The lot features a fantastic circa 1840 Missouri War Axe tomahawk attributed to the Sauk & Fox of Illinois from an ex-East Coast Museum collection and Chandler-Pohrt collection. The Missouri River War Axe Tomahawk, sometimes referred to as Missouri War Hatchet, was a distinctive trade-era weapon associated with Native peoples of the Great Plains and Missouri River region. Its form was documented by William Clark in January 1805, and Meriwether Lewis described it in his journal, making the Lewis and Clark journals an important early record of the type. Provenance: From the ex-Milford Chandler and Richard Pohrt collection (very well renowned with much of their collection in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian; Milford G. Chandler (1889-1981) and Richard A. Pohrt (1911-2005); also from the private California Native American collection; ex-East Coast Museum collection. This example exhibits a hand-forged iron blade in classic wide triangular blade with round eye showing a single weeping heart cut out at the center of the blade with a punch dot engraving along the outside edge and a small rear facing spur. The tomahawk is paired with an old hardwood haft handle that is adorned with brass metal trade tacks and a staircase carved serrated pommel end, with remnants of paint. The bottom shows a later, but early drop showing an Indian hide tie, trade thimble and drop of human or horse tail hair. For reference for Missouri River Tomahawks and similar examples see “American Indian Tomahawks” by Harold L. Peterson 1965; page 91 figures 48, 50, and 51 all with the same blade pattern with all showing a weeping stylized cut out and punch engraving, noted by the author as being “Missouri War Hatchets” with these attributed to the Osage (he refers to the cut out at as “bleeding heart”). Also see the American Museum of National History Smithsonian for their nearly identical example and see Hartzler & Knowles “Tomahawks and Frontiersmen Belt Axes” figure 3 on page 104. See images as well. The head is 7.5-inches and 5-inches wide across the blade, length is 21.5-inches long without the drop.