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Blackfoot Tacked and Beaded Sheath & Trade Knife

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:850.00 - 1,100.00 USD
Blackfoot Tacked and Beaded Sheath & Trade Knife
This is a nice, early Reservation Period, Montana Blackfoot (Blackfeet) beaded parfleche hide sheath with trade knife from the 19th-20th turn-of-the-century. The sheath shows a rawhide parfleche hide construction with wide pony glass trade beads in a geometric pattern. The beads are all larger wound glass pony beads in colors of greasy red, light blue, and white in a diamond and cross pattern. The sheath also shows a double row of brass and metal tacks. The sheath also is paired with a typical skinning knife, referred to as a scalping knife by the collector, with nice medium thickness metal spin and deeply sharped recurved blade, typical of skinners, and two-piece hardwood grip scales that are held into place with copper rivets. The grip scales have a nice, beveled edge that is slightly crudely coffin in shape. The blade has a unique scrapped or etched finish, possibly from being cleaned by a previous collector, but almost roll-engraved in appearance, a curious addition. The back side of the sheath shows a bare finish with large rectangular double cutouts for the use as a belt knife. The sheath also shows sinew sewing. The sheath measures 10.5 inches in length by 3 7/8 inches wide. The knife is 9.5 inches long with a 5 inch long blade.