Title: Dene Athabascan Double Volute Dagger. Description: The dagger is made from a single piece of metal, possibly from a file or other steel product. It is characteristic of those made by the Dene (Athabascan) in the mid to late 1800’s. Prior to contact with Euro-Americans, the Athabascan people made their edged weapons from Native copper then switched to file or steel for their blades post contact. According to researchers John Witthoft and Frances Eyman (Metallurgy of the Tlingit, Dene and Eskimo, Expedition Magazine, 1969), the Athabascan used both heat treatment and stress hardening as methods for controlling strength and edge-hardness. The unique handles with single or double volute motif may have been influenced by the eastern Algonkian people or may have older roots from the people of northern China or Siberia. According to the researchers mentioned above, this design shows up in North America only with the Athabascan and with a type of hair ornament used in Tlingit culture. The Athabascan used these knives in a utilitarian manner. Some were attached to long staffs and used in hunting bear or were used to wound a moose or caribou driven into the water where a hunter could paddle near the animal and stab it with his dagger. On reaching shore, the wounded animal would be dispatched with bows and arrows or other weapons. Original hide wrapping on the handle area. Originates from my grandfather’s estate. I guarantee this knife to be authentic. Thank you so much for looking! Culture: Aboriginal – Dene Indian. The item “Original Dene Athabascan Double Volute Forged Dagger & Hide Wrapped 1850-1890″ is in sale since Wednesday, March 13, 2019. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Cultures & Ethnicities\Native American\ US\1800-1934\Weapons”. The seller is “relicandroll” and is located in Johnson City, Tennessee. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Tribal Affiliation: Athabascan
