Thanks to a response on histarch-l, I was sent to a reference to factory-made metal points in Russell's "Firearms, Traps, and Tools of the Mountain Men." Can anyone illuminate this situation? Better reference(s)? Were they made specifically for trade to Indians and, if so, by whom, where, and when? Russell's statement refers to a 1671 order from the Hudson's Bay Company for several gross of the items. That would put them in the plains and mountains of Canada and northern US (what would become) in the late 17th century. In the southwestern US/northern Mexico, however, they don't seem to be around until well into the 19th century (again, referring to thin points made from flat or strip, ferrous metal, not forged). At this point (pun intended), the latter situation seems to me to reflect the US presence in the region beginning in the 1820s and particularly after the 1840s -- and so far I'm only finding information, by reference or anecdote (mil gracias to all who have contributed either), that points to manufacture of such points on Native sites. That suggests that points made for trade to Indians were not plentiful in SW US/N Mexico, and it was the Indians themselves that made such points and traded them to Euroamericans (I refer you all to Sunday Eiselt's 2006 dissertation in which she reports metal point manufacturing materials from Apache sites that were probably used by Apaches AND were traded to nearby Hispanic villagers in a localized, multi-ethnic economy).
Your thoughts?
Jeff

Jeffrey L. Boyer, RPA
Project Director
Office of Archaeological Studies, Museum of New Mexico
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