Knives of the plains Indians

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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There was a small blurb about the knives carried by the plains tribes in the Blade Guide to knives book. I have seen many different knives illustrated, everything from bowies to skinners, stone blades and blades improvised from whatever you can imagine. Even a few jack knives here and there, but they were very rare. Not too easily repaired. Of Blackfoot heritage, I have been drawn to the beaver tail dagger primarily. I was going to see if I could get one custom made, but never got around to it. Any members with some plains Indians knives in their collections, or styles/reproductions?
 
Cool idea of a topic. I would like to know more about the knives of the Indians.

BTW, a good book is "Empire of the Summer Moon" which is about the Comanches.
 
May want to go to some Pow Wows and see what they have. Haven't been to one since I was a child but I recall seeing some knives to some that I have been. Even if you can't find any I would strike up a conversation with someone who looks like their really into native american culture and see if you can find out where you can find such things.
 
You may have some luck by researching Native American museums.If you can get a hold of a curator, they may have info for further contact info...just a thought...
 
Hey Dan, have you been down to the National MUseum of the American Indian in D.C.? It's right beside the Smithsonian Air and Space museum on the mall. They should have some great examples of what was carried and used, and serve as a model to base a custom on.

Carl.
 
Be sure to head over to Daniel Winkler's webpage if you're interested in the knives of American Indians. His work is amazing.
 
sitflyer said:
Thanks for that really great link Gev!
Click to expand...

My pleasure! I remembered seeing the collection in S.D. on my travels from Wyoming to Iowa and back. I just read the whole pdf and its has a great many leads s worth pursuing.
 
Gevonovich said:
The Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota has a wonderful collection of knives in their museum.

Here is a pdf of Crazy Horse's knife

http://www.burleyauction.com/CRAZY_HORSE's_KNIFE.pdf
Click to expand...

I liked the link! Oddly Genvenovich, the author is about half way between us in Canyon Lake, TX. I am in San Antonio.

The link showing Crazy Horse's knife has a pic of his knife that looks pretty typical for the times. If you make a trip to San Antonio, there are exhibits of guns, knives and other gear used all through the history of Texas. I have seen more than a few of the referenced knife on the belts of both Indians an Cowboys in these exhibits. In the exhibits, the larger sheath knives shown were represented as working knives that were acquired by trade or purchased as a tool to do a multitude of things.

If you are in San Antonio, go see the Cowboy Museum and the Texas Rangers museum (located at least partly in an 1880s replica saloon that serves cold beer!) for more period examples of knives and other gear. And if the Institute of Texas cultures is having a good show, they can be great to visit as well.

Robert
 
Gevonovich said:
The Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota has a wonderful collection of knives in their museum.

Here is a pdf of Crazy Horse's knife

http://www.burleyauction.com/CRAZY_HORSE's_KNIFE.pdf
Click to expand...

This is making for some fantastic reading about one truly fascinating man's knife, thank you.

WA Martin said:
I was meaning to start my own thread about a picture in a local restaurant. Here's a link to the photos.

Here's the gentleman and his knife: View attachment 363496 View attachment 363497 View attachment 363498

I've always been curious "what" knife this was.
Click to expand...

I couldn't begin to guess as to maker or anything, but it looks like some sort of clip blade coffin jack to my eye. Anyone else's thoughts?
 
Large coke bottle folding hunter
Maher & Grosh listed a knife like that in their catalogs from the 1880s. They called it the Oregon Hunter.

For what its worth, the typical American Indian carried the same sort of knives as did the white man. After all, the white man was the source of those knives and many were purchased for use as trade items.
 
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