Carving Knife

MOA: University of British Columbia

3140/2

Carving knife with a short steel blade, round metal neck piece and wooden handle. Knife looks as if it may have originally been manufactured/store bought, then modified by hand to fit better. The handle, neck and lower part of blade have red paint remnants and/or splatters. The blade shows major sharpening marks.

  • Narrative

    The donor was a woodwook teacher at Britannia Secondary (Vancouver) in the early '80s, where they had initiated an after school program of introducing First Nations youth to some First Nations artists, including Bill Reid. The artists came into the classroom to show students various art forms, including carving, making carving tools, and drum making. Reid used the notebook (3140/1) to illustrate designs to the students. He also carved knife handles and demonstrated curved knife making in order to teach the students how to make their own carving tools.


  • Type of Item knife
  • Culture Haida
  • Material steel metal, wood, paint
  • Measurements height 3.0 cm, width 3.3 cm, depth 21.2 cm (overall)

  • Previous Owner Bill Reid, F. Robert Sharpe
  • Received from F. Robert Sharpe

  • Made in British Columbia

  • Creation Date between 1980 and 1990
  • Ownership Date before November 9, 2015
  • Acquisition Date on November 9, 2015

  • Condition good
  • Accession Number 3140/0002