RARE CUSTER RANGE MODEL 1873 INDIAN USED TRAPDOOR CARBINE.

RARE CUSTER RANGE MODEL 1873 INDIAN USED TRAPDOOR CARBINE. Cal. 45-70. SN 9196. Standard carbine with 22″ rnd bbl, square base front sight with 1,200 yard ladder rear sight. It has “1873” dated breech block & lockplate. Hammer has a ovoid shaped checkering pattern & buttplate is orig 1873 pattern, smooth, without trap, & has “US” in front of top screw hole. Mounted in a 1-pc walnut stock of the late 1877 pattern with butt recess for cleaning tools. It has a sgl bbl band with 2-pc trigger guard & bases for a sling bar in left side, the bar having been cut from bases, which is typical of Indian usage. Stock has tiny inspector initials “AL” below trigger guard tang. This carbine recently turned up in an old Cody, Wyoming collection where it had been for many years. It is accompanied by a small framed typewritten note dated “Busby, Montanta / October 30, 1935”. It states, “To Whom it may Concern: I, Frank Pine, Cheyenne Indian, hereby certify on honor, that the gun or rifle I sold to Miles Horn is one of the guns taken after the battle on the Little Big Horn between the soldiers and the Sioux and Cheyene Indians. This gun has been in the possession of the Cheyenne Indians since this battle in 1876.” It has an ink signature of “Frank Pine” with an ink thumbprint annotated “his mark”. The note is accompanied by a newspaper clipping dated “Nov. 27” (year not indicated) Lame Deer (which is in Montana). It reads as follows: “INDIAN SCOUT PASSES ON TO HAPPY HUNTING GROUND / Lame Deer, Nov. 27. – Frank Pine, Cheyenne Indian scout, who served at Fort Keough under General Miles and engaged in a campaign against the Sioux in South Dakota, died at Birney Sunday night, at the age of 77. According to his army record, he was born in the spring of 1863, in Wyoming. He was enlisted in 1890 and discharged in 1891. The funeral was held Monday at Busby where he lived for many years. A.C. Stohr, pioneer Lame Deer business man, says ‘Pine’s word was as good as any contract that could be written.'”. Also accompanied by a Buffalo Bill Historical Center of Cody, WY, a loan agreement for Sept. 25, 1986 for the purpose of “THE CUSTER MYSTIQUE” where it remained on display until December of 1986. The owner, at that time, was a gentleman by the name of Bert Schultz of Cody, WY. Additionally accompanying is a photograph of the carbine and Frank Pine framed statement while on display. In addition, there is a statement from Roberta Sankey, the personal representative of the William Schultz estate, wherein she states that this carbine was sold to Miles Horn in 1935 by Frank Pine and that Bert Schultz of Cody traded some horses for it from Ann McKinney, daughter of Buster Brown, long time Birney, MT rancher on the Northern Cheyenne Indian reservation in the mid-1970’s. Mr. Brown died in 1993 and Mr. Schultz inherited it. While there are apparent Indian modifications, typically removing the sling bar, the replaced stock can be explained by Mr. Pine having been an Army scout. Firing pin is 1-pc brass & appears to be the 1890 modification which is also explained under same circumstances. CONDITION: No orig finish remains with metal being a light silver/brown patina with scattered light surface pitting. Breech block is silvered case colors & lockplate is silvered case colors & brown patina. Stock is sound with a small grain flaw at buttplate. Shows moderate to heavy wear with usual nicks, dings & scratches and retains a wonderful hand patina with some old applied varnish around wrist. Rear lockplate screw is missing. Mechanics are crisp, although the breech block is slightly loose on hinge. Strong bright bore with fine pitting & a partial ring about 4″ from muzzle. Given the worn appearance & Indian modifications combined with the statement of an apparent reputable Indian man, the likelihood is that this was a Custer Battlefield pickup carbine. 4-56444 JR399 (25,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	536	$0.00	RARE CUSTER RANGE MODEL 1873 INDIAN USED TRAPDOOR CARBINE. Cal. 45-70. SN 9196. Standard carbine with 22″ rnd bbl, square base front sight with 1,200 yard ladder rear sight. It has “1873” dated breech block & lockplate. Hammer has a ovoid shaped checkering pattern & buttplate is orig 1873 pattern, smooth, without trap, & has “US” in front of top screw hole. Mounted in a 1-pc walnut stock of the late 1877 pattern with butt recess for cleaning tools. It has a sgl bbl band with 2-pc trigger guard & bases for a sling bar in left side, the bar having been cut from bases, which is typical of Indian usage. Stock has tiny inspector initials “AL” below trigger guard tang. This carbine recently turned up in an old Cody, Wyoming collection where it had been for many years. It is accompanied by a small framed typewritten note dated “Busby, Montanta / October 30, 1935”. It states, “To Whom it may Concern: I, Frank Pine, Cheyenne Indian, hereby certify on honor, that the gun or rifle I sold to Miles Horn is one of the guns taken after the battle on the Little Big Horn between the soldiers and the Sioux and Cheyene Indians. This gun has been in the possession of the Cheyenne Indians since this battle in 1876.” It has an ink signature of “Frank Pine” with an ink thumbprint annotated “his mark”. The note is accompanied by a newspaper clipping dated “Nov. 27” (year not indicated) Lame Deer (which is in Montana). It reads as follows: “INDIAN SCOUT PASSES ON TO HAPPY HUNTING GROUND / Lame Deer, Nov. 27. – Frank Pine, Cheyenne Indian scout, who served at Fort Keough under General Miles and engaged in a campaign against the Sioux in South Dakota, died at Birney Sunday night, at the age of 77. According to his army record, he was born in the spring of 1863, in Wyoming. He was enlisted in 1890 and discharged in 1891. The funeral was held Monday at Busby where he lived for many years. A.C. Stohr, pioneer Lame Deer business man, says ‘Pine’s word was as good as any contract that could be written.'”. Also accompanied by a Buffalo Bill Historical Center of Cody, WY, a loan agreement for Sept. 25, 1986 for the purpose of “THE CUSTER MYSTIQUE” where it remained on display until December of 1986. The owner, at that time, was a gentleman by the name of Bert Schultz of Cody, WY. Additionally accompanying is a photograph of the carbine and Frank Pine framed statement while on display. In addition, there is a statement from Roberta Sankey, the personal representative of the William Schultz estate, wherein she states that this carbine was sold to Miles Horn in 1935 by Frank Pine and that Bert Schultz of Cody traded some horses for it from Ann McKinney, daughter of Buster Brown, long time Birney, MT rancher on the Northern Cheyenne Indian reservation in the mid-1970’s. Mr. Brown died in 1993 and Mr. Schultz inherited it. While there are apparent Indian modifications, typically removing the sling bar, the replaced stock can be explained by Mr. Pine having been an Army scout. Firing pin is 1-pc brass & appears to be the 1890 modification which is also explained under same circumstances. CONDITION: No orig finish remains with metal being a light silver/brown patina with scattered light surface pitting. Breech block is silvered case colors & lockplate is silvered case colors & brown patina. Stock is sound with a small grain flaw at buttplate. Shows moderate to heavy wear with usual nicks, dings & scratches and retains a wonderful hand patina with some old applied varnish around wrist. Rear lockplate screw is missing. Mechanics are crisp, although the breech block is slightly loose on hinge. Strong bright bore with fine pitting & a partial ring about 4″ from muzzle. Given the worn appearance & Indian modifications combined with the statement of an apparent reputable Indian man, the likelihood is that this was a Custer Battlefield pickup carbine. 4-56444 JR399 (25,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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