VERY RARE CUSTER BATTLEFIELD COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER IDENTIFIED TO SIOUX INDIAN RUNS-THE-ENEMY.

SN 7087. Cal. 45 Colt. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line script letter address that had “U.S.A.” removed during the period of use. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and has also had “U.S.” removed from the frame. Ejector housing is first type with nickel plated bull’s eye ejector rod head and base pin is orig type with dimpled ends and slightly battered head. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip that has partially obliterated matching SN in the backstrap channel. Only the “8” & “7” are completely legible. Left side of grip has the partial outline of an inspector’s cartouche with partially legible “O” for Orville W. Ainsworth. There are small “A” inspector initials on the bbl, trigger guard, cyl & backstrap. Bottom edge of grip is battered & worn, obliterating the inspector initial there. Matching SN is also found on bottom of bbl under ejector housing & on the cylinder. This revolver appears to have been from 1,000 Colts of Lot 7, shipped in May 1874, 166 of which where issued to the 7th Cavalry. Consignor spent an incredible amount of time studying notes, descriptions and reports from troops who were first on the battlefield the day after Custer was annihilated, with special attention to the location of identifiable bodies. With careful extrapolation of the body locations and comparing the interviews of Indian participants, he determined that this revolver could only have been issued to Regimental Color Sgt. Robert M. Hughes of Company K. Accompanied by a 2-pg letter from renowned author, historian and collector, John Kopec, wherein he authenticates this revolver and verifies much of the technical information about the revolver. He speculates that it may have been simply a stolen revolver, but could have been captured by hostiles. An interview of Runs-the-Enemy, a Two-Kettle Sioux who fought at the Little Big Horn, by Dr. Joseph K. Dixon was printed in his 1913 book The Vanishing Race from his 1909 interview of Runs-the-Enemy. At about the same time another author, Ivan Stars, interviewed Chief Runs-the-Enemy and recorded it in the Sioux language then translated it into English. Both interviews relate nearly identical wording regarding the Custer Battle and the annihilation of his command. Mr. Star’s rendition also includes the statement that “All thought horse soldier all die. Then one horse soldier raise up, all thought he returned to life from spirit land. Many frighten. He raise up arm to shoot six shooter pistol. I grab six shooter pistol from horse soldier. I shoot horse soldier in head with his six shooter pistol. He strong man. He have bad wound in belly before I kill him. His black whisker short hair. He have the white man called mustache long with curve at the end. He no horse soldier chief. He have marks on arm. He die close together with one called Yellow Hair.——- “. He continues near the end “I follow Kicking-Bear, mark on weapon with my possession. I wear ghost shirt. I dance the ghost dance. I give now to you my much thought. Coup, marked with sign, my possession, guard six-shooter pistol. To wash on red holy God, six-shooter pistol name 7-Zero-8-7. For I do this. I Run-the-Enemy.” The “7-Zero-8-7” in Runs-the-Enemy’s interview above certainly is the SN of this revolver. His statement “To wash on red holy God —” appears to refer to an ocher wash applied to the grip which is now a very dark reddish brown similar to the two ocher dots found on Chief Two Moons’ Colt revolver being sold elsewhere in this auction. The nickeled ejector rod head may have originated on another Colt Single Action captured by Runs-the-Enemy at the Little Big Horn battle. He also captured a nickel plated Colt after he killed a “Black” soldier (apparently Isaiah Dorman, a black scout and interpreter killed in the battle). PROVENANCE: Wendell Grangaard Collection. CONDITION: Very good, all matching. No orig finish remains being an overall cleaned gray metal patina showing muzzle edge wear and the muzzle filed flat during the period of use. Cyl is in matching patina. Grip has chipped toes and left edge shows heavy wear with the aforementioned very dark reddish brown color. Mechanics are fine; strong, dark bore with fine pitting. 4-49320 JR431 (30,000-50,000) – Lot 2241

