DCHP-1 Online
scalping-knife † Hist. 
n. a sharp knife used by Indian warriors to scalp their defeated enemies, important item of trading goods in the fur country.
See also: scalper (def. 1)
- 1768-82 (1904) I gave him two gallons of rum . . . [and] a scalping knife. . . .
- 1883 It is now against the law to carry a scalping knife, and besides the Indians are no longer savages--they all now go to Sunday School.
- 1929 . . . a bunch of seed beads or a scalping-knife [sold for] one, a small country-made axe two, and a larger axe four made-beaver.
- 1768-82 (1904) I gave him two gallons of rum . . . [and] a scalping knife. . . .