GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
INDIAN CARBINE CAPTURED BY US ARMY JUST AFTER THE CUSTER MASSACRE, LISTED ON US ORDNANCE REPORT JULY 1879, ON DISPLAY AT THE SMITHSONIAN 1906-1931, GREAT PROVENANCE AND COLLECTION HISTORY.GALLAGHERCARBINE234752 CALCal. 52. This is a beautiful "as found" tacked Indian gun with a most interesting, orig hand-braided cord with red and yellow silk thread decoration. This gun has wonderful surface and unlike so many Custer-era guns was taken by U.S. forces not long after the Custer Massacre and has been carefully cared for and displayed in the earliest and most prominent 19th and early 20th century collections. Once part of the important A. E. Brooks historical arms collection and displayed in his museum/hotel/restaurant/saloon in Hartford, CT; later at Wadsworth Athenaeum; St. Louis Exposition of 1904 and at the Smithsonian for 25 years. This gun has been photographed as early as 1899 in a group of 18 displayed guns "CASE OF INDIAN RIFLES MADE BY DIFFERENT GUN MAKERS. THESE RIFLES WERE CAPTURED, AND SOME OF THEM WERE SURRENDERED BY HOSTILE INDIANS (SIOUX AND CHEYENNE), SOON AFTER THE CUSTER MASSACRE, JUNE 26, 1876, ON THE LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER, WYOMING TERRITORY." "These arms were captured by Lieutenant Clarke of the Second U.S. Cavalry and turned over to the United States Government at Cheyenne, and afterwards sent to the National Armory at Springfield, Mass. Here these rifles went through examination, and were finally condemned and sold at auction to New York parties. It is said by good authority that every brass tack in these riles represents a scalp." Though this 1899 caption just quoted that these were all captured by Lt. Clarke; his actual report contained in an April 2, 1879 report does not list this Gallager, however it is listed in same July 27, 1879 Ordnance List, but not where captured. Regardless, this is one of a small handful of documented small arms captured from hostile Indians with incredible aesthetics and tacked design with power symbol of the sun as seen on other captured Custer battlefield guns as referenced in John Dumont's text Custer Battle Guns. PROVENANCE: Listed in Table VI Report of the Chief of Ordnance, July 27, 1879; A. E. Brooks Collection, Hartford, CT, about 1880; Displayed at A. E. Brooks Restaurant at 387 Main Street, Hartford, CT til 1893; Displayed at the Wadsworth Athenaeum, 1894; A. E. Brooks Collection Catalog, Item #442, 1899; U. S. Cartridge Company Collection, Lowell, MA, 1902; Displayed at the Massachusetts Sportsman Association Show, Boston, February & March 1902; Displayed by U. S. Cartridge Company at the 1904 St. Louis Exposition; On loan and display at Smithsonian Institute, 1906-August 1931; sold as Lot 332, Robins H. Ritter, East Hartford, CT Auction, 1942; Dr. Victor F. Neu Collection, Greenbay, WI, 1942; Dr. Lawrence Frost Collection, Monroe, MI, 1962; Robert G. Palmer Collection, Lakewood, CO, 1976; Jim Strouse Collection, 1986. CONDITION: Gun was not disassembled and appears all matching as it was used, though SN inside patchbox door is "2131" typical of Civil War martially used arms. Metal is grey overall with old areas of rust lightly removed on left side of frame. Overall scattered staining and pitting and light rust. No discernible markings on bbl, though lock markings are crisp and clear. It is interesting to note in the orig 1879 Ordnance Report that breech was noted to be "in working order and the stock was fair". The stock is, indeed, well fit retaining hand worn patina, missing several tacks along buttplate line, a large chip in toe is well patinaed over, matching Ordnance Board's evaluation of stock as "fair". Missing rear sight. Mechanically, gun functions well with well defined rifling and pitted bore. Tied cord braid attached to carbine sling ring is sound with wear, still retaining some red and yellow wrapped threads along different areas of cord, about half it's length toward tip of unknown purpose. Number "1358" is stamped in top of comb which appears to be the original U. S. Cartridge Company collection number 50881-1 JS (40,000-70,000)