Ken Gahagan Knife with a Lally House Sheath, Dan Shears Bark Basket

Knife and Sheath; Eastern Woodlands or Great lakes, tribe unknown, c. 1780

Knife – steel, wood, copper wire. Knife L. 23.6 cm.; 9 1/4 in.

Sheath – deerskin, dyed porcupine quill (red, white, and yellow), tin cone. Sheath L. 23.8 cm.; 9 1/2 in.

Carved at the end of the hilt is the head of a pig.

With the help of Lally House and Ken Gahagan I have been able to duplicate a piece of history for the exhibit/kit I use with the Boy Scouts. I’m also sending you some pics of a Bark basket by Dan Shears of Adams, Massachusetts that I have also added to that kit. The quills are from Lally’s work bench and are all naturally died; she was more than happy to help in keeping the tradition alive…..

Copy and photos supplied by Mitch Cook.