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The SPIRIT of the OLD WEST is a website for those who answer the call of the OLD WEST! People interested in the history and artifacts of the Fur Trade, Civil War, Indian Wars, Cowboy and Native art and collectibles, shows, shooting, re-enactments, cool gear and looking good. For people who live, or like to travel in the old west, and who enjoy the western landscape and its wildlife. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness! Fur Trade & Hudson's Bay Company Collectibles          For those who answer the call of the Old West!
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Trade Axes - Hudson's Bay Company Trade Axes
Trade axes are perhaps one of the most important and essential trade items produced. The axe is a multipurpose tool. It was used for every day uses as well as for ceremonial purposes and could be used as a weapon when needed. These axes were imported from European countries by the thousands, although many were made on site at trading posts and forts by blacksmiths. These were hand forged, made from a single piece of iron, heated and folded over a mandrel to make an "eye" or hole for the handle and forge welded together. Sometimes referred to as a "Lap-weld". Early "eyes" were round holes. Later the eyes became tear-dropped or oval shaped and later still rectangular. Handles or "helve's" were made by the natives or white-traders. Many axe heads had maker's marks or commonly referred to as "touch marks". Touch marks were usually made with an iron "touching" the axe head when it was red hot, making a mark. Cast or factory made axe heads with makers marks are often referred to as "guild marks". The most commonly found style of axe heads are known as the "French" style, or "Biscay" style - since they were manufactured in the Biscay region of France. There are many other styles such as Spike axes, Squaw axes, Double flared blade axes, Trapper's Axes or
Hudson's Bay Axes are sometimes found with a notch to catch hold of a trap or chain. There is also the classic Tomahawk style which often has a "Pipe" stem. Peace Pipe Tomahawks were mostly made for ceremonial purposes and denoted status. Elaborate Peace Pipe Tomahawks are highly prized by collectors. There are many other shapes and styles of axes.
LINKS:
Firearms, Trade Goods and Weapons of New France
Trade Axe & Tomahawk Collectors Association
Ebay - Trade Axes & Tomahawks -- Authentic or Reproduction
1755 L'Histoire ET LES HISTOIRES -
Trade axes, Lamèque Island, circa 1645
Forums
BladeForum
REFERENCES:
Iron Trade Axe from the Plater-Martin Site
Indian Tomahawks & Frontier Belt Axes - by Hartzler, Daniel D. & James A. Knowles 1995
MANUFACTURERS & RETAILERS:
Wiseman Trading and Supply
Gransfors Tomahawks
Dicks Fine Tools
Native Arts Trading Co.
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Trade Beads - Hudson's Bay Company Trade Beads
Beads brought color to the native people. Before the white-man came native people made beads out of seashells, stones, bones and rolled copper. Most European beads are made of silicon, or glass, but they were also made of cast sand, metal and other materials. Many of these trade beads were made in Murano, Venice . Although beads are most often thought of as jewelry and adornment for clothing, they also possessed wealth. Since there was no money a couple of hundred years ago, beads were used as currency to barter for other goods. To some chiefs, especially on the west coast beads were important status symbols. To flaunt his wealth and importance, a chief might throw hundreds of trade beads away out into the water. Beads are still found along the beaches of the west coast today. Beads were also given to natives as gifts or while forming alliances or insurance of passage. Beads were often an important element in sealing a treaty deal. Beads were looked upon as a symbol of friendship.
There are hundreds of different kinds and colors of beads. Beads are a study in themselves and their understanding and nomenclature can be difficult. Beads have been made for thousands of years and many of the old styles are still being made today. This has added confusion to collecting and the understanding of their distribution during the trade. To add to the confusion most of the beads on the market today have been brought here from Africa . Europeans traded the same kind of beads in Africa as they did in North America during the seventeen and eighteen hundreds. The Russians are believed to have traded the “Russian Blue” beads – a dark cobalt blue glass bead - on the northwest (Alaskan) coast before it was bought by the United States . Europeans also traded the “Russian Blues” in Africa . The so-called “Lewis and Clark” bead is a beautiful glass bead with colorful floral spiral inlays. However, there is some evidence that this bead may not have been made until some years after the expedition of Lewis & Clark. Perhaps the most prized bead of all is the “Chevron”. The Chevron is usually a large multi-colored and multi-layered glass bead, most are red, white and blue in color. The bead is ground on both ends to form a melon shape. By doing so it exposes the different layers of colors and produces a chevron appearance. There are many other colorful beads such as “feather beads”, “delphs”, “eye beads”, “millefiori” beads and hundreds of other beads known as “fancy” beads. There are also many solid color beads in various shapes and sizes. The Cornaline D'Aleppo beads are of great interest to collectors. They range in size and shape but all have a greasy yellow inner core. “White Heart” beads are also called “ Hudson's Bay beads". They are red, sometimes blood red with a white core. The above names of the beads have been placed in quotation marks since the nomenclature can vary from locality to locality and even the same names may refer to a totally different bead in localized areas.Some beads are knowingly misnamed to create importance and increase their value. Beads were, and still are, highly prized by natives and whites alike. For more information about Beads click here.
