This is an outstanding and rare Indian Wars era circa 1870 pipe Tomahawk with beaded drop and pewter inlaid smoking tip from the Cheyenne Native American Indians. The piece features a forged iron head in a very scarce pattern of “double-curled basal processes” on each side of the blade. Only a few documented examples of this pattern of head are known with one being photographed on page 2 of John Baldwin’s book “Tomahawks & Pipe Axes of the American Frontier” a picture of this page and tomahawk are shown for example. The head was blacksmith forged from an old rifle barrel and the blade forging fold can be seen on the front left side. The piece has a vase shaped bowl with double ridge flowing into the forge molded chevrons with a tear drop shaped eyelet hole. The head is secured to the solid wood haft with an old hide gasket and various early trade brass trade tacks. The hardwood haft handle is adorned with a wrap of old red stroud trade clothe and brass trade tacks at the top with the haft having a slight curved taper. The gripping area of the handle shows five bands or rows of old brass trade tacks. Pierced hole which holds the beaded drop and finishes in an presentation quality inlaid poured pewter smoking tip. The pewter smoking tip shows a diagonal twisted pattern with tapering smoking tip. The beaded drop is comprised of Indian tanned buckskin hide with period correct glass trade seed beads in a typical Cheyenne geometric block design in colors of chalk white, greasy butterscotch yellow, cobalt, medium green, and red. Provenance: From the ex-collection of noted tomahawk expert and collector Ben Thompson and later sold to fellow collector Tom Hardy in the 2000’s. The entire piece has an outstanding original mellow patina and displays very well with a few nicks, dings and scratches expected from its authentic original age and native use. Measures overall 17.5”L with a head that is 7”L by 3”W and an additional 20”L drop.