November 7-8, 2018 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/7/2018
Offered is an extremely rare grouping of 56 relics all collected from famous battlefields of the Great Sioux War in 1876. Included are items from the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Battle of the Rosebud, Battle of the Butte (Wolf Mountain), and the Prairie Dog Creek Fight. All of these items were collected on private land with the owner's permission. Some of the sites where these items were found have been purchased by various organizations, and no relics can be recovered again. This further drives the rarity and collectability of these items. This is a lifetime collection that would be impossible to assemble today. Lot is comprised of the following: A) Three Battle of the Butte (aka Battle of Wolf Mountain) .45-70 fired casings with collecting location and direction of fire. B) Three .44 Henry rimfire casings fired by Cheyenne warriors just north of the Tongue River. C) Two unfired .45-70 Springfield cartridges fired from Royall's position at Rosebud Battlefield. D) Four fired .45-70 Springfield casings from multiple Royall positions. E) One fired .50 cal Martin primed casing recovered at Andrew's Point. F) Two fired .44 Henry casings recovered at Andrew's Point G) One .44 Henry slug recovered from Royall Ridge H) One .45-70 Springfield slug recovered from a Col Royall retreat position. I) Cavalry soldier's pocket knife from Reno retreat route with Reno Battlefield Museum certificate. J) Indian iron bracelet from Sitting Bull's Hunkpapa Camp area with Reno Battlefield Museum certificate. K) Indian iron arrowhead found in 1992 near the Garryowen Loop of the Little Bighorn River. This arrowhead was used at the Reno Valley Fight area at the beginning stages of the Custer Battle. L) Iron tent stake found in the Reno retreat area. M) Two fired .45-70 Springfield casings found south of Reno/Benteen Hill (Hilltop Fight). N) Fired .56/50 Spencer casing found on Reno/Benteen hill. O) .45-70 bullet found on hill just west of Reno's first position in the Valley Fight. P) Regulation eagle uniform cuff button found near Sitting Bull's village area. Most likely stripped from a soldier's uniform collected by Indians after the battle. Q) Extremely rare leather Indian belt found in Sitting Bull's village site in 1999. Profusely covered in brass tacks, belt comes with a Reno Battlefield Museum certificate. This belt was likely worn with a large knife sheath when it was in use. Most likely discarded due to battle damage and the necessity to pack the village and leave quickly. It may have even been taken off of a fallen warrior, as the Indians took their dead off the battlefield that day for burial at a later date. These large tacked belts were very much en vogue during the 1860's - 1870's time period and one from the Native village site is one of a kind. R) Group of seven items from Reno Valley Fight -Regulation brass eagle uniform blouse button, fired .50 cal bullet, fired .45-70 casing, cavalry harness buckle, dropped (unfired) .45-70 cartridge, and fired .38 cal bullet. S) Four large, hand-forged square head nails. T) Horse and mule shoe from Reno/Benteen site. U) 12 fired .45-70 casings from Reno's first position, two .50 cal casings and four misc buttons. Rounding out the group is a small (4.5" by 2.5") catlinite "T bowl" pipe found near Sitting Bull's village site. Pipe comes with certificate from Reno Battlefield Museum, All items are thoroughly documented from the parties who found them via notarized letters and certificates of authenticity. The rarity of the items from the village site cannot be overstated. Other excavated battlefield relics have surfaced through the years, but virtually none from the village site. A comprehensive and carefully curated collection like this seldom, if ever, come up for sale as one lot. This is a lifetime collection of documented Sioux War and Little Bighorn relics that is worthy of the finest collections. Overall, a wonderful Custer era lot that is deserving of further research. CONDITION: All items are in relic condition unless otherwise noted.