Researching (late) Hudson Bay era trade knives?

[Ned Buckshot]

I've been trying to research this subject and Great Lakes region Indian knife sheaths. I've found some examples of knives from that era but not much for sheaths.

My goal is to build a resonably accurate knife and sheath that could perhaps have been found in northern Minnesota (the original Great Northwest) in the 1840's or so.

Any online referance material? Getting to the Library is a real pain for me but if thats all there is?

Thanks in advance.

Ned

[St. George]

In this instance, beyond typing in 'Hudson's Bay knives' and keeping your fingers crossed - you're going to have to go to the Public Library and find a helpful librarian to order some things for you.

Look under 'Indian Trade Relics' and under 'Hudson's Bay'.

Lar Hothem has several price guides - some are available at Barnes and Noble's - and they're heavily illustrated with all manner of Indian Trade Goods.

They're quite interesting - and since you'll be looking for pictures and not pricing relics - you may find older copies available at sed book stores.

You might also look at different Buckskinner websites, since this falls under their field of interest, and they're noted for period accuracy, so what you'll be seeing is pretty much what there was.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[ChuckBurrows]

Ned - I've got some info and ideas I'll post later, but in the meantime look up:
1) Metis sheaths knives sheath knife, etc. -  the Metis were the mixed bloods of the area and were famous for their leather and beadwork.
2) Hudson Bay camp knife and Hudson Bay buffalo knife - just two types specific to the Hudson Bay company that were being built at the time you specifiy. The Hudson Bay dag was another - Sir Charles started a post on those a while back.
a couple of links for you:
HBC Camp Knife - http://www.fholder.com/Blacksmithing/article2.htm
Metis style knife - http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_metis/fp_metis3.html
Various knives & sheaths: http://www.splendidheritage.com/nindex.html - under category select knife-knife case, then click the display button on the left. Scroll down through the thumbnails on the left and you will see: Metis, Ojibway, Cree, etc all of the Great Lakes area

Ignore most of the vendor sites when searching since far too often they just apply a good sounding name to something that has nothing to do with it........

Other common knives of the era were the scalper and the ubiquitus butcher knife of which the 7-8" Russell Green River butcher knife blade style is a good example - the only real difference being that the earlier knives used 5 or six iron pins rather than the later 3 cutler's rivets.

Order a copy of "The Fur Trade Cutlery Sketchbook" from Track of the Wolf - cost is $7.00 plus shipping, cheap and money well spent

[Ned Buckshot]

Thanks Guys, that'll get me started.

Interesting links Chuck, Thanks!

Ned

[Dr. Bob]

Ned,

I will try to send you a couple of pics from my iPhone tomorrow.  One HBC style camp knife & one with cutlery handle.  Go to Crazy Crow Trading Post for a modern made one.  The Sketch Book of the Fur Trade by James Hanson has a drawing of one in the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron NE.

[Ned Buckshot]

Thanks Dr., I appreciate all the help I can get.

Ned

[manassas dragon]

i just noticed that the hudson bay camp knife  is nearly identical to a becker bk-9 as made by ka-bar. i have one and it is an excellent knife. if you ground off the thumb rest at the top front of the handle and replaced the scales,you would have a
very close facsimile to the hudson bay knife. you can get one in the $70 range.