Sámi knife (large)

Object/Artifact

-

The Askmo Collection

Name/Title

Sámi knife (large)

Entry/Object ID

ACC0001

Description

This is a larger traditional Sámi knife with a beautifully engraved sheath. The materials used are reindeer antler, birch, leather, and metal (for the blade and rivets). These are the materials naturally available in Lapland. This type of knife has remained substantially unchanged since the Iron Age, when the Sámi began trading for iron before producing their own. Older Sámi knives would have had a blade made of slate or reindeer antler. These latter ones would have been more or less unchanged since the Mesolithic. The sheath's lower part is engraved reindeer antler, and the upper part is leather and also decorated. The pummel is a flared-out shape with a flat top, all made of reindeer antler. The handle is made of birch. The backside of the sheath is engraved with the initials "E L" presumably reflecting the initials of the owner's name.

Use

Hunting, fishing, and camp life.

Category

Sámi collection
Askmo Ski Collection

Made/Created

Artist

Unknown

Time Period

19th Century

Place

* Untyped Place

Sápmi

Ethnography

Cultural Region

State/Province

Swedish Lapland

Continent

Europe

* Untyped Cultural Region

Arctic North

Culture/Tribe

Sámi
Arctic hunter-gatherers

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Geometrical decorative engravings on the front of the lower part of the sheath, with initials "E L" engraved on the back. The upper part of the sheath is made of leather and displays two stamped stylized flowers plus four lines also stamped.

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall length is listed below. The length of the knife alone is 23.5 cm, the blade is 13 cm, and the handle is 10.2 cm. The sheath alone is 22 cm.

Width

3 cm

Length

30 cm

Material

Reindeer antler, birch, leather, and metal.

Color

White, Brown, Beige

Location

Location

* Untyped Location

Home office Taos

Date

October 11, 2025

Condition

Overall Condition

Excellent

Date Examined

Oct 11, 2025

Acquisition

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Date

Sep 17, 2019

Acquired From

Sámi in Jokkmokk

Created By

[email protected]

Create Date

October 11, 2025

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

August 27, 2026