Various Odd Handled Knives

In my endeavors to create useful items from found and repurposed material I decided to try to make some knives using uncommon wood, and scrap metal. The results are rough renditions and not intended to be gallery objects nor reproductions of authentic Abenaki tools of any time period. There are many different Abenaki words meaning a knife. Nsakwagw, jakwagwiz, wigwashigan and belaghagenigan are a few names for these specialized cutting tools. The uppermost knife has a walnut handle from an old broken gun stock. Next down is sumac. Following that is one of high bush blueberry. Next is one of shad plum, then wild apple. The two similar knives on bottom have thick hand hammered copper blades with spalted rhododendron handles. And finally the knife on right in the photo has a polished antler handle. Old nails were used for rivets as was some rawhide hafting and old saw blades. A beeswax and oil finish was applied. I often craft replica Abenaki and colonial American tools but I enjoy experimenting in order to discover what the ancestors might have made and used.

Patrick Lamphere, “Blackhand”, VAAA, St. Francis/Sokoki Band, Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, #65954