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Knapped Glass Knife.Native American Style.Antler Handle.Sinew. #6 Green

$ 61.77

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Tribal Affiliation: Blackfoot
  • Provenance: Winders Collections
  • Culture: Native American: US
  • All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
  • Origin: United States
  • Condition: Excellent condition. Displayed only.
  • Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
  • Refund will be given as: Money Back
  • Artisan: Unknown
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Item must be returned within: 30 Days

    Description

    I bought this and several others (some already sold) from a Blackfoot Indian who had a small weekend trading business.  I know he had a number of non-native friends and customers, and dealt in some re-enactment articles, so I do not know if the maker of this knife was Indian, Anglo, or what, but that was not important to me - the maker was an expert.   I have been trying to make various Native American items off and on for 70 years, and I am good at some of it.  Not at flint knapping.  It is difficult!  It takes a lot of skill!  Different skills and talents are involved than woodcarving or stone carving or pipe making or featherwork.   And a lot of patience and breakage and more patience.
    The workmanship on this knife is amazing.  Uniform flakes. Very thin and sharp edge.  Sturdy attachment to the deer antler handle, with very tight sinew.   It can be used as a paper knife (letter opener) without danger of damaging it, and undoubtedly will cut, but unless you are skilled enough in the art enough to resharpen any breakage, I wouldn't do it.  Neta had these on display with a bunch of French crystal and porcelain items - connecting theme being skilled artists and "things I like".  I had several on my office wall, as well.
    This one has a green glass blade.  The craftsman is showing off here, with a different medium than the traditional chert, flint, obsidian.    Although in the early days of telegraph and telegraph poles, Indians would remove the glass "insulators" and use them to make arrowheads.   9" long, 4.5" blade.
    Note - the wire shown in the pictures is a light wire I used to hang this one on a wall.  It is easily removed.