Hudson Museum Scavenger Hunt: Wabanaki Crooked Knives

Who made them?

Crooked knives are one-handed draw knives developed by the Native Peoples of the Northeast to shape wood.

What were they made of

The handles were made of wood or antler.

Crooked knife with antler handle. — HM6300 – Mi’kmaq crooked knife with handle made of antler.

Pre-contact knives used beaver or porcupine incisors which created a natural curved blade. After contact, flat steel files, farriers’ knives, or straight razors were used for blades.

The blade was secured to the handle with sinew lashing, pitched string, wrapped wire, or a metal sleeve.

Image of knife with copper wire lashing — HM7029 – Mi’kmaq crooked knife with copper wire lashing.

What were they used for?

They were designed to shape wooden objects such as baskets, axe handles, canoe frames, paddles, clubs, snowshoe frames, bowls, dishes, etc.

Image showing a man in a chair carving with a knife — HM7182.33 – Peter Neptune using a crooked knife.

Because of their utility they were adopted by Franco-American, Franco, Anglo-Canadian, and Scandinavian woodsmen and are still used today.

Artists use them to make wooden carvings, ax handles, waterfowl decoys, and more!

Image of carved knife handle. — HM6302 – Mi’kmaq crooked knife. This knife features a face carved into the end of the handle.

To find the next code:

Head back to the entrance and stand in front of the door. Face the exhibits, look for a warm looking coat, and head towards it. Look in the same exhibit as the coat, and try to find a pair of very small shoes. You can scan the QR code when you find them, or click here to continue.