HISTORIC 1866 WINCHESTER CARBINE, CAPTURED AT THE WOUNDED KNEE MASSACRE AND POSSIBLY USED BY SGT. WILLIAM JAMES WHO WAS KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIGHORN.

SN 120168. Cal. 44. This Winchester was the subject of a video called the Curator’s Corner at the Whittington Museum. Wayne Armacost, the Curator, described the gun as follows “It is very, very probable and likely that this gun is just an incredible part of American history that was lost at the Little Big Horn and recovered at Wounded Knee.” This carbine has a very interesting history and the possibility exists that it did belong to a Sergeant William B. James who was attached to Company E, 7th Cavalry and was killed at The Little Big Horn. 7th Cavalry troopers were issued Springfield Trapdoors; however, it is believed that Sergeant James was carrying his own personal Winchester 1866 on that fateful day in June 1876. It is further believed that this carbine was picked up by a Sioux Warrior and later recovered at Wounded Knee in 1890. What made the owner of this carbine, Mr. Larry Nirenberg, commit to 14 years of research, in trying to tie this carbine to two historical events? Under the upper tang is scratched “Cpl. James”, and stamped on the lower tang is the inscription “WOUNDED KNEE 12 29 1890”. His research shows that eight Wounded Knee captured weapons included four Winchesters. According to accompanying letter from The Department of the Army, Rock Island Arsenal Museum: These weapons were given to J.W. Ellis in 1897 who had a museum in Maquoketa, Iowa which was disbursed in the 1960’s by auction in Delaware, Ohio (Garth’s?). Six of the eight captured guns, in 1897, had tags from the Rock Island Arsenal showing ownership by Chief Red Cloud, Crow Necklace, Poorbear, Sitting Eagle No. 2, White Tail and Broken-In. Various scholars mentioned in The Winchester Collector article believe the inscriptions shown and the overall aesthetics of this weapon are similar to other known captured Indian arms. There are no known Winchesters used by Troopers at Little Big Horn. However, there are privately owned weapons used by several of the Troopers known. In the archeological study of the Little Big Horn battle site, The US Department of Interior, National Park Service issued a report that has verified 47 different types of guns used on the battle field, including 44 Cal. Model 1866 Winchesters, though these were all thought to have been used by the Indians. No weapons were left on the battlefield as the Indians took them all. Interested parties should read the extensive and most interesting 9-pg research article published in The Winchester Collector, Summer 2006 and the additional documents provided by consignor in Provenance link found on our website. CONDITION: Good to very good overall. Markings, including inscriptions, SN, are all crisp and discernible. Bbl address is mostly discernible, but pitting obscures a portion as can be seen in photos. Stocks are sound and solid showing saddle wear, some wear and erosion, hand worn patina. Metal surfaces overall show old cleaning, brass has numerous small scratches, dings and dents with worn punch dot decorated design most prevalent as framed around SN. Mechanically gun is sound with clean rifling in bore. 51369-1 JS (125,000-250,000) – Lot 1025

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Auction: Firearms - April 2017

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1025	$0.00	HISTORIC 1866 WINCHESTER CARBINE, CAPTURED AT THE WOUNDED KNEE MASSACRE AND POSSIBLY USED BY SGT. WILLIAM JAMES WHO WAS KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIGHORN. SN 120168. Cal. 44. This Winchester was the subject of a video called the Curator’s Corner at the Whittington Museum. Wayne Armacost, the Curator, described the gun as follows “It is very, very probable and likely that this gun is just an incredible part of American history that was lost at the Little Big Horn and recovered at Wounded Knee.” This carbine has a very interesting history and the possibility exists that it did belong to a Sergeant William B. James who was attached to Company E, 7th Cavalry and was killed at The Little Big Horn. 7th Cavalry troopers were issued Springfield Trapdoors; however, it is believed that Sergeant James was carrying his own personal Winchester 1866 on that fateful day in June 1876. It is further believed that this carbine was picked up by a Sioux Warrior and later recovered at Wounded Knee in 1890. What made the owner of this carbine, Mr. Larry Nirenberg, commit to 14 years of research, in trying to tie this carbine to two historical events? Under the upper tang is scratched “Cpl. James”, and stamped on the lower tang is the inscription “WOUNDED KNEE 12 29 1890”. His research shows that eight Wounded Knee captured weapons included four Winchesters. According to accompanying letter from The Department of the Army, Rock Island Arsenal Museum: These weapons were given to J.W. Ellis in 1897 who had a museum in Maquoketa, Iowa which was disbursed in the 1960’s by auction in Delaware, Ohio (Garth’s?). Six of the eight captured guns, in 1897, had tags from the Rock Island Arsenal showing ownership by Chief Red Cloud, Crow Necklace, Poorbear, Sitting Eagle No. 2, White Tail and Broken-In. Various scholars mentioned in The Winchester Collector article believe the inscriptions shown and the overall aesthetics of this weapon are similar to other known captured Indian arms. There are no known Winchesters used by Troopers at Little Big Horn. However, there are privately owned weapons used by several of the Troopers known. In the archeological study of the Little Big Horn battle site, The US Department of Interior, National Park Service issued a report that has verified 47 different types of guns used on the battle field, including 44 Cal. Model 1866 Winchesters, though these were all thought to have been used by the Indians. No weapons were left on the battlefield as the Indians took them all. Interested parties should read the extensive and most interesting 9-pg research article published in The Winchester Collector, Summer 2006 and the additional documents provided by consignor in Provenance link found on our website. CONDITION: Good to very good overall. Markings, including inscriptions, SN, are all crisp and discernible. Bbl address is mostly discernible, but pitting obscures a portion as can be seen in photos. Stocks are sound and solid showing saddle wear, some wear and erosion, hand worn patina. Metal surfaces overall show old cleaning, brass has numerous small scratches, dings and dents with worn punch dot decorated design most prevalent as framed around SN. Mechanically gun is sound with clean rifling in bore. 51369-1 JS (125,000-250,000) – Lot 1025 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - April 2017 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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HISTORIC 1866 WINCHESTER CARBINE, CAPTURED AT THE WOUNDED KNEE MASSACRE AND POSSIBLY USED BY SGT. WILLIAM JAMES WHO WAS KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIGHORN.