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Cree American Indian Presentation Dag Knife c.1850

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:6,500.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Cree American Indian Presentation Dag Knife c.1850
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This is a rare and exceptional example of an authentic American Indian Dag Knife, dated to circa 1850-1860 and attributed to the Cree Native American Indians. The piece features a solid walnut handle and long, flat tapering forged blade with a slight median ridge on both sides, an attribute that is found in most authentic original examples. Each side of the walnut wood grips is adorned with two copper placards accenting the piece and secured with copper pins. This style of ornate dag knife is referred to as a “Chief’s Grade” or “Presentation Grade” knife as they were given to Chief’s and tribal dignitaries during trade negotiations and treaty signings. Similar examples can be seen in “Early Knives and Beaded Sheaths of the American Frontier” (1997) and in "Indian Guns, Spears & Shields of the American Frontier (2002) by John Baldwin. Bonham’s Auction House listed a very similar example of Presentation Dag knife in their June 1, 2015 sale which sold for $18,750 and shows a similar pattern of manufacture with the elaborate placards and flat grip having a rounded hilt area with flared gripping area which tapered to a round pommel (the knife blade had the same patina as the piece offered in this lot). Sotheby’s Auction House offered a Blackfoot Dag knife that sold for $22,500 that had the similar grip pattern and patina blade. This dag knife is from the same collection as the Presentation Dag Knife sold by our company on 4/29/2017 for $10,200 (including premiums) and the Presentation Dag Knife offered and later sold on private treaty in our 6/3/2017 sale. The knife appears to have the correct patina indicative of age and use with a very fine large size that presents very well and would accent any collection. The piece is also from the same collection, the Arnold Marcus Chernoff American Indian Weapons collection, as the Cree Chief’s Grade Presentation DAG Knife that our company sold on 10/28/2017 for $5,760 (with premiums). This is truly a very fine presentation dag knife. Measures overall 13.5” L.