This is a well-used skinner in a hand-made and beaded sheath.  Accompanying the knife and sheath is a tag attached by rawhide with a button sewn on.  The tag bears the handwriting of 2 different people. 

1) GIVD BIA SKINNR AND VEST BUTTEN TO NEPHUW TOMMY / Pete 1922

2) Selling Uncle Peter knife and button to Fort Mille Lacs paid cash. Tom Klean November 1953

This is a beautiful old BIA knife, BIA button and beaded sheath.  The knife has a wood handle with an overlaid metal label with raised letters reading "B.I.A. LEECH LAKE".  Leech Lake is part of the Minnesota Chippewa Reservation in Northwest Minnesota.  The sheath is made of leather and lined with purple cloth.  The beaded design is of two pine trees and a pine branch with pine cones.

The old button is about 1/2 inches in diameter with a star and "B.I.A." stamped on the star.

This knife was first acquired from an anthropologist / archaeologist who was doing an exhibition of American Indian artifacts at Fort Mill Lacs in 1971 when he came across this collection and bought it, trading a Sioux beaded knife sheath in partial payment.  The owner of the Chippewa Museum has dated the collection at between 1900 and 1910.

The knife measures 9 7/8 inches in overall length.  The handle is 4 inches of that length.

"It arrived the other day and is incredible. I am amazed - so much nicer in person than the photo even. " Jean in California