"Lewis & Clark" Beads "Feather" Beads Chevrons
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Canoe Cups Top
Canoe cups or "Voyageurs Cups" were personally handmade by the voyageurs themselves usually out of a piece of "burl" of a hardwood tree. The cups were carried on their belts or sashes with a toggle keeper to secure them. They were carried on their person at all times, handy whenever they needed a drink from a stream or a lake. Since they were made of wood they would float if dropped in the water. This one is painted with red and black pigments.
Clay Pipes - Hudson's Bay Company Trade Pipes
Some of the early trade pipes were made out of pewter and often, though cheaply made, were rather ornate. Early clay pipes or "Kaolins" which refers to the white clay which was used to make them, were very crudely made. They usually have a little dimple at the base of the bowl resulting from the "spur" where the clay was poured into a mold. These pipes are sometimes referred to as "white-earth" pipes. They were shipped from Europe to the colonies by the millions. Usually only shards or bowls of the clay pipes are found as they are so delicate. Sometimes the natives used the stem shards as beads or other adornments. Millions of clay pipes were made in Mogadore, Ohio. Mostly only the bowls of these pipes were made and came with a separate wooden or cane stem. They were often "glazed" and made from a red clay. Other colors can also be found such as green, brown and yellowish. Because clay pipes are formed in a mold there are many hundreds of different graphic patterns and makers names found on them. Clay pipes are still being made today.
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Copper Kettle, Trade Kettles or Copper Pots - Hudson's Bay Company Trade Kettles
Copper Kettles came in various sizes from very small, 4 inch in diameter to very large. They were usually stamped with the size ie. 1 QT (one quart) or 3 PT (3 pints). They have a very characteristic pattern and are elaborately made for a "simple" camp pot. They are made of copper or brass. Early pots have "dove-tailed" seams. Later pots were extruded. The lid has a free-floating ring riveted in place with an iron keeper. The edges were rolled and the inside was lined with tin. They also have an elaborate rim to stop the lid from going down to tight. The bale is secured on both sides with an elaborate round iron bud, or "ear" riveted to the side of the pot. The pots are made with heavy gauge metal - evidence that they were designed for heavy use and long lasting durability. The designer also thought about the transportation and storage of these pots, both for shipping and in the field. Because of the various sizes they can be "nested" inside each other to cut down on space. A very desirable trade item 200 years ago and today! None were stamped with HBC or a manufacturer's mark that I know of. Also see "Nesting pots" below.
REFERENCES:
The Four Lives of a Micmac Copper Pot - Indiginous Studies Research Portal Tool
Copper kettle - Sam Waller Museum
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Trade Guns - Northwest Guns - Hudson's Bay Company Trade Guns
When you mention the words "trade gun" the first gun that comes to mind is the "Northwest Gun" but, there were trade guns around long before the classic northwest gun was made. The French started trading guns or “fusils” to the natives in the early sixteen hundreds as did the British and the Dutch in colonial America . It wasn't until the Hudson's Bay Company started their company in the 1670's that trading guns was done on a large scale. The guns themselves were not made by the Hudson's Bay Company. The company secured contracts for trade guns from many different gun manufacturers. Some have the initials of the makers under the barrels. Many have the maker's names on the lock plate. Names like Wilson, Sunderland, Wheeler, Barnett, Hollis, Ketland and Parker Field & Son. The Northwest Gun came in various barrel lengths and are noticeably apparent by their “serpent” or “dragon” side plate and oversized trigger guard. Most people believe the name Northwest Gun was derived from the name of the North West Company but, in fact the gun was called the Northwest Gun long before the company was formed. The North West Company stamped a “Sitting Fox” in a "circle" on the butt of the stock and also on the lock plate and on top of the barrel. After the union of the two companies in 1821 the Hudson's Bay Company used a stylized “Tombstone Fox” cartouche stamped in the lock and on the top flat of the barrel. They were a .60 caliber smooth bore which could be loaded with a single round ball or with shot. Even though they were cheap to make, the guns were very reliable - evidence in that many of these guns found today are still functional. By the 1840's trade guns were being produced in the “new” percussion ignition system. Percussion caps cost money so many native and white trappers preferred the flintlock system. Flintlocks were still being manufactured right up until 1875. Some trade guns were embellished and known as “Chief's Grade” guns and were given to chiefs to form important military alliances or when signing treaties.