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014

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
	2241	$25,875.00	VERY RARE CUSTER BATTLEFIELD COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER IDENTIFIED TO SIOUX INDIAN RUNS-THE-ENEMY. SN 7087. Cal. 45 Colt. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line script letter address that had “U.S.A.” removed during the period of use. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and has also had “U.S.” removed from the frame. Ejector housing is first type with nickel plated bull’s eye ejector rod head and base pin is orig type with dimpled ends and slightly battered head. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip that has partially obliterated matching SN in the backstrap channel. Only the “8” & “7” are completely legible. Left side of grip has the partial outline of an inspector’s cartouche with partially legible “O” for Orville W. Ainsworth. There are small “A” inspector initials on the bbl, trigger guard, cyl & backstrap. Bottom edge of grip is battered & worn, obliterating the inspector initial there. Matching SN is also found on bottom of bbl under ejector housing & on the cylinder. This revolver appears to have been from 1,000 Colts of Lot 7, shipped in May 1874, 166 of which where issued to the 7th Cavalry. Consignor spent an incredible amount of time studying notes, descriptions and reports from troops who were first on the battlefield the day after Custer was annihilated, with special attention to the location of identifiable bodies. With careful extrapolation of the body locations and comparing the interviews of Indian participants, he determined that this revolver could only have been issued to Regimental Color Sgt. Robert M. Hughes of Company K. Accompanied by a 2-pg letter from renowned author, historian and collector, John Kopec, wherein he authenticates this revolver and verifies much of the technical information about the revolver. He speculates that it may have been simply a stolen revolver, but could have been captured by hostiles. An interview of Runs-the-Enemy, a Two-Kettle Sioux who fought at the Little Big Horn, by Dr. Joseph K. Dixon was printed in his 1913 book The Vanishing Race from his 1909 interview of Runs-the-Enemy. At about the same time another author, Ivan Stars, interviewed Chief Runs-the-Enemy and recorded it in the Sioux language then translated it into English. Both interviews relate nearly identical wording regarding the Custer Battle and the annihilation of his command. Mr. Star’s rendition also includes the statement that “All thought horse soldier all die. Then one horse soldier raise up, all thought he returned to life from spirit land. Many frighten. He raise up arm to shoot six shooter pistol. I grab six shooter pistol from horse soldier. I shoot horse soldier in head with his six shooter pistol. He strong man. He have bad wound in belly before I kill him. His black whisker short hair. He have the white man called mustache long with curve at the end. He no horse soldier chief. He have marks on arm. He die close together with one called Yellow Hair.——- “. He continues near the end “I follow Kicking-Bear, mark on weapon with my possession. I wear ghost shirt. I dance the ghost dance. I give now to you my much thought. Coup, marked with sign, my possession, guard six-shooter pistol. To wash on red holy God, six-shooter pistol name 7-Zero-8-7. For I do this. I Run-the-Enemy.” The “7-Zero-8-7” in Runs-the-Enemy’s interview above certainly is the SN of this revolver. His statement “To wash on red holy God —” appears to refer to an ocher wash applied to the grip which is now a very dark reddish brown similar to the two ocher dots found on Chief Two Moons’ Colt revolver being sold elsewhere in this auction. The nickeled ejector rod head may have originated on another Colt Single Action captured by Runs-the-Enemy at the Little Big Horn battle. He also captured a nickel plated Colt after he killed a “Black” soldier (apparently Isaiah Dorman, a black scout and interpreter killed in the battle). PROVENANCE: Wendell Grangaard Collection. CONDITION: Very good, all matching. No orig finish remains being an overall cleaned gray metal patina showing muzzle edge wear and the muzzle filed flat during the period of use. Cyl is in matching patina. Grip has chipped toes and left edge shows heavy wear with the aforementioned very dark reddish brown color. Mechanics are fine; strong, dark bore with fine pitting. 4-49320 JR431 (30,000-50,000) – Lot 2241 Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}

VERY RARE CUSTER BATTLEFIELD COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER IDENTIFIED TO SIOUX INDIAN RUNS-THE-ENEMY.