Tlingit combat knife
| Tlingit combat knife | |
|---|---|
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| Information | |
| Weapon type: | Dagger, combat knife |
| Use: | weapon |
| Creation time: | around 18th century |
| Region of origin / author: |
Tlingit (people) , ethnic groups in Alaska , Canada |
| Distribution: | Alaska, Canada |
| Handle: | Metal, wrapped with hair |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Tlingit combat knife is a weapon native to Alaska and Canada used by the Tlingit .
description
The Tlingit combat knife has two wide, double-edged, wedge-shaped blades of different sizes that are connected to one another in the handle. The hilt is studded with copper and wrapped with hair to better grip the dagger. There are several types of Tlingit combat knives. The single-blade versions usually have a carved wooden handle, which represents the totem of the owner's family. In the two-bladed version, the shorter blade was used to make cuts and blows against the opponent's face. The enemy was distracted by a hit and a second blow with the longer blade was used to kill. The material for the Tlingit daggers came from natural sources or was obtained from the fur trade with the Europeans. The Tlingit worked metal even before the arrival of the first Europeans.
Individual evidence
literature
- Pliny Earle Goddard: Indians of the Northwest Coast. American Museum Press, 1924, p. 107