American gun makers such as Tryon, Leman and Deringer also made trade guns. They each had their own distinct design but some guns were made in a similar likeness to the Northwest gun - right down to stamping British proof marks onto the barrel. It is believed that Lewis and Clark carried the U.S. Model 1803 muskets to trade with the natives on their exploration of discovery in 1804 . Trade guns were used and carried every day. Some with long barrels were cut down for ease of maneuverability in canoes and on horseback. It is a myth that traders made the natives pile up beaver skins as high as the barrel in order to buy a trade gun. Prices were very much standardized across the country. In the midst of the trade a gun was worth about 16 beaver skins. Prices went up and down throughout the centuries with supply and demand, and inflation. If you consider the price of a “new” trade gun today and what it costs to buy a beaver skin, not much has changed in two hundred years.
There are some very early trade pistols with serpent side plates that were made for the trade. There are also some later flintlock pistols made in the early eighteen hundreds of a particular style which are called “Trade Pistols” but, not everyone agrees that they are a “true” trade pistol.
The trade gun changed the way of life, and in some cases death, of the native people.
For more information see
S. James Gooding - Trade Guns of the Hudson's Bay Company 1670-1970 available at the Museum Restoration Service
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Shooting Accessories
Possibles Bag Powder Horn Bullet Mold Percussion Cap Tins
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The fashions in Europe determined the demand for fur in North America. When fur bearing animals were depleted in Europe the demand shifted to North America. From the early 1600's beaver were in great demand for making hats. The "top hat" came into fashion in the late 1790's. The demand for top hats was all but over by the time the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company amalgamated in 1821.
Links:
The Beaver Hat - White Oak Society
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Harpoon - Trade Points - Hudson's Bay Company Trade Points
In the early days of the trade harpoons and spear points were used to hunt mammals and fish. Fish spears had muli-tang points with barbs. Beaver and muskrat harpoons were long shafts with two offset barbs. These were either made in Europe and shipped to the Colonies or more often were made by the fort blacksmith from scrap metal or old files. Harpoons were made with detachable points with lined attached so they could retrieve the game. Arrow points were cut out of metal using an old trade axe head as an anvil and a chisel to cut out the point.
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These balance scales were more for the merchants or traders to weight dry goods. The scale was suspended by the top ring and a pan or some kind of container was hung on the hook with the particular merchandise in it and the weight was moved along the graduated bar until it balanced and indicated the weight of the goods.
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Hudson's Bay Comapany Trade Tokens
There are a number of different kinds of Hudson's Bay Company trade tokens. The most interesting tokens are the "East Main" brass tokens. They come in four sizes. The largest is equivalent to "One Made Beaver". There is also 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 respectively in size. On one side they have the company's crest and on the other the value of the coin. "HB" for Hudson's Bay "EM" for East Main" 1 for "1 Made Beaver" and "NB" for "Made Beaver". East Main refers to the district of James Bay, Canada called East Main.
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Trade Knives - Dags and Skinners - Hudson's Bay Company Trade Dag - - Hudson's Bay Company Trade Knives
Knives were perhaps the most important and revolutionary trade item. They transformed the natives out of the stone age. Knives, even more so than the axe could be used for many things - in particular the "Dag". The dag was fashioned after the large stone spear points. It was strong and could be used for heavy chopping, as a spear point, a utility knife, skinning and butchering, a spear point and as a weapon. They were shipped to North America from Europe by the barrel load. There were also made by resident blacksmiths in the trading posts. They were traded without handles. The handles were usually ornate and made of wood and often tacked. Some beautiful knives were made with a bone handle with a serrated copper ring at the top for a scrapper. They are often seen with a universal "circle" and "dot" design in the bone. They most have been very common in the mid 1800's as early explorers noted natives wearing them with a thong attached to their wrists. They are often marked with a makers name such as "Jukes Coulson, Stokes & Co." or "IS" for John Sorby. Some very desirable dags are marked with a "Circle" and "Sitting Fox" design which was traded by the North West Company. They are also known as the "Columbia River Knife", in some areas it was called a "Beaver Tail Knife".
