GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
VERY RARE CUSTER BATTLEFIELD COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER IDENTIFIED TO SIOUX INDIAN RUNS-THE-ENEMY. COLT 1873 7087 45 Cal. 45 Colt. Usual configuration with 7-1/2" bbl, full front sight and 1-line script letter address that had "U.S.A." removed during the period of use. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and has also had "U.S." removed from the frame. Ejector housing is first type with nickel plated bull's eye ejector rod head and base pin is orig type with dimpled ends and slightly battered head. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip that has partially obliterated matching SN in the backstrap channel. Only the "8" & "7" are completely legible. Left side of grip has the partial outline of an inspector's cartouche with partially legible "O" for Orville W. Ainsworth. There are small "A" inspector initials on the bbl, trigger guard, cyl & backstrap. Bottom edge of grip is battered & worn, obliterating the inspector initial there. Matching SN is also found on bottom of bbl under ejector housing & on the cylinder. This revolver appears to have been from 1,000 Colts of Lot 7, shipped in May 1874, 166 of which where issued to the 7th Cavalry. A previous owner spent an incredible amount of time studying notes, descriptions and reports from troops who were first on the battlefield the day after Custer was annihilated, with special attention to the location of identifiable bodies. With careful extrapolation of the body locations and comparing the interviews of Indian participants, he determined that this revolver could only have been issued to Regimental Color Sgt. Robert M. Hughes of Company K. Accompanied by a 2-pg letter from renowned author, historian and collector, John Kopec, wherein he authenticates this revolver and verifies much of the technical information about the revolver. He speculates that it may have been simply a stolen revolver, but could have been captured by hostiles.
Also accompanied by a copy of an interview of Runs-the-Enemy, a Two-Kettle Sioux who fought at the Little Big Horn, by Dr. Joseph K. Dixon was printed in his 1913 book The Vanishing Race from his 1909 publication. Additionally accompanying from about the same time is a copy of an interview by Ivan Stars who interviewed Chief Runs-the-Enemy and recorded it in the Sioux language then translated it into English. Both interviews relate nearly identical wording regarding the Custer Battle and the annihilation of his command. Mr. Star's rendition also includes the statement that "All thought horse soldier all die. Then one horse soldier raise up, all thought he returned to life from spirit land. Many frighten. He raise up arm to shoot six shooter pistol. I grab six shooter pistol from horse soldier. I shoot horse soldier in head with his six shooter pistol. He strong man. He have bad wound in belly before I kill him. His black whisker short hair. He have the white man called mustache long with curve at the end. He no horse soldier chief. He have marks on arm. He die close together with one called Yellow Hair... ". He continues near the end "I follow Kicking-Bear, mark on weapon with my possession. I wear ghost shirt. I dance the ghost dance. I give now to you my much thought. Coup, marked with sign, my possession, guard six-shooter pistol. To wash on red holy God, six-shooter pistol name 7-Zero-8-7. For I do this. I Run-the-Enemy."
The "7-Zero-8-7" in Runs-the-Enemy's interview above certainly is the SN of this revolver. His statement "To wash on red holy God ---" appears to refer to an ocher wash applied to the grip which is now a very dark reddish brown similar to the two ocher dots found on Chief Two Moons' Colt revolver previously sold by the James D. Julia auction company. The nickeled ejector rod head may have originated on another Colt Single Action captured by Runs-the-Enemy at the Little Big Horn battle. Chief Runs-the-Enemy also captured a nickel plated Colt after he killed a "Black" soldier (apparently Isaiah Dorman, a black scout and interpreter killed in the battle). CONDITION: Very good, all matching including bbl, cylinder and grip. Cylinder number has been partially defaced with only part of the first "7", the "0" and last "7" visible. The "8" in the SN is completely gone.No orig finish remains being an overall cleaned gray metal patina showing muzzle edge wear and the muzzle filed flat during the period of use. Cylinder is in matching patina. Grip has chipped toes and left edge shows heavy wear with the aforementioned over all very dark reddish brown color. Mechanics are fine; strong, dark bore with fine pitting. 52454-1 JR431 (22,000-27,000)