(Buffalo?) Rib Bone Knife Found In A Field

[GopherDaGold]

Took advantage of the warmer weather to take a walk thru the countryside in Leasburg, MO. with my girlfriend. We were walking through some land she was selling when she picked up what looked like a long chunk of mud. After carefully scraping off most of the mud, we saw that it was some type of bone knife. We gently washed it off back at her place and I still haven't picked my jaw up off the floor. Has anyone seen a knife like this? Any idea how old? Any information would be appreciated. We only had her phone so we didn't even think to take in-situs at the time and I'm regretting that. I was too excited about getting it home and cleaning it properly.

 

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[biggmike]

Re: Rib Bone Knife Found In A Field

I found this article and picture. Don't know if it is the same though. Very nice find



Buffalo Rib Knife

The 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie called for all Sioux and Cheyenne to leave their land and come in to the reservation so they could become good Christian farmers, so the government could steal the rest of their land, and the gold that was on it. This mandate gave the army authority to bring in all Indian people, by what ever means necessary, Elders, women, and children had no choice, but most of the braves intended to live as free people, on their own land, as their forefathers had done, since the beginning of time.

At this point, they became"hostile renegades" with a price on their head. They had to live on the run without any aspect of village life. Now, the opportunity to make "points", from flint, for spears and arrows wasn't there, and with each battle their munitions were depleted, but not replaced, and survival depended upon weapons.

White buffalo hunters had recently slaughtered thousands of buffalo, for their hide and tongue, leaving rotting carcass on the plains. Each carcass could provide bone material that could quickly be turned into "points" for their weapons.

Every bone was saturated with infectious bacteria, that would cause most any wound to become "gangrenous" , leading to a horrible, painful death. The only treatment for this "gangrenous" wound was sulfur drug, cauterize, or amputation, all of which were highly unsuccessful.

Due to the slaughter at "Wounded Knee", in 1890, which destroyed the hearts , spirits, and any hope for future freedom for the people, the "bone knife" was short-lived , and hardly recorded in historical documents. It was a highly feared, extremely deadly weapon of the plains.

http://elkhorntrading.net/knives

 

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[hollowpointred]

Re: Rib Bone Knife Found In A Field

this gets my vote for a banner find. it is so unusual and cool you will never see another.

 

[GopherDaGold]

Re: Rib Bone Knife Found In A Field

Thanks!
So it could be a hastily crafted weapon used by a renegade Indian?

 

[kieser sousa/rip]

Re: Rib Bone Knife Found In A Field

That is a cool find.I also don't think it was made to cut or scrape....the notch cut into it would keep your hand from sliding forward onto the blade...so it was most likely made for stabbing.

 

[GopherDaGold]

Re: Rib Bone Knife Found In A Field

That is a cool find.I also don't think it was made to cut or scrape....the notch cut into it would keep your hand from sliding forward onto the blade...so it was most likely made for stabbing.

I was just thinking the same thing considering it's double-edged. I didn't think about the notch !

 

[romeo-1]

That find is BAD TO THE BONE!!! BANNER!!!

 

[olekyground]

That is one of the coolest field finds I have seen. I love the craftsmanship of the knife! A Beauty!!! I may be going on a limb here, but I vote banner...

 

[Michellets]

Nice find! Did you add a coating on it? I hope not.... It looks varnished in the photo, but I'm hoping it was the light. Try taking some pictures in daylight..... There must be some samples someone can post that show different styles, or are similar in design. Such a tool seems practical for a variety of reasons. If mamoth bones can survive so can bone tools. HH M

 

[GopherDaGold]

Nothing done but cleaning with a small brush and water.

 

[chkn]

Good Lord that's a find!!!

 

[Nutriasub]

Great find, very interesting!
I would love to hear about the history

 

[yaxthri]

I found this article and picture. Don't know if it is the same though. Very nice find




Buffalo Rib Knife

http://elkhorntrading.net/knives

Great find Gopher and good research BigMike!

 

[Ken in Georgia]

Nice going!!!!

 

[natepen]

Any new info on this?

 

[buzzgator]

Not tryin to be a downer here but it may have been whats called a squash knife, i have a rib knife and a member named larsen, over on the american indian artifact forum has found and posted several of them. I found mine in bollinger county Mo, i think larson is from one of the dakotas. Even so it is a fantastic find! Post ur pics over in the indian artifact section and i am sure u will get alot more info on it. Congrats on ur find!