Skinners
Russell Trade Knife
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Relic Trade Gun and Trap Parts - Hudson's Bay Company Trade Relics Top
Relics of an old blown gun barrel, flint lock plates, frizzen springs, breech plugs, an old cock, a pair of piers, a couple of old knife blades and pieces of old animal traps.
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Hide Scrapers - Gun Barrel 
Scrapers were used to scrape the fat and viscera off of animal skins. Scrapers were very valuable tools, but most were made from scrap metal by the natives themselves or with the help of blacksmiths. In this case the scraper is made from an old cut off gun barrel and wrapped with hide. The end of the barrel is flattened and the edge is filed into a sharp serrated edge. Scrapers were made from just about any scrape metal even butt plates and trigger guards. Some very nice steel scrapers are made with antler or bone handles and fashioned similar to an adz.
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Jewelry - - Hudson's Bay Company Trade Silver
Silver Gorget and Copper Bracelets
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Animal Traps
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Other - Hudson's Bay Company Trade Items
Twist of Tobacco Mother of Pearl Buttons Sewing Thimbles - also used as adornments on clothing Bells
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Trapper Booklets
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Hudson's Bay Company Tobacco Tins
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Hudson's Bay Company Tea Tins
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Hudson's Bay Company Rum Jug
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Gun Powder Tins
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Powder Flasks
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Percussion Cap Tins
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Hudson's Bay Company Long Service Medals
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Photograhs
Metis Skinning Buffalo
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LINKS
FUR TRADE HISTORY
Exploration The Fur Trade and The Hudson's Bay Company
Mountainmen and the Fur Trade
Museum of the Fur Trade
Mountain Man Plains Indian Canadian Fur Trade
The Fur Trade - Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation
The Fur Trade and Historical Archaeology: A Bibliography
Library of Western Fur Trade Historical Source Documents
The Fur Trade: "Beaver Powered Mountaineering"
Canada Hall - The Fur Trade
Fur Trade and Trapping
Fur Trade Stories
Southwest Frontier and the Fur Trade 1800 - 1850
Women in the Fur Trade
John McLoughlin, Father of Oregon
The Fur Trade Era, 1650s to 1850s - Wisconsin Historical Society
Mountain Man Indian Fur Trade Beads
The Fur Trade ... The Hudson's Bay and NorthWest Companies
Indian Trade Goods - Canadian Encyclopedia
Fur Trade Stories
FUR TRADE HISTORIC SITES
Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site of Canada
Museum of the Fur Trade
Fur Trade Links in General
The Fur Trade Collection - Minnisota Historical Society
FUR TRADE CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS
Coalition of Historical Trekkers
American Longrifle Association
Armory Hill Living History Association
MANUFACTURERS & RETAILERS
Blue Heron Mercantile
Horns by Sulinai
Rapine Bullet Manufacturing Company
Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading
RE-ENACTING THE FUR TRADE
Dogwood's Trekking Page
Granny Lin's Trekking Page
The Seventeenth Century Society
Silver Bear's Trekking Page
William Christian's Allegheny Rangers
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S. James Gooding - Trade Guns of the Hudson's Bay Company 1670-1970 available at the Museum Restoration Service |
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The Fur Trade Author: Paul Chrisler Phillips, J. W. Smurr; |
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Early Fur Trade on the Northern Plains Author: David Thompson, John Macdonell, |
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The American Fur Trade of the Far West Author: Hiran Martin Chittenden, Hiram Marti |
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Blackfoot Fur Trade Author: John G. Lepley |
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The Fur Trade of the American West, 1807-1840 Author: David J. Wishart |
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The Fur Trade on the Upper Missouri, 1840-1865 Author: John E. Sunder |
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John Jacob Astor Author: Lewis K. Parker |
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Keepers of the Game Author: Calvin Martin |
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Backbone of the World Author: Edward Louis Henry |
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Indians in the Fur Trade Author: Arthur J. Ray |
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The American Fur Trade Of The Far West V2 Author: Hiram Martin Chittenden |
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