The lot features a beaded Indian hide holster sheath from the Plains paired with a circa 1850 U.S. Civil War double-barrel, breech loading, hidden trigger and engraved pistol with tacking. The pistol shows a breech loading double barrel side by side pistol chambered in .60 caliber with a pinfire exposed hammer, showing hidden drop down double triggers. These double barrel pinfire pistols were made around circa 1850 in Belgium or elsewhere in Europe and traded by the French into the United States during the U.S. Civil War as a soldiers personal side arm. These often found their way the Plains and by circa 1870 were no longer being offered. This example shows engraving across most of the metal surfaces with a checkered solid wood grips. The grips and gun have been altered showing Plains brass covered metal tacks and nickel concho tacks in various sizes across both grips including a silver like rosette and hammered solid copper identification tag which is stamped, “USIS”. The collected noted “USIS” as standing for United States Indian Service, similar to other items marked as such. It is said that all Indian scouts employed by the Indian Service had to have their weapons, knives, outfits and other accouterments stamped for proper identification of gov’t property. The pistols hammers both click back and hold into place, when clicked back they expose the straight blade flat trigger which is hidden into the bottom of the gun, once the trigger is pulled the hammer correctly falls and the triggers spring back into their hidden location. When the hammers are pulled back a button or lever on the left side of the gun can be pushed allowing the breech top open to be loaded with pinfire ammo. The sheath shows Indian tanned buckskin hide with classic Plains geometric beadwork showing glass trade seed beads in colors of chalk white, cobalt, red white heart, light blue. There is long frilly hide fringes across the entire bottom and side and the sheath shows red, green / blue and yellow painted finish. Review the pictures for your own representation of age and originality. Pistol measures 11-inches long by 6-inches wide. Sheath is 21-inches long by 10-inches wide. The set displays together nicely.