This is an immensely rare original tomahawk war axe dating to circa 1870’s owned and used by historic Oglala Sioux Native Americana Indian, Hunts The Enemy at the Battle of the Little Bighorn and Battle of Rosebud. Hunts The Enemy, later known as George Sword, was born in 1849, the son of Brave Bear. Both Brave Bear and Hunts The Enemy/George Sword were member of the Heyoka Aricita Warrior Society of the Bad Face Band. The tomahawk war axe has been examined and authenticated by renowned historian and Togia language expert, Wendell Grangaard of The Guns of History, Inc. The piece was found to show an iron blacksmith forged tomahawk war axe head with pick on a hard wood haft showing hand carved symbols in the Togia Language. On the right side of the haft handle the piece is carved in Togia with the signature of Hunts The Enemy and below this is the band mark carving in Togia of Heyoka Aricita Warrior Society of the Bad Face Band of Red Cloud, of which Hunts The Enemy was a member. Hunts The Enemy, George Sword, fought at the Battle of the Little Bighorn (known by the Lakota and Oglala Sioux as the Battle of the Greasy Grass) and the Battle of Rosebud and would have carried this tomahawk war axe. During the battles, Hunts The Enemy picked up a sword and since he was called Sword, later adding his Christian name to precede it George. After the Battle of the Little Bighorn, he and his family returned to the Red Cloud Agency to join his father Brave Bear and his uncle Red Cloud, as he was tired of war. In 1879 Valentine McGillycuddy became the Indian Agent at the Pine Ridge Reservation forming an Indian Police Force and appointing George Sword as the Force Captain, where he served for many years. George Sword lived in White Clay District of the Reservation until his death on October 17, 1910. The piece comes with the signed letter describing the piece’s history from Wendell Grangaard along with a detailed illustration showing the markings he has translated. Wendell Grangaard is the foremost knowledge on the Togia language along with the Battle of the Little Bighorn as he is the author of the book, “Documenting the Weapons Used at Little Bighorn” 2015. Wendell was also intricate in the authentication and examination of the historic George Armstrong Custer Captured Sharps Carbine from Chief Black Kettle that sold at auction for $127,000. Comes with documentation including a detailed description authenticating the piece signed by Wendell, along with a illustration showing the togia language carvings drawn along with a few images of Hunts The Enemy/George Sword including one of him with his bad face Band of Warriors and as the Indian Police Captain. George Sword was crucial in effecting the surrender of Crazy Horse and his followers. An image of George as Police Captain with Buffalo Bill’s Indians, at Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota is shown. (The images are only included as digital copies and not prints). This is possibly one of the most historic and well documented Battle of the Little Bighorn war relics ever offered for public sale and definitely the finest piece from the personal use of Hunts The Enemy. George Sword was known to take company with William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody with an image of him with the historic Wild West Show host. The Tomahawk shows a forged iron spike tomahawk war axe head with beveled sharp edge adhered to a carved hard wood haft showing the Togia carvings along with nine notches carved around to make a rdiged handle area with a pierced hole at the end, most likely to original hold a wrist throng or drop of feathers, showing a bit of wrapped copper wire. The truly historic and important tomahawk measures overall 16.5”L x 9”W x 1” thick. This is believed to be one of the only known relics to have surfaced from the Heyoka Arcita Warrior Society of the Bad Face Band of Red Cloud making this significantly a historic piece. For a complete representation of condition and for additional images please call 800-686-4216. It is the buyer’s responsibility to view each image and preview the item to determine condition.