crooked knife

crooked knife

crooked knife

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Introduction

Crooked knife with wooden handle with tapered butt, and curved metal blade tied on with twine. The direction of the upward curve in relation to the blade indicates this is a knife for a right-handed user. This type of knife is common among Northeast Woodlands tribes, and were used for making canoes, paddles, snow shoes, sleds, spoons, bowls etc. This knife is listed as being from Nova Scotia, making it likely to be Mi'kmaq. The mi'kmaq word for this kind of knife is awa'qi'gn (crooked knife)

Name of Maker(s): Unknown maker
Nation of Maker: Other
Nation of Origin

Probably Mi'kmaq

Date Made or Date Range: prior to 1929
Materials

wood, metal, iron, twine

Dimensions: 230 × 27 × 0 mm
Condition: good
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Item listed in 1929 catalogue (see collection & acquisition history tab)

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: ABDUA:5577
Link to Institution's Collections Database: ABDUA:5577 CALMView
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: prior to 1929
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Professor Sir Alexander Ogston
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: prior to 1929
Previous Collectors: Unknown
GKS Reference Number: 59100
How to Cite this Item

“Crooked knife”, catalogue number ABDUA:5577 in the University of Aberdeen Museums and Special Collections, is licenced under CC By 4.0.

Record Creation Context

Created as part of the Caring and Sharing project 2020-2022

Approximate Place of Origin

43.6, -71.9

Source of Information about Places

The item is listed as coming from Nova Scotia