This is an original Sharps Model 1853 Slant Breech percussion sporting rifle used by One Bull a Lakota Sioux Sharpshooter attributed to the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the Indian Wars. The rifle shows a slanting breech Model 1853 with a heavy 26-inch octagon barrel chambered in .40 caliber. The rifle was examined by The Guns of History and found to be marked in Lakota Togia language markings signed “One Bull Minneconjou” (illustrations 1, 2, 3, and 4; on the wrist, left forearm, left side of the stock, and patch box).
One Bull was born in 1837 to Minneconjou Lakota Sioux parents and nephew of Chief Horse’s Road. One Bull joined Hump’s Band of Shunka Yute Shi or Eat No Dog’s Band and rode with Hump throughout the Indian Wars. One Bull road with White Bull at the Battle of the Little Bighorn and when Custer and his five companies were discovered riding down the East Ridge, White Bull and his warriors crossed the Cedar Coulee Ford and rode up the Cedar Coulee. He sent five Sioux warriors with their long range rifles to join Wolf Tooth and his Cheyenne sharpshooters to hold down Reno and Benteen and their seven companies. The sharpshooters killed soldiers and wounded Benteen. One a list of documented Cheyenne and Sioux sharpshooters at the Battle of the Little Bighorn One Bull is listed.
This is truly a sharpshooters, long range rifle used for both battle and hunting parties on large and small game. Buffalo Hunting rifle. Left side of the rifle is marked, “SHARP’S PATENT 1852”, on the top of the receiver, “SHARP’S PATENT 1848 25047”, and on the top of the barrel in a three-line address “SHARP’S RIFLE MANUFG. CO. HARTFORD CONN.”. Signed paperwork and illustrations included. Antique firearm NO FFL.