These daggers are made of soft iron and are fashioned with two parallel ribs on the front and a slightly concave curvature on the back. The edges are blunt, indicating that they were used for thrusting.
The journals of early Spanish navigators contain interesting notes about bartering with the inhabitants of the Northwest Coast. Goods were exchanged value for value, but in dealing with Europeans, the most sought-after items were buttons and other objects made of copper, as well as objects made of iron. Both metals were held in great esteem and were typically obtained from the Chugach to the north, who dug the native metal from the earth and worked it cold. These metals were easily available in Europe, and the explorers were able to obtain remarkable objects in trade.
