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Reproduction
(counterfeit) and modern altered artifacts. <><><> Since at least the late 1800’s, people have been making their own Native American
artifacts. Some were curious how Indians were able to knap out these beautiful tools from a simple piece
of stone and wanted to learn more. Others honed their skills very well and learned how to make reproductions as
good or in some cases better than the Native Americans, and sold them as original and ancient artifacts. <><><> During the great depression, a few enterprising men made reproductions by the thousands
and sold them as trinkets to tourists. One man named Bryan Reinhardt would slab cut flint on a band saw, and then would flake
and shape the blades on a machine he made himself. He sold them by the gross to gift stores where people would buy them in
their travels across country. They would then give the blade as a gift to a friend or family member who collected arrowheads,
or add them to their own collection. As the collections were handed down through the generations, it was assumed that the
original collection owner had found the large blade and it’s simply assumed that it is an authentic artifact. <><><> Of the dozens of large, old family
collections I’ve purchased over the years I’ve have yet to see one that didn’t have at least a few counterfeit
artifacts.If you scroll
through the pictures below, you’ll get a good idea of how good some of these knappers can be. Some
are ethical and sign their work such as Steve Allely from Oregon. Others artificially age their work to deceive people who
can’t tell the difference between authentic and counterfeit. Click on an image for an enlarged view.
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