The lot features an exceedingly rare factory lettered Colt Model 1873 Single Action Army Sheriff’s Model revolver with history to the Crow War in Montana. The revolver has a Colt Factory letter which marks the revolver as being a “COLT SHERIFF’S MODEL REVOLVER”, serial number 109923, chambered in .45/c, barrel length 3 ½”, blue finish, rubber grips, shipped to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company in Chicago, Illinois on April 13, 1885 in a shipment of two guns. Incredibly rare gun all matching serial numbers in original factory condition.

The revolver was examined by The Guns of History and found to be signed by Fire Bear, the warrior who killed Sword Bearer during the Crow Wars of 1887 in Montana. Marked on the bottom, "Fire Bear – Crow – Akicita – police – skirmish – kill – Sword Bearer – Wrap Up His Tail – Crow” (illustration 1). The right side of the revolver along the barrel, frame, cylinder side and loading gate with a stained section, noted by the author to be from the blood of Sword Bearer. The revolver also comes with Colt papers showing the Colt Sheriff’s Model was shipped to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company on April 13, 1885. The Crow Uprising, also known as the Crow War or Crow Rebellion was the last Indian War fought in the state of Montana between the U.S. and the Crow tribe of Montana in 1887. Medicine man Wraps-Up-His-Tail, also known as Sword Bearer, led a small group of warriors in a raid against a group of Blackfoot which had captured horses from the Crow reservation. Following the raid he led his group back to Crow Agency to inform the Indian agent of his victory but an incident arose which ended with the young leader taking his men up into the mountains. The United States Army launched a successful campaign to bring the Crow back to the reservation. The battle ended when one of the Akicita Indian Police shot Sword Bearer in the head. Antique firearm, NO FFL.