Knives and Daggers of the Pacific Northwest Coast

Steel war dagger with abalone inlay, designed to represent a dogfish [although it appears to be a wolf]. Collected by A. Mackenzie, 1884, Haida, Masset, Queen Charlotte Islands (VII-B-948). Canadian Museum of History.

by Warrior Publications, Sept 30, 2015

Prior to European colonization, Indigenous peoples on the Pacific Northwest Coast used a variety of knives and daggers.  These were most commonly made from bone and, in the northern region, copper.  When the first European colonizers encountered Indigenous peoples along the coast in the late 1700s, they already had terms for iron and steel and were familiar with their uses as well as basic forging techniques.  It is speculated that iron and steel found their way to the coastal nations as a result of trade and ship wrecks.

Selecting a Knife for Bushcraft and Wilderness Use

Making a feather stick for fire starting.

by Zig Zag, Warrior Publications, September 18, 2014

“The knife is the smallest and most portable of all the cutting tools. Light and unobtrusive, the knife is readily available for hundreds of everyday tasks in bush living.”

(Mors Kochanski, Bushcraft, p. 109)

A knife is one of the most important tools for use in a wilderness area, whether for bushcraft or survival. It can be used to cut and carve wood for shelters, stakes, traps, hooks, spears, walking sticks, etc. It can be a vital tool when making a fire, from cutting and splitting wood to making friction fire drills, feather sticks, etc.  A knife is used to clean, skin, and butcher animals or fish, to cut rope or cordage, etc.   A knife can also be used as a weapon for self-defence.