Northwest Coast Native American (Indian) Knife?

Tim Simmons · 28th December 2008, 08:48 AM

It is very hard to tell anything from these pics too large, not clear and only on side shown. At first glance the blade looks African to me?

trenchwarfare · 29th December 2008, 03:50 PM

Added some more crappy pictures. Would like a second opinion at least, before this post gets lost to time.

fearn · 29th December 2008, 04:31 PM

Hi Trench.

Doesn't look like it's from the Pacific Northwest to me either. These would look better with the resolution considerably reduced.

Why do you think it's old?

Anyway, I could almost, sort of, believe aleut, but I'm thinking art piece. It's missing the formalisms of PNW work (at least that I can tell). More importantly, all those holes in the hilt mean that it's not designed to stand up to a lot of stress.

My 0.002

F

trenchwarfare · 29th December 2008, 05:23 PM

Sorry about the picture quality. My camera is an antique, and so are my picture taking skills. 40+ years of collecting, and examining edged weapons, makes me think it's old. If it's a patinated repro, or outright fake, it's REALLY good work. So your saying more north towards Alaska? Definently a votive, or ceremonial piece. The beak has been broken, twice. Do you know of any reference to similar knives? Thanks, M.P.

Jeff D · 29th December 2008, 05:26 PM

Hi All,

I think it was made to be in the style of the Northwest Pacific coast. As Tim stated the blade looks like a Seme blade. It does not appear consistent with the a Pacific coast made blade, or any trade blade. I would try the hot pin test on the hilt it looks like plastic to my eye.

Hoe this helps
Jeff

trenchwarfare · 29th December 2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff D

Hi All,

I think it was made to be in the style of the Northwest Pacific coast. As Tim stated the blade looks like a Seme blade. It does not appear consistent with the a Pacific coast made blade, or any trade blade. I would try the hot pin test on the hilt it looks like plastic to my eye.

Hoe this helps
Jeff

Blade does look similar to Somali style. Also any number of other daggers, pikes, or whaling inplements. Hilt is ivory, not plastic. As stated, pictures are bad. M.P.

Tim Simmons · 29th December 2008, 07:36 PM

The handle looks as if it is possibly bone. I still feel that this is an African blade. I would very much like to be wrong.

fearn · 29th December 2008, 08:26 PM

Hi Tim,

The blade could be African, but it's too short to be a seme (10", right MP?). Trouble is, leaf shaped blades are common from many places. For instance, it could also be a rebuilt spear blade, although I don't think that's likely.

So what do we have? A lanceolate blade with two edges, little or no sign of work wear, pitting consistent with rust near the top of the blade, but it has no makers marks that I see, and the rust and blade have been cleaned so that there's no patina to date it.

The hilt materials are ivory (or bone) and abalone (or MOP) eyes, and it looks like there are leather lashings. The hilt looks sort of like a raven. None of these are unique to the Pacific Northwest.

What I'm not seeing is something that unequivocally says PNW. It could be, but it could be Aleut or possibly Inuit. Or it could be someone trying to mimic the style. In any case, it looks 20th Century, and I'd guess that it was built for art rather than for war or work.
F

29th December 2008, 03:50 PM	#2
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	More Pictures Added some more crappy pictures. Would like a second opinion at least, before this post gets lost to time. Attached Images

28th December 2008, 08:48 AM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	It is very hard to tell anything from these pics too large, not clear and only on side shown. At first glance the blade looks African to me?

29th December 2008, 04:31 PM	#3
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Trench. Doesn't look like it's from the Pacific Northwest to me either. These would look better with the resolution considerably reduced. Why do you think it's old? Anyway, I could almost, sort of, believe aleut, but I'm thinking art piece. It's missing the formalisms of PNW work (at least that I can tell). More importantly, all those holes in the hilt mean that it's not designed to stand up to a lot of stress. My 0.002 F

29th December 2008, 05:23 PM	#4
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	Sorry about the picture quality. My camera is an antique, and so are my picture taking skills. 40+ years of collecting, and examining edged weapons, makes me think it's old. If it's a patinated repro, or outright fake, it's REALLY good work. So your saying more north towards Alaska? Definently a votive, or ceremonial piece. The beak has been broken, twice. Do you know of any reference to similar knives? Thanks, M.P.

29th December 2008, 05:26 PM	#5
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Hi All, I think it was made to be in the style of the Northwest Pacific coast. As Tim stated the blade looks like a Seme blade. It does not appear consistent with the a Pacific coast made blade, or any trade blade. I would try the hot pin test on the hilt it looks like plastic to my eye. Hoe this helps Jeff

29th December 2008, 07:36 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	The handle looks as if it is possibly bone. I still feel that this is an African blade. I would very much like to be wrong.

29th December 2008, 08:26 PM	#8
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Tim, The blade could be African, but it's too short to be a seme (10", right MP?). Trouble is, leaf shaped blades are common from many places. For instance, it could also be a rebuilt spear blade, although I don't think that's likely. So what do we have? A lanceolate blade with two edges, little or no sign of work wear, pitting consistent with rust near the top of the blade, but it has no makers marks that I see, and the rust and blade have been cleaned so that there's no patina to date it. The hilt materials are ivory (or bone) and abalone (or MOP) eyes, and it looks like there are leather lashings. The hilt looks sort of like a raven. None of these are unique to the Pacific Northwest. What I'm not seeing is something that unequivocally says PNW. It could be, but it could be Aleut or possibly Inuit. Or it could be someone trying to mimic the style. In any case, it looks 20th Century, and I'd guess that it was built for art rather than for war or work. F