Knife

Item number E2024-0 from the National Museum of Natural History.

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Notes

FROM CARD: "ONCE IDENTIFIED AS ESKIMO. BROAD BLADED STEEL KNIFE BIFURCATING INTO A Y-SHAPED HANDLE WITH COILED TIPS. HANDLE LASHED WITH CANE. BLADE WITH CENTRAL RIDGE ON ONE SIDE ONLY. *DOUBLE ENTRY UNDER CAT. #601. ILLUS. IN THE FAR NORTH CATALOG, NAT. GALL. OF ART, 1973, P. 157. LOANED TO THE ARTS COUNCIL OF GREAT BRITAIN 09/13/76. LOAN RETURNED 7/28/1977. LOAN: CROSSROADS SEP 22 1988. LOAN RETURNED: JAN 21 1993. ILLUS.: CROSSROADS OF CONTINENTS CATALOGUE; FIG. 304, P.229." Crossroads of Continents caption identifies as probably Kutchin: "Long knives with flaring, voluted handles were used for both hunting and fighting. They were originally made from copper obtained through the native trade system; later examples like this one collected in the 1860s are made of trade steel. Lashed to wooden poles, they were used by especially daring hunters to kill bears."