The lot features an incredibly interesting 19th Century extremely large dag knife with carved dog head end. The knife itself shows a dag “stabber” knife which is Indian blacksmith forged using a large rasp file and worked into a traditional beaver back or beaver tail pattern. The handle shows a one-piece grip with poured bullet led artful inlaid bolster and large dog head pommel butt. The handle shows old red mineral paint and small brass tack’s for the canine’s eyes along with brass trade tacks along the top. The trade tacks along the top are solid brass square shank as one is broken off exposing the square shank. The piece is possibly from the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers or Dog Men (Hotametaneo’o), a military society of the circa 1830-1870’s. The dog soldiers played a dominant role in the Cheyenne resistance to the westward expansion in the U.S. in states of Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming / Montana. The blade shows a tapering thickness with the thickest point at the center and a unique paddle beaver tail design having the rasp file cuts visible throughout and displaying a nice patina with some pitting. The lead inlay shows a round tapering band at the blade to handle connect which flows into the single line on each side and round end, seen on Cheyenne inlaid pipes. The handle has a smooth shiny patina and nice coloring with some of the paint being worn off along with some natural cracking. Overall the piece is in solid condition. Measures 18.75”L with a blade that is 10”L by about 3”W.