How did blackfoot people make weapons?

THe main weapon of the Blackfoot tribes - and of all the Plains tribes - was the bow, which was used in both hunting and warfare.

Blackfoot bows were sometimes made of hardwoods such as ash or chokecherry. A suitable stave would be cut from a straight length of branch and carefully seasoned by hanging it high inside the tipi for some time. Then it would be very carefully shaped, originally with stone tools but later with metal tools obtained in trade. Often a backing of sinew was glued all over the back (outside curve) of the bow; some were encased in snakeskin. Strings were of braided animal sinew.

Other bows were made from wood, strips of horn and sinew applied in layers and bound with more sinew. This took far more work and time, but the result was a more powerful weapon.

Arrows were made from wild rose or dogwood shoots collected in winter. They were tied in bundles and again hung up inside the tipi for some time to dry out, then they were straightened and thinned down using abrasive stones. Metal points were obtained from the traders and feathers came from golden eagles, hawks or turkeys.

War clubs were made from hardwood, some with stone heads fastened to a wooden handle with rawhide, or the jaw bones of large animals.

Knives were originally of stone but metal knife blades were quickly adopted when these became available from the traders. The Blackfoot generally carved their own wood or antler handles to fit these blades.

A very common knife used by the Blackfoot tribes was called a "beavertail"; this had a wide, double-edged blade and was often carried in a decorated sheath worn around the neck like a pendant.

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