1880s NATIVE AMERICAN SIOUX PAINT DECORATED PARFLECHE HIDE KNIFE SHEATH & KNIFE

Description

Very rare and original, ca1880's Native American Northern Plains (likely Sioux) Indian Pigment Decorated, Buffalo Hide Parfleche Knife Sheath with what appears to be its original 1860 patent Lamson, Goodnow & Co. Trade Knife.
This outstanding, 19th century Sioux Parfleche Knife Sheath measures approx. 7 3/4" long and 2 1/2" at its widest point. The Sheath is made from what appears to be repurposed parfleche. Over many decades of use, the parfleche of the Sheath has formed and stiffened to create an interior channel that perfectly conforms to the Trade Knife that it holds
This wonderful Sioux Parfleche Sheath is hide bound and features bold, traditional mineral pigment painted geometric designs executed colors of yellow, red, blue, and green. It retains its original rawhide ties at the top.
The Knife measures 9 1/4” long overall and has a two piece, walnut handle secured by four brass rivets and a two piece steel bolster held in place by a single rivet. The blade is likely a bit reduced at the tip from decades of use and repeated sharpening over the years. The left side of the blade is is stamped with the makers mark – Lamson Goodnow & Co / Patented March 6, 1860”.
In the mid 19th century Lamson Goodnow & Co. skinning knives were a staple of the Fur Trade and thousands ended up in the hands of the Tribes of the Northern Plains. According to Steven Dick, writing in 2015 for Real World Survivor: “When the steam ship Bertrand sank in the Missouri river on its way to the Montana buffalo herds in 1865, a significant part of its cargo was L&G knives. A lot of those skinning knives would have been needed out on the buffalo range. The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs also bought thousands and thousands of blades off the company for treaty reparations to western tribes. One single government order during the 1870s was for 18,852 knives! If someone were to ask what the most common knife found on the belt of a Plains Indian warrior would have been, I would have to say the odds were very high that it was one of Lamson & Goodnow’s. Obviously, these knives weren’t just used by the Plains Indians. I know of one L&G hunting knife on display in Deadwood, South Dakota, that is stated to have belonged to Wild Bill Hickok. There is also a photo taken when Hickok was working in a wild west show with what, to my eye, appears to be a large Lamson & Goodnow hunter thrust under his belt. L&G blades may have been plain, but they were hard-working tools fully up to handling frontier life.”
The Parfleche Sheath and Trade Knife offered here are unconditionally guaranteed original and of the period. They are NOT reproductions or modern recreations but an original Northern Plains / Sioux Decorated Parfleche Knife Sheath and Lamson Goodnow & Co. Trade Knife crafted in the mid to late 19th century. The Sheath and Knife come with our “no questions asked” return privilege and our lifetime guarantee of authenticity as well as the authentication mentioned above. They are guaranteed to be deemed authentic, original and as described by any qualified third party authentication service.
This very rare and wonderful, ca1880's Paint Decorated, Parfleche Sheath is in very good condition. All of the buffalo hide elements are well preserved, sound and strong with no repairs of any kind. There is some scuffing at the front edge of the Sheath. The surface decoration is very beautiful but does show some wear from decades of use.
The Knife is also in very good condition - showing age appropriate wear from extended use but with no significant damage. The blade does show signs of having been sharpened over the years but both the handle and blade are sound and well preserved.
All elements of the Sheath and Knife are original and there has been no repairs or restorations.
A very rare and wonderful, ca1880's Native American Northern Plains / Sioux Indian, Paint Decorated Buffalo Hide Parfleche Knife Sheath and original, Lamson Goodnow & Co. Trade Knife and a fantastic addition to any collection!!!
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