This is an original Colt Model 1849 Pocket Percussion Revolver attributed to be owned and used in the Indian Wars by Oglala Lakota Sioux warrior, Crooked Eyes. The revolver exhibits a 4-inch octagon barrel percussion revolver, a Colt Model 1849 chambered in .31 caliber. The gun was examined by The Guns of History and found to be signed in Togia Lakota language marks, “Crooked Eyes” on the bottom of the butt, left and right grips along the bottom and top of both (illustrations 1-5).
Crooked Eyes was born in 1835 to Wahjahjahs Oglala Lakota Sioux parents. He belonged to Chief Red Leaf’s Wahjahjahs Band of Oglala Lakota Sioux. He fought in the Indian Wars with Crazy Horse and participated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn. In 1877 Crooked Eyes and his family surrendered at Fort Robinson with Crazy Horse. Wendell Grangaard took testimony of Crooked Eyes from his family. When riding with Crazy Horse at the Battle of the Little Bighorn on the east side of the river encountered soldiers crossing toward them. They killed the soldiers and then rode north to the Medicine Tail Coulee and up the Deep Coulee chasing more soldiers. Crooked Eyes said shot some (soldiers) with his rifle but ran out of cartridges so he finished the battle with his small revolver.
The firearm arm has matching serial numbers across all visible pieces of 315761, manufactured by Colt in 1869. This is an Antique Firearm, NO FFL.