INDIAN USED SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR RIFLE PURPORTED TO BE USED AT THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG HORN.

INDIAN USED SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR RIFLE PURPORTED TO BE USED AT THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG HORN. Cal. 45-70. SN 38853. This rifle is recorded as having been turned in during the second quarter of 1877 as an unserviceable carbine by Capt. Benteen, Commander of Company H, under Custer at the Fight at the Little Big Horn, where Custer & 207 of his men were annihilated. This cut down rifle, listed as a carbine, was among thirteen Springfields turned in by Capt. Benteen. It is now described as having a 21-1/4” bbl with a dovetail front sight, having a homemade, and German silver blade with a 1,200 yard rear sight. Breechblock & lockplates have the correct 1873 markings. The orig 1-pc stock has been reduced to 32-1/2” overall with one remaining band and shows incredible, extensive, hard use. The area of the forestock, between front of lockplate & band is severely worn from riding across a saddle bow, completely into the ramrod channel. It was shattered through the wrist & now has a braided, cord wrapped repair. There is also a crack through lower buttplate screw, completely around toe. Side opposite lockplate also shows heavy wear with severe wood loss around receiver which is duplicated on right side also. Left side has a crude, carved “LF” connected brand. The true story of this cut down rifle may never be known. It seems likely that official records of Capt. Benteen’s turned in unserviceable carbines should be considered accurate and one could easily mistake this for a carbine. Therefore, extrapolation to a Custer Battlefield used firearm is easy to make. There is also the possibility that this is one of the Models 1873 turned in for refurbishing or disposition in 1879. A large portion of those turned-in 1873’s were stripped for serviceable parts & sold as salvage, thereby creating a secondary market for rebuilt trapdoors using orig parts. Thereafter it could have wound up in an Indian’s hands on the frontier. There are a number of scenarios as to how it could have wound up in the condition it is, but the most logical & compelling is that it was in the hands of one of the Indian warriors at the Custer fight. CONDITION: Poor. No orig finish remains with metal being a worn, thin, silver/brown patina with rust & stain on left side of bbl. Stock is the most worn piece of walnut this cataloguer has ever seen. The shattered wrist was nailed & screwed before being wrapped with cord. Buttplate is very deeply pitted. Mechanics are fine; very worn, dark bore. 4-60697 (40,000-70,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2006

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
	1298	$0.00	INDIAN USED SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR RIFLE PURPORTED TO BE USED AT THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG HORN. Cal. 45-70. SN 38853. This rifle is recorded as having been turned in during the second quarter of 1877 as an unserviceable carbine by Capt. Benteen, Commander of Company H, under Custer at the Fight at the Little Big Horn, where Custer & 207 of his men were annihilated. This cut down rifle, listed as a carbine, was among thirteen Springfields turned in by Capt. Benteen. It is now described as having a 21-1/4” bbl with a dovetail front sight, having a homemade, and German silver blade with a 1,200 yard rear sight. Breechblock & lockplates have the correct 1873 markings. The orig 1-pc stock has been reduced to 32-1/2” overall with one remaining band and shows incredible, extensive, hard use. The area of the forestock, between front of lockplate & band is severely worn from riding across a saddle bow, completely into the ramrod channel. It was shattered through the wrist & now has a braided, cord wrapped repair. There is also a crack through lower buttplate screw, completely around toe. Side opposite lockplate also shows heavy wear with severe wood loss around receiver which is duplicated on right side also. Left side has a crude, carved “LF” connected brand. The true story of this cut down rifle may never be known. It seems likely that official records of Capt. Benteen’s turned in unserviceable carbines should be considered accurate and one could easily mistake this for a carbine. Therefore, extrapolation to a Custer Battlefield used firearm is easy to make. There is also the possibility that this is one of the Models 1873 turned in for refurbishing or disposition in 1879. A large portion of those turned-in 1873’s were stripped for serviceable parts & sold as salvage, thereby creating a secondary market for rebuilt trapdoors using orig parts. Thereafter it could have wound up in an Indian’s hands on the frontier. There are a number of scenarios as to how it could have wound up in the condition it is, but the most logical & compelling is that it was in the hands of one of the Indian warriors at the Custer fight. CONDITION: Poor. No orig finish remains with metal being a worn, thin, silver/brown patina with rust & stain on left side of bbl. Stock is the most worn piece of walnut this cataloguer has ever seen. The shattered wrist was nailed & screwed before being wrapped with cord. Buttplate is very deeply pitted. Mechanics are fine; very worn, dark bore. 4-60697 (40,000-70,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2006 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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