Metis Knife with sheath

The Metis trade knife features a substantial drop point profile, and a good deep belly for skinning and butchering.  This would also be an excellent all-around utility knife. It's a solid, stout go-to choice for your everyday needs.

Metis knive is excellent handmade fully functional reproduction of the types of knives that were prevalent during the French-Canadian exploration period. They are called "trade knives" because these styles were favored by the French Canadians fur traders.

Also, these knives were sometimes used as a form of practical currency, which was more immediately useful than paper or metallic money, and took up less space and weight in their pack. These knives were especially useful in trading with the Native because they did not have the ability to make anything from metal, so they relied on European traders for all of their metal items, and knives were understandably a very popular item for them to trade for.

Metis knives blade material is 1095 carbon steel (0.95%) and is thinner than most belt knives, making it better than average at slicing tasks. The heat treating on the blade results in a pattern that is similar to that of Damascus Steel. The knife has a full tang and the handle sandwiches onto either side with small brass rivets. The handle is polished and stained maple, and each knife comes with a hand-crafted leather sheath. The knife slides firmly into the sheath, and wide belt loop is firmly riveted to the sheath, making for a well-finished final product. 

The Metis knife have a decorative notch at the base of the blade, called a "sinew notch," "Spanish notch," or "choil" by some. Folks have different opinions on its purpose, ranging from decorative, to stripping sinew, to being a convenient stopping point while sharpening, to being a way to prevent blood from running down the blade and onto your hand. It adds character to the knife and is a testament to the attention to historical accuracy that River Traders puts into their work.

All Metis Knives are similar in terms of materials, construction, and quality, with each model having different measurements and a different blade or handle profile.

Below are the detailed measurements of this knife.

• Blade Material: 1095 carbon steel (0.95%)
• Knife Length: 9 inches (22.9 cm)
• Blade Length: 4.75 inches (12.1 cm)
• Blade Width: 1.15 inches (2.9 cm)
• Blade Thickness: 0.06 inches (1.5 mm)
• Knife Weight: 3.5 ounces (99 grams)
• Handle Length: 4.25 inches (10.8 cm)
• Pommel: rounded wood
• Handle Circumference: 3 inches (7.6 cm)
• Handle Material: stained and polished maple
• Sheathed Weight: 5 ounces (142 grams)
• Sheathed Length: 9.75 inches (24.8 cm)
• Belt Loop Width: 3 inches (7.6 cm)

Handmade by River Traders Knifes in USA