North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Western Antique Auction September 11th 2021

Sat, Sep 11, 2021 11:00AM EDT
Lot 17

Blackfoot Tacked Leather Sheath & Trade Knife 1890

Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
The lot features a fantastic, authentic 19th Century Blackfoot Native American Indian silver and brass tacked sheath and large trade knife. The sheath is crafted from thick harness saddle remnant leather, likely traded or recovered by the Blackfeet, and further adorned with a linear pattern of old large trade tacks and conchos having a silver finish. The tacks are all larger and appear to be solid brass with a silver, possibly sterling or nickel silver, with one concho, a very unique and uncommonly seen example (the tacks and concho are not magnetic). The sheath is of a larger size and would have been worn on a belt and is paired with a larger bowie-like trade knife. The knife shows a nice, thick metal spine and large bowie-like clip point blade with rich coloring, along with a solid hardwood, one piece grip secured to the blade with two heavy copper and metal rivets and two metal tacks at the end. The wood has a dark coloring from honest age and use. This is truly a rare, unusual example with silver tacks and large knife. Provenance: Collected from the Blackfoot Indians in the Waterton-Glacier region. The knife measures overall 12 5/8” long, with a blade that is 7.75” long by 2” wide. The sheath is 12” long by 5.25” wide. The knife and sheath together is 13 5/8” long.