🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Fur trade copper arrowhead?

DiggerKid2003

Sr. Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2014
Messages
469
Reaction score
1,103
Golden Thread
0
Location
Spotsylvania VA
Detector(s) used
Garret At Pro, Garret Pro Pointer, Wireless Z-Lynk headphones.
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Hello everyone, my uncle found this many years ago here in central Virginia and we believe it is a crude fur trade arrowhead. It is made out of copper and is about an inch and a half to 2 inches long. It is very old copper and certainly looks like it was hand cut in the shape of an arrowhead. Is this a fur trade arrowhead like we think, and if so ls there any ways of identifying these or knowing the approximate value? Appreciate any help.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3742.webp
    IMG_3742.webp
    632.2 KB · Views: 114
  • IMG_3743.webp
    IMG_3743.webp
    714.3 KB · Views: 89
could be, they have no exact shape, size and material.
 

Upvote 0
could be, they have no exact shape, size and material.
Kinda what I figured. They were all unique to the maker. Couldn’t find many other examples at all online, and nothing similar to this. Guess it’s one of those “if it looks like it, then it probably is” situations
 

Upvote 1
I'm leaning towards identifying this as an early 1800s trade-era copper point. It's on the larger side, and while most were not finished with serrations, some were. These points come in all shapes and sizes, down to small bird points. I've even found some copper and iron points with throwback styles that resemble Clovis and Dalton period points.

Obviously, I can't say for certain, as it's quite raw. However, I assume your point is made from European scrap copper but was likely manufactured by a local Native American in your area. Native Americans became quite skilled at working with metal, typically using parts from pots, broken gun pieces and any other metal scrap.

One of the most overlooked trade goods at the time was chisels and files. As you can see, they probably used a chisel, since the left blade appears to have been lined up several times to create that edge. Typically, they would eventually finish the piece with abrasion stones, giving it a less raw appearance. Your example would have been finished with serrations on both sides.

I have found a decent amount of metal points unfinished, I imagine they would bounce off while trying to strike them, holding a hammer or trade ax in one hand and lining up the chisel in the other.

Ive attach a few pics of the reverse. I wonder how many detectorists find the reverse punch of these points and not realize what they have. Note the file marks on the V shaped items
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2498.webp
    IMG_2498.webp
    1.6 MB · Views: 20
  • View recent photos.webp
    View recent photos.webp
    88.9 KB · Views: 22
  • View recent photos (1).webp
    View recent photos (1).webp
    199.3 KB · Views: 22
Upvote 4
Interesting piece. Thanks for sharing with us.
 

Upvote 1
Hello everyone, my uncle found this many years ago here in central Virginia and we believe it is a crude fur trade arrowhead. It is made out of copper and is about an inch and a half to 2 inches long. It is very old copper and certainly looks like it was hand cut in the shape of an arrowhead. Is this a fur trade arrowhead like we think, and if so ls there any ways of identifying these or knowing the approximate value? Appreciate any help.
Nice recovery on the kettle point.
I like the way it was folded to get one side.

Like others have stated they come in many styles, shapes, sizes.

It could date earlier than the 1800s.

Here is a steel one and a copper one.
Both have to be post 1800s.
The steel one is from southern interior of BC and was the early 1800s for fur traders.
20231223_211306.jpg


The copper point was from the stream on the edge of my property. Area was settled 1820s, but was a travel route for 1,000s of yrs.
20231223_211252.jpg
 

Upvote 2

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Discussions

Back
Top Bottom