This is a wonderful, original American Indian Dag knife and extraordinary beaded sheath, both likely from the Cree or Blackfoot Native American Indians and dating to circa mid-19th Century. This “Chief’s Grade”, or “Presentation Grade”, knife features a solid wood, nicely figured grain handle/grip that is secured with seven silver pins and rivets. The knife is paired with an amazing, beaded Buffalo Bison hide sheath in the typical geometric pattern seen on other documented Cree and Blackfoot (Blackfeet) examples, with a triangular diamond-like drop that is beaded at the bottom. 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. The forged iron knife shows a raised median ridge running down the center of the blade, a documented early weapon feature also seen on dag knives dating to pre-1860. The dag fighting knife is adorned with brass trade tacks at the pommel or end, along with two at the bolster on one side and one with a silver pewter crown emblem on the other. The crown emblem indicates that the dag knife was likely of British manufacture for the fur trade. American Indian, early dag knives are commonly referred to as “Beaver Paddle/ Beavertail” dag knives. This is due to the fact most dag knives were traded on the frontier along the Great Lakes region through the St. Lawrence Seaway, westward by early fur traders. From the Great Lakes region on westward, the knives became very popular among the Northern Plains/Upper Plateau tribes, such as the Cree, Metis, Blackfoot, Nez Perce, Chippewa/Ojibwa and Shoshone. These were made to be killing weapons; this is why dag knives show a clean, long, double-sided blade without any serration—they were for battle. Unlike other knives worn by Indian Warriors, the dag knife would have been worn around the Indians neck on his chest. The knife shows a rich, original patina and signs of age and use with minor nicks and expected wear; otherwise, the piece displays very well. The sheath shows a large presentation size, as well, with exceptional beadwork all being period correct, early glass trade seed beads sinew sewn in a geometric pattern in colors of sky padre blue, medium blue, greasy yellow, greasy red, cobalt, and medium green, amongst others. A similar sheath is digitally photographed in the lot for comparison; this example is on the cover of James Johnston’s book, “Accouterments Volume 4”, and is noted as being sold to a private collector for $40,000. Another similar example, which was attributed to the Blackfoot Indian “Crow Foot”, sold in Cowan’s September 2013 sale for $65,000; another example sold in a different Cowan’s sale for $24,000. Provenance: From the Ben Thompson Collection, a noted war club and tomahawk collector and author/expert, along with Tom Hardy. The piece comes from the same collector as the Dag Knife sold by our company on 4/29/2017 for $10,200 (with premiums) that was authenticated by the Sotheby’s expert, David Roche, and from the same collection as the Cree Dag Knife with Sheath that sold for $12,300 (with premiums) at our company’s 8/25/2018 sale. The piece shows the proper signs of age and use, with minor dings and scratches and a fine patina. The dag knife measures overall 13”L and the sheath is 20 inches in length by 4 inches wide.