Deer foot sheath, bead/tin cone- Meriden Antler Handle Knife P St John, Mohawk
A deer's foot with hoof (hooves & dew claws) has been made into a knife sheath by Paul St John, Mohawk craftsman. He has added a vintage Meriden Cutlery knife with "stag" handle to this sheath. Sheath is of soft tanned deer hide w/sueded side on inside of sheath. Paul has added the deer foot to front of the sheath. Knife sheath is longer in the back and on back of back Paul has sewn a loop for adding this knife/knife sheath to your belt.
The sheath is entirely handsewn. The sheath has 6 vintage larger red white heart trade beads at the opening, on each side of the opening is a tin wrapped red dyed deer hair bundle with similar "dangles" at middle of each side of the sheath.The tin is topped with a smaller vintage. Knife's total length is 10.25" long; blade 6", handle 4.25. Sheath is 8.5" long in front from opening to bottom of deer hoof, 2.25" across at top and the back is 11.75 long from top of back to bottom of deer hoof. The belt loop is about 3" long and 1" wide.
The tin/bead/red dyed deer hair dangles are 3"-3.5" long. This style of sheath and the knife could have been made by someone of nearly any tribe.
Will look great on your belt - as part of your regalia etc - or in a display. Ask if you are interested in that. John now lives in Maine, near his mother's Passamaquoddy, Maliseet and Micmac relatives. He is an enrolled Mohawk and grew up on the Mohawk lands in New York, his father's tribe. Last photo in slideshow is of Paul St John and 2 of his other works.