Cleaning out my grandmothers blanket chest I came across these. I believe they belonged to my grandfather, who passed away in 1974. I've never seen anything this size or shape. Any idea what they are or when they were made? There were a couple cigar boxes of other stone tools.
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Flint Tool ID help
- Thread starter walnutred
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Outstanding early Indian pieces. Look online for some reference of spear points and knves.
A spearpoint and a knife, I think. I've seen spearpoints that look similar, but never a knife that looked like that. Maybe take them to a museum or university, or find experts, specialists, online and email them photos to inquire as to origins, etc.
Or, to start, plug photos into Google Images and see what turns up. I tried this with your spearpoint, and found some similar items. No luck with the knife, though.
Or, to start, plug photos into Google Images and see what turns up. I tried this with your spearpoint, and found some similar items. No luck with the knife, though.
A couple times a year the Ohio Historical Society has artifact identification days and I expect that a visit is in order. Given the sizes, if they are authentic, I have believe they were ceremonial, not functional. I've had one person suggest they are of modern make. However as I said they have been in the family for at least 50 years. I know there are a few knappers today who can do this quality of work. I'm not sure that was the case in the 1960s or earlier.
There are many really good replicas out there. But a knowledgeable person should be able to tell if they are real or not. The vast majority of spear points and knives were not nearly that big. Just FYI. Plenty of modern flint knappers out there, too. My father and I used to do it years ago.
The spear point looks usable. The knife, not so much. Imagine trying to use it with that handle poking into / cutting your hand. Other than that, I know nothing about it. I have a few smaller arrowheads that I found and purchased many years ago, but nothing larger.
I do have a cousin who was doing flint knapping back in the 60s and early 70s. If I remember correctly he sold them to a couple of antique stores for 50 cents each back then. I imagine they then passed them off as authentic native artifacts, which they certainly were not.
I do have a cousin who was doing flint knapping back in the 60s and early 70s. If I remember correctly he sold them to a couple of antique stores for 50 cents each back then. I imagine they then passed them off as authentic native artifacts, which they certainly were not.
DWalt
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This may help some.
Projectile Points Identification
Projectile Points Identification
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Having grown up in Virginia near The Great Dismal swamp in a house built in 1768 used to find lots of assorted “ relics” in the fields after they were plowed. Have a mount somewhere full of assorted points. Son found a “ complete Manhattan revolver about a foot under ground in front of the old carriage shed with metal detecter. Cylinder was rusted out and no grips but it is what it is.
If they are authentic, any idea where they were collected?
I expect that if the knife is original the shaft was inserted into a split wooden handle, wrapped with rawhide and sealed with boiled resin.
My Grandfather farmed most of his life in Delaware County, Ohio. If they are items he found that's where they came from. I'm 90% sure that's where the other stone tools came from because they are all Eastern Woodland patterns in styles that span a few thousand years.
If I thought Pacific Islanders were doing knapping in the 1950s I could almost picture the "knife" as being from that part of the world. Part of a Cargo Cult artifact due to the unusual shape. Google Cargo Cults then picture a bayonet on a rifle.
DWalt
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Such items are or were very commonly found in Southern Ohio, along the Ohio River. Many tribes lived in that area for thousands of years. Moderate weather and abundant game. In my youngster years I found many arrowheads and other artifacts, whole and partial, often in creek beds. But nothing like that knife. No idea whatever happened to them. Probably thrown away.
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kimporter
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Knife is definitely not real,been collecting arrowheads 60 years and studying them same amount of time,spear point is made on the “Dovetail”pattern and looks like a reproduction as well,doesn’t seem to have the patina of something that’s been in the ground for 1500 years
