Lot 156

Northern Cheyenne Red Horse Flintlock Hudson Rifle

Estimate: $12,500 - $20,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
Offered for public sale is this immensely rare and important Hudson Bay Flintlock musket / rifle from Northern Cheyenne warrior and chief, Red Horse aka Medicine Wolf. The flintlock rifle has been examined and attributed to have been used by Red Horse at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in circa 1876. Red Horse, aka Medicine Wolf, was a Northern Cheyenne Native American Indian being a great warrior and chief. He was elected to the Council of 44 Chiefs and belonged to the special Mirror Society along with fellow Northern Cheyenne Chief Lame White Man, the mirror on the stock indicates his membership as well. Red Horse fought at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, also referred to as Custer’s Last Stand and the Battle of the Greasy Grass. The rifle is believed to have been repaired by Good Hand following Two Moon’s request to Crazy Horse with help in repairing some of the Cheyenne weapons. Red Horse later surrendered with Crazy Horse under the name Medicine Wolf, along with other Northern Cheyenne including Chief Wolf and Kills Many. A copy of the Crazy Horse Surrender Ledger (which was edited by Thomas R. Buecker and R. Eli Paul from the Nebraska State Historical Society Lincoln, Nebraska) is shown with Medicine Wolf’s name highlighted. The men were later transferred to the Cheyenne Reservation in Montana and Red Horse was given the Christian name, George. He attended the 1926 reunion at the Little Bighorn Battlefield. The rifle musket was examined by Wendell Grangaard from The Guns of History, Inc in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and found to be marked in Lakota Togia language. On the right side behind the lock plate shows a repair which is marked in Togia Good Hand and below Red Horse. On the right butt stock shows another signature of Red Horse Chief, the inlaid mirror from the Mirror Society and another Red Horse mark. On the left side of the butt stock the rifle is marked Red Horse Chief / Wolf Medicine and Red Horse. Overall, this is a Hudson Bay Flintlock musket / rifle which has been traded to the Northern Cheyenne. The rifle shows the distinctive brass serpent side plate under the parfleche rawhide wrappings along with faint stampings on the lock plate and barrel. The barrel is the correct part octagonal part round incised example with flintlock action and large trigger guard. The Northwest Trade Hudson Bay Trade gun is truly an iconic piece of the early western expansion and Indian Wars era with such prominent Indians as Sitting Bull being known to carry examples nearly identical to the piece offered in this lot. The firearm has wonderful patina and comes with the documentation and paperwork in regard to the historic provenance from Wendell Grangaard. Provenance: From a fine Eastern Montana American Indian Collection. The piece also comes with an original mid-1800’s Buffalo horn powder horn which is beautifully adorned with original brass trade tacks in two bands, with a carved wood cap, Indian tanned hide tie strap and red ocher mineral pigment dye painted surface, a truly amazing addition. Hudson Bay Trade rifles in Flintlock and Percussion were known to have been used during the Indian Wars and the Battle of the Little Bighorn due to the lack of available ammunition for repeating cartridge rifles. The rifle is an antique and does not require a background check. Measures overall 37.25”L.
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