June 22, 2024 Brian Lebel's Santa Fe Old West Events Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/22/2024
SERIAL 134458B. MFG 1883. CALIBER 44WCF. 3rd Model. Standard 20" barrel, full magazine, dove tail front sight, folding leaf express rear sight, walnut stock, replaced butt plate saddle ring & stud. Heavy use typical of Indian guns. The forearm has brass tacks along both sides, tip is shattered. The forearm is worn thin, missing the top portion of wood. There are remains of red ochre paint and a few tacks have been replaced. The stock was painted the same red. There are three Swastikas on right side done with a punch. Top of stock has been reapplied, and there are brass tacks in two rows at the butt and along the wrist at tang. Left side has a Swastika and four diamond patterns, also done with punch, with remnants of red ochre as well. There is a large chunk of wood missing on right side lower tang. All metal is dark brown with rounded edges. Dust cover is missing. Carbine still operates. Bore is thin and dark. Butt plate is a crude iron piece that does not fit well. Barrel legends are not visible. Metal has an overall dark textured finish. Markings are worn and faint, including the serial number. Has the Plains Indian look and decorations that we believe to be applied during the period of use. Carbine comes with a notarized letter from Mike Perez, stating that he first saw this gun in the collection of the Geronimo family and purchased it years later from Billy Gilbert.
Provenance: Ex Ron & Linda Gillett Collection
Diamond shapes in Navajo & Mescalero Apache design were believed to represent the sacred Navajo homeland of the Four Corners. The Navajo homeland was traditionally located between the four sacred mountains of the Navajo, which include Blanca Peak (Sis Naajini) to the east, Mount Taylor (Tsoodzil) to the south, San Francisco Peak (Dook' o' oosliid) to the west, and Mount Hesperus (Dib' Nitsaa) to the north". The swastika was used by many southwestern tribes, most notably the Navajo.