of the Damascus from the other side. There is no tang stamp or any visible markings to be seen in my quick inspection. It looks like the nail nick was struck not cut from the resulting pattern in the backside if the blade. I actually like the style and size of the knife but the quality is far from what I would choose. I'm sure my friend will get use from the knife and since it looks good to him he will be happy with it.

I just wonder if any part of this knife was actually made in the US or if it's an imported knife.
XXX
MerlesKnife_001.jpg

XXX
MerlesKnife_4070.jpg
 
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I remember seeing a lot of knives like that in UTAH gift shops. But you never know though. I am guess that knife was a complete import. He may have rescaled the handle himself, but that is hard to tell.

There are worse ways to spend 50 bux.

God Bless
 
The knife itself reminds me of some from Pakistan. Thick brass liners, off-center blade, gaps...

But the handles could have very well been made by someone in New Mexico. They look better-fit than the rest of the knife parts. Although the entire thing could be imported from China, or perhaps made in Mexico from Chinese knife parts.

I actually like the style and size of the knife but the quality is far from what I would choose
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For a higher-quality example of the same style of knife, check out some of the Buck custom knives.

I have a Camillus from Santa Fe Stone Works with the same style of knife handle. Quality of the handle workmanship is very good. I haven't visited them lately, but they still do custom handles on knives of various brands.

The back is some kind of wood, possibly laminated also.
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Notice how the wood grain in the different layers don't run the same direction. Laminate for sure.
 
Bob W said:
But the handles could have very well been made by someone in New Mexico. They look better-fit than the rest of the knife parts. Although the entire thing could be imported from China, or perhaps made in Mexico from Chinese knife parts.
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Thats what I would think as well.


I have a few Buck annd Case "Indian"... or Native American:p knives

Don't have a pic of the Bucks, but took this one of our Club over run's I have.(the top one is an older one, not a Three Rivers Club knife.
IMG_3741.jpg
 
My sister worked in a Native American Museum. They had a variety of knives for sale that started out as chinese or paki imports. A Native American craftsman puts the new handles on, polishes it up and sells it with a small card indicating the craftsman's name and location. If possible, they grind off the original markings. The museum buys from a "trusted" middleman and is sure their products are truly American.

There are a host of similar pieces made by a variety of people. Much of the "Native American" stuff sold to tourists actually comes from Mexico. Without some sort of documented and trusted provenence, it's a guess as to origin.
 
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