Notes on Hopewell Treaty of 1785 and Holstein Treaty of 1791
Letter from Tams Bixby, Commissioner of the Five Civilized Tribes
A knife sheath painted inside and out and a metal knife with a wooden handle / Native American; Plains
Essay/Description
A leather knife sheath with painted designs and a metal knife with a wooden handle.
Most sheaths were made to match the shape of the blade, the most common blade form being curved on one end and straight on the other. The sheaths typically covered not only “the blade but also the majority of the handle,” which decreased the chance of the knife falling out or getting lost (Taylor 2001, 52). Quillwork and beadwork decorated the sheaths, and the designs used often signified the owner (Taylor 2001, 51-54).
