Well Yannis, i think that there is a lot more you need to take into account when looking at authentic 19thC Native American weapons. First of all, the collector is probably just as interested (if not more) in the native bead work and the belt as they are in the knike. The blade, afterall, is a trade blade, not actually crafted by a Native American. Weapons like these, especially so intact, are rather rare items. Remember, the U.S. was on a campaign of genocide against these people in the second half of the 19thC, determined not only to eliminate the "Indian threat", but their culture as well. The ones that weren't killed were to be "civilized", christainized, their cultural heritage and languages were forbidden, to be left behind. So to those who collect and study these things i am sure this knife is considered quite valuable. It's not always a matter of the quality of the steel.
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