The lot features an engraved National Arms Co. Brooklyn, N.Y. Number 2 Derringer from Sitting Bull and Missionary Mary Collins. The rare pistol is marked on the top in a single line, “NATIONAL ARMS Co. BROOKLYN, N.Y.” and is a model Number 2 with factory engraving chambered in .41 rim fire caliber. This is a pre-Colt Derringer serial number 8778 from the mid-to-late 1860’s, late to post Civil War. The pistol was examined by Wendell Grangaard of The Guns of History and found to be marked in Togia, a Lakota language with the paperwork included. On the left grip marked Sitting Bull / Slow as well as the English letters MC (illustrations1, 3, and 4) the letters attributed to Mary Collins, the well-known missionary to the Sioux. Sitting Bull / Slow is found written on the right grip and near the front sight (illustrations 2 and 5). David Bald Eagle was raised by his grandfather Joseph White Bull and in the 1960’s gave testimony of his grandfather’s Uncle, Sitting Bull, whom they fought with at Little Bighorn. David spoked of the Sitting Bull story of the yellow hammer bird that saved his life. When Sitting Bull was hunting near Teat Buttes by the Grand River he was resting and was awoken by a yellow hammer bird knocking on the tree. He saw this as a warning and lied still, opening his eyes to a grizzly bear near him. He had a bow and arrow but was too close to use them, he also had a small gun, a derringer. He received the derringer from a mail rider after sparing the man’s life during the war party attack in May 1868 on the mail train near Fort Stevenson. He decided the small .41 caliber Derringer would not kill the bear so he played dead and survived. He would sing a song to that effect, “Pretty bird, you saw me and took pity on me. You wish me to survive and among the people, oh bird people. From the day, always you shall be my relatives.” Sitting Bull later met missionary Mary Collins and told her this story, as she loved it so much he gave her this pistol and in the tradition of his people marked the gun with her initials. The derringer has a swing out barrel chambered in .41 caliber with cut rifling in the barrel. The barrel is clean with original blue finish still present. Antique Firearm NO FFL required.