November 3-4, 2017 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/4/2017
On the left side of the sideplate on this carbine, written in Togia, is the name He-Dog. Beneath this inscription is inscribed B.F.Flower 1879. He-Dog was an important warrior with the Oglala Sioux tribe who fought in many battles of the Indian wars of 1876-1877. He surrendered in July of 1877 to General Crook. In October 1877, He-Dog escaped to Canada with Sitting Bull. According to documentation, this Winchester was delivered in the spring of 1878 by Long John Larrabee. Flower was employed by the department of the Platt for General Crooks out of Fort Omaha Nebraska. All of this history is recorded by Professor Wendell Grangrard. The He-Dog signature also has an illustration of a dog head engraved. The Winchester factory letter states that this carbine was shipped on May 2, 1878. When viewing the inscription on the left side of it, the wear and patina of the images show no sign of any manipulation or recent engraving. It appears to be 100% original to the period of the gun. Like most other all original documented Indian guns, this carbine bears no other decorations - no tacks, no feathers - just the simple owner inscription. This carbine manufactured 1876. Early features to include first type no rail thumbprint dust cover, model 1866 style single leaf folding rear-sight, front barrel band with integral sight. Two-line barrel address marked Kings improvement, razor sharp legends with full length magazine, walnut stocks, and carbine buttplate. All metal surfaces are a soft-brown patina with smooth surface. Excellent walnut stocks, usual minor dings and some added finish. Has saddle ring and stud with original cleaning rod in butt. Action is perfect. Fine clean bore. This is an extremely sharp and early 1873 caliber carbine with a great bore and far better than most with a great history putting it in hands of a known sioux warrior dating to the period after the return from Canada and the Custer massacre. Further interesting reading is readily available on both He-dog and Flowers and their connection to the Indian wars of the 1870's. It is a scarce enough gun in its own right, and doubly so given it's Western History.