Tools and equipment

Hand Crooked Knife (Mocotaugan)

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Type: Tools and equipment(Opens in new tab)
Date: 19th Century
Accession number: 2016.25.137
Maker: Unknown, American(Opens in new tab) (American)
Dimensions: knife: 1 7/8 x 8 3/4 x 3 1/2 in. (4.8 x 22.2 x 8.9 cm.) mount: 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. (6.4 x 3.8 cm.) overall (with mount): 6 3/8 x 3 1/4 x 3 1/2 in. (16.2 x 8.3 x 8.9 cm.)
Medium: wood, iron, cord
Description: Carved wood handle in the form of a hand, thumb meeting finger tips and bent wrist, with metal blade; Northeastern Woodlands.
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A mocotaugan (crooked knife) is a type of draw knife used by Northeastern Woodlands cultures for carving or making wood splints for baskets. The user graps the wooden handle and draws the metal cutting blade towards the body. Decorative handles with carved figures, such as animals, geometric forms, or even ships figure heads are common. This extraordinary knife is in the shape of a human hand.

Hand Crooked Knife (Mocotaugan)

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