Lot 123

Pawnee Gunstock Spontoon War Club circa 1865

Estimate: $15,000 - $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
This is excellent gunstock spontoon war club attributed to the Pawnee Indians of Kansas dating to circa 1865. This is a fine authentic Indian Wars period piece with proper and expected war from true age and Indian use. The piece was collected in the early 1900’s by Lawton McGregor of Topeka directly from an elderly Pawnee Indian man and was later acquired by English antique arms collector Cyrus Eaton of London, England in the 1960’s. The hardwood gunstock haft is adorned with elaborate brass trade tack designs and has an inset trade mirror on one side and an inset porcupine quilled rosette inset on the other side. The club shows a long stress crack on the right side of the haft which is likely from a strong impact during true use. At the center of the gunstock club is an old hand-forged iron spear point inset into the piece and is secured to the haft by two old square nails pounded flat along with a hide gasket. The blade has a circular pierced cutout at the center along with four notch cuts and two raised median ridges running along one side. The blade shows a touchmark / hallmark of a Fleur-di-Lis indicating the blacksmith being of French origin from the Fur Trade. The grip area of the club has some of the finish worn off and nice patina from age and use. Along with the signal mirror and porcupine quillwork, the club is adorned with various brass trade tack patterns done artfully. The club is in the typical gunstock pattern with flaring crescent butte shape top, forty-five degree turn at the blade, tapering design with square cut flowing into the curved gripping area and triangular pointed pommel end. This is truly a rare and exceptional, authentic Indian Wars era club with honest age and use. Provenance: From the Ex-collection of Cyrus Eaton of London, England. The club measures 28 inches overall and the blade is 5 ½ inches long by 3 ½ inches wide.
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