just turned this one out !

[beowulf]

black foot dag !

[William]

Me like!
Give us some details such as materials you used, the type of grind on the blade and what defines this as a Blackfoot knives.

[old salt]

Sweeet 

[beowulf]

historically the bear jaw handled knife was known as a "black foot dag "  from what I`ve found in research . it was a piece usually carried by a member  of the bear clan .  this one I`ve been working on for about a week ! the blade is carbon steel , just over 7 inches in length , and about 1/8 inch thick . handle is of course the jaw bone of a black bear , it`s been wrapped with german tanned elk and copper wire . something that was common after the telegraph was put into use . it also has a scalp lock made from a human hair wig . blade bevel is short , rather like some nordic knives, something that would have been do able without any fancy tools .  but it does take a good edge ! scabbard is deer skin over 6 oz oaktan cow , decorated with 5/0 beads , a couple of brass cones and hair , and there is a bear paw and three spots on the front done in black .  the back has a belt loop . and I`ve aged it a tad , did`nt look right all shiny and new ! lol. I`ve done knives of a similar style before , a couple of patch knives with coyote handles and a very small 2 inch long overall stone bladed possum jaw knife for my niece when she was a kid ! it was her fairy hunting knife !  but this is my first full size piece ! frankly I`m amazed it turned out as nice as it did , considering the crappy tools I h had to use ! 

[hotfxr]

Very nice. I have zero skills when it comes to making a decent blade like that. But I am always willing to do product testing, hint hint.   

[beowulf]

Very nice. I have zero skills when it comes to making a decent blade like that. But I am always willing to do product testing, hint hint.   

well ! it is listed on etsy ! lol https://www.etsy.com/listing/467784170/black-foot-dag?ref=shop_home_active_1

[crazell]

Great job on this. Love the color's. Thanks for sharing the pictures and description.

[beowulf]

should have included a couple of other facts , this is one style of "black foot dag " there are others , including the double edged trade knives that were seen here in the east ! and also , that the lakota and some other tribes used the same type of knife ! but they are known as blackfoot dags , for one reason or another !   one of these will be my next project . already have the blade finished , and some curly maple for the handle ! these , like the bear jaw handle knife are known all over the continent , and even though we here in the east think of them as  a trade item you`d have seen in the great lakes area , and the north east , the example in the photo is a plains indian piece ! when I get it put together and finished I`ll post pics !

[Hanshi]

You really did do a bang up job on that knife and sheath.

[William]

Thanks for posting all this great information Beowulf, I enjoyed the read.

[Patocazador]

Did you file that tooth to sharpen it? I never saw an unbroken tooth that pointy.

[beowulf]

Did you file that tooth to sharpen it? I never saw an unbroken tooth that pointy.

nope ! that`s the one cheat involved ! all the teeth were missing , I made that tooth !  it`s carved from a chunk of rather thick beef bone ! and yep , it does have a root just like the original !  polished up nice , should age it a bit , to white ! I`ve had a few bears teeth and they usually are`nt that white !