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Collection of Native American Woodland Northern New England Crooked Knives The Crooked Knife is an extremely handy tool used for woodworking and was popular with Indian people of the Eastern Woodlands especially common in northern New England, Alaska and Canada, although examples have been found throughout North America. In use, it is drawn toward the body for hollowing out the insides of wooden objects such as bowls, spoons, and masks, making splints for baskets, and even simple whittling, as well as many other uses. The crooked knife sometimes referred to as a "curved knife", "carving knife," or "mocotaugan," from the Cree term "môhkotâkan," is a woodworking knife, typically with a curved end. The crooked knife is a common tool found amongst the native Americans of the Eastern Woodlands as well as non-native woodworkers. The crooked in "crooked knife" refers to its unusual shape with the handle set at an oblique angle to the blade. The blade can be straight or curved, long or short and can be made of a steel forged specifically for the knife, or from reused hardened steel from another source. The shape of the blade, whether curved or straight, is a function of the carving purpose of the user: straight for whittling wood, making splints for baskets and incising, curved for hollowing out bowls and masks and ladles, as well as myriad other usages. (Wikipedia) The knifes shape can tell one if the user was left-handed or right-handed. The blade angels up and away from the blade edge opposite of the hand the knife was made for. Early crooked knives often used telegraph wire to secure the blade to the handle. These crooked knives are from the Nicholas Starr collection, Exeter, New Hampshire. 1 New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife having a maple handle that has an extra long handle having a carved thumb holder. #357a     2 An early New England Woodland woodland Indian Crooked Knife. This knife has a sharp 80 degree bend in the handle and it has been very nicely chip carved with a carved thumb stop. This knife, which has a handle fashioned from Yellow Birch, has a ferrule wrapped with copper wire. #571     3 An early northern New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife fashioned from pine with a wire-wrapped ferrule. This artfully crafted early tool has a fancy upswing back and a a carved thumb wrest. #763     4 An early northern New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife. This Yellow Birch handle knife has an extra wide 80 degree sweep to the handle. The thumb stop has been decoratively carved and the ferrule is wrapped with steel wire. #453     5 An early Northern New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife. This graphic knife has a chip carved handle and an iron ferrulle as well as copper wire wrapping. it is marked with the initials "D.Y." and "CVD". #240     6 classic woodland New England Indian Crooked Knife having a wide applewood handle, a steel wire ferrule and an extra deep recess carved for the heel of the hand. #94     7 classic woodland northern New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife Having a yellow birch handle, a 90 degree crook to the end of the handle and a copper wire ferrule. #744     8 An early northern New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife. This knife has a chip carved handle and a wire wrapped ferrule. #88 SOLD     9 An early northern New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife having a figural finial and a wire wrapped ferrule. This well made and well preserved knife is carved with the initials of the original owner, one "D.J.C." #704 SOLD     10 Northern New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife having a ""scroll"" type finial and a wire wrapped ferrule.#732 SOLD   11 Northern New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife having a "scroll" type finial and a wire wrapped ferrule. #523 SOLD   12 Northern New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife. This knife has a wide applewood handle and a brass wire wrapped ferrule.#377 SOLD     13 New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife including one extra heavy type having an 80 degree bend in the pine handle and a wire ferrule.#357b SOLD     14 Early Northern New England Woodland India Crooked Knife having a short curved handle, a deep thumb pocket and a wire wrapped ferrule. #211 SOLD     15 Northern New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife Having a wide applewood handle and decorated with chip carving, There is a chip missing from the handle of this knife, which has a copper wire wrapped ferrule. #120 SOLD     16 Woodland Northern New England Woodland Indian Crooked Knife Having an angular Yellow Birch and a cord wrapped ferrule.#93 SOLD

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