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A beaded knife sheath and metal knife with a wood handle
Native American; Plains
A leather knife sheath decorated with brass buttons
Native American; Crow, possibly Blackfeet
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A knife sheath painted inside and out and a metal knife with a wooden handle / Native American; Plains

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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).

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©Gilcrease Museum
Title(s): 
A knife sheath painted inside and out and a metal knife with a wooden handle
Culture: 
Native American; Plains
Date: 
late 19th century
Period: 
Historic
Place: 
Great Plains, United States of America
Materials/Techniques: 
leather, pigment, wood, metal
Classification: 
Ethnographic Objects
Object Type: 
Knife and Sheath
Accession No: 
84.784a-b
Previous Number(s): 
84.784 a-b; 84.784 a&b
Department: 
Anthropology
Collection: 
Kravis Discovery Center
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