RARE INDIAN USED CUSTER RANGE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1873 SADDLE RING CARBINE.

RARE INDIAN USED CUSTER RANGE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1873 SADDLE RING CARBINE. SN 36797. Cal. 45-70. Standard 1873 carbine with 22″ bbl, barleycorn front sight and orig 1,200 yard carbine ladder rear sight attached with slotless screws. Breech block has the standard “MODEL 1873” and eagle head marking with standard “1873” marked lockplate. Mounted in an uncheckered 1-pc walnut stock with sgl band that has stacking swivel and straight grip with 1873 carbine buttplate without trap and with no recess. Stock is early type with low comb and long wrist and has a sling bar & ring in left side by receiver. Right side of buttstock, near the buttplate is marked with a 5-pointed star that has a small circle in the center. This symbol has previously been seen on a number of other Custer-era Trapdoor & Sharps carbines which were the subject of a 6-page article by Robert W. Smith which appeared in the August 1995 Man at Arms magazine. Robert Smith’s article states: Examination of U.S. Army Ordnance records and regimental returns involved in confrontations with Indians revealed that during the six year period from January, 1874 to January 1880, the only documented loss of early original, unaltered, high-serial numbered carbines was at the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. Victorious Sioux and Cheyenne Indians took at least 50 of these weapons from Custer’s dead cavalrymen. Further research has shown that any early 1873 Springfield carbine whose stock is original issue and unaltered since the 1876-1878 period, falls into the “high serial-numbered group” and has authentic Indian markings from that period is very likely a relic of the Custer fight. The other cavalry regiments (the first, fifth & eighth cavalry who were also issued some high numbered carbines) reported negligible losses of these high-serial-numbered carbines to Indians. All of the carbines pictured, except for one, have absolutely identical star markings in the same position on all the buttstocks. Research of existing records disclosed that the 7th Cavalry was issued 250 carbines in the serial range 33,000-43,700. Two companies of Custer’s troops annihilated at the Little Big Horn, Companies C (Capt. Thomas Custer) & I (Capt. Miles Keough), had these carbines. On Sept. 9, 1876 almost three months after the fight at Little Big Horn, the cavalry raided an Indian village at Slim Butte where they recovered 7th Cavalry mounts, Capt. Keough’s gauntlets, I-Company’s guidon, weapons and other items. The star symbol carved in the stock of this carbine is known to have been used as a medicine sign by a number of tribes, particularly the Sioux, Arapahoe & Cheyenne along with the Ute Tribe in Colorado. It was also found on a ghost dance shirt used by the Lakota-Sioux. Another example of the star symbol is found on a Sioux woman’s dress, circa 1858, which is on display in a museum in Brussels. This dress is believed to have been made by Eagle Woman, a relative of Sitting Bull. The documented use of the star symbol by the Sioux certainly lends credence to the belief that it is a spiritual or medicine symbol. Given that this carbine is still in unaltered orig configuration, along with the star medicine symbol, it is is difficult to conclude anything other than that this carbine was captured by Indians at the Little Big Horn.Accompanied by a notarized affidavit from the consignor regarding his purchase of the gun and a color copy of the Man at Arms article. CONDITION: Very good to fine. No orig finish remains being mostly a smooth, plummy brown patina with some spotted pitting on left side of receiver, breech block. Sheltered areas on receiver & bbl around the wood retain black paint. Stock has a repaired crack in the wrist and some chips in front of the lockplate, otherwise is sound and retains about all of an old refinish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-46124 JR415 (6,500-9,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

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
	2175	$33,350.00	RARE INDIAN USED CUSTER RANGE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1873 SADDLE RING CARBINE. SN 36797. Cal. 45-70. Standard 1873 carbine with 22″ bbl, barleycorn front sight and orig 1,200 yard carbine ladder rear sight attached with slotless screws. Breech block has the standard “MODEL 1873” and eagle head marking with standard “1873” marked lockplate. Mounted in an uncheckered 1-pc walnut stock with sgl band that has stacking swivel and straight grip with 1873 carbine buttplate without trap and with no recess. Stock is early type with low comb and long wrist and has a sling bar & ring in left side by receiver. Right side of buttstock, near the buttplate is marked with a 5-pointed star that has a small circle in the center. This symbol has previously been seen on a number of other Custer-era Trapdoor & Sharps carbines which were the subject of a 6-page article by Robert W. Smith which appeared in the August 1995 Man at Arms magazine. Robert Smith’s article states: Examination of U.S. Army Ordnance records and regimental returns involved in confrontations with Indians revealed that during the six year period from January, 1874 to January 1880, the only documented loss of early original, unaltered, high-serial numbered carbines was at the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. Victorious Sioux and Cheyenne Indians took at least 50 of these weapons from Custer’s dead cavalrymen. Further research has shown that any early 1873 Springfield carbine whose stock is original issue and unaltered since the 1876-1878 period, falls into the “high serial-numbered group” and has authentic Indian markings from that period is very likely a relic of the Custer fight. The other cavalry regiments (the first, fifth & eighth cavalry who were also issued some high numbered carbines) reported negligible losses of these high-serial-numbered carbines to Indians. All of the carbines pictured, except for one, have absolutely identical star markings in the same position on all the buttstocks. Research of existing records disclosed that the 7th Cavalry was issued 250 carbines in the serial range 33,000-43,700. Two companies of Custer’s troops annihilated at the Little Big Horn, Companies C (Capt. Thomas Custer) & I (Capt. Miles Keough), had these carbines. On Sept. 9, 1876 almost three months after the fight at Little Big Horn, the cavalry raided an Indian village at Slim Butte where they recovered 7th Cavalry mounts, Capt. Keough’s gauntlets, I-Company’s guidon, weapons and other items. The star symbol carved in the stock of this carbine is known to have been used as a medicine sign by a number of tribes, particularly the Sioux, Arapahoe & Cheyenne along with the Ute Tribe in Colorado. It was also found on a ghost dance shirt used by the Lakota-Sioux. Another example of the star symbol is found on a Sioux woman’s dress, circa 1858, which is on display in a museum in Brussels. This dress is believed to have been made by Eagle Woman, a relative of Sitting Bull. The documented use of the star symbol by the Sioux certainly lends credence to the belief that it is a spiritual or medicine symbol. Given that this carbine is still in unaltered orig configuration, along with the star medicine symbol, it is is difficult to conclude anything other than that this carbine was captured by Indians at the Little Big Horn.Accompanied by a notarized affidavit from the consignor regarding his purchase of the gun and a color copy of the Man at Arms article. CONDITION: Very good to fine. No orig finish remains being mostly a smooth, plummy brown patina with some spotted pitting on left side of receiver, breech block. Sheltered areas on receiver & bbl around the wood retain black paint. Stock has a repaired crack in the wrist and some chips in front of the lockplate, otherwise is sound and retains about all of an old refinish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-46124 JR415 (6,500-9,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 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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