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Battle of Wounded Knee Springfield 1873 Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 100,000.00 USD
Battle of Wounded Knee Springfield 1873 Rifle
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This is a Springfield Model 1873 trapdoor rifle with a serial number of 235763 attributed to being owned and used at the Battle of Wounded Knee. The rifle features a 32.5 inch round blue finished barrel with original ramrod and sight and having the correct hallmarks. The receiver shows the “US MODEL 1873” mark along with the serial number of “235763”. The side receiver plate is also marked “US SPRINGFIELD” with the eagle. The original wood stock shows various Togia Lakota Sign Language Carvings. The rifle has been examined and authenticated by renowned historian and Togia language expert, Wendell Grangaard of The Guns of History, Inc. Buffalo Tail was an Oglala Sioux Warrior born in 1868 and married Mink in 1890. Together they had one daughter, Lucy Buffalo Tail. It is believed that the rifle was originally issued to Charles W. Taylor the 1st Lieutenant of the 9th Cavalry, US Indian Scouts and picked up by Private Two Tails and Private Iron Tail as both were Indian Scouts under Charles Taylor. Buffalo Tail and his wife lived on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the Wounded Knee District and it is believed that the rifle was transferred to him from Two Tails or Iron Tail. Buffalo Tail also had a Colt Single Action Army Model 1873 Serial Number 5773 with his name signed on the grip. That revolver was listed in the Kopec and Fenn’s book “Colt Cavarly and Artillery Revolvers” book. Nickolas Black Elk testified in the book “Black Elk Speaks” by John Neihardt of himself, Loves War, Iron Wasichu (White Man), Red Crow, and Buffalo Tail riding fast to the Wounded Knee gulch (ravine) seeing two little boys with guns killing many soldiers. It was told to Benjamin Black Elk from Nickolas Black Elk that Buffalo Tail receiver the revolver with serial number 5773 from this boys. It is conceivable that these two boys were Two Tails and Iron Tail. In another story from Nicholas Black Elk it was told that Daniel Blue Hair was one of the boys and gave Buffalo Tail the firearm. Wendell Grangaard reviewed the firearm at the Las Vegas gun show in January 2017 in the presence of Wes Dillon of James D. Julia Auction and found Togia Language carvings across the bottom, photographing it and translating it as shown in our documentation. This firearm went on to sell at James D. Julia’s auction for $460,000. This Springfield Rifle is believed to have been owned by Buffalo Tail and taken at the Battle of Wounded Knee, the same as the iconic Colt Single Action Army SN 5773. This is truly a historic and important rifle. The rifle is marked on the right side of the stock in Togia Language Carvings, “Buffalo Tail (Tantante Sinte)”. It is also marked with a tribute to the Wounded Knee Massacre as shown in the illustration showing such carvings as in no particular order “Cavalry / Day / Afraid / Catch Lodge / Battle / Ravine / Death / Soldier.” The Buffalo Tail Togia signature that is currently present on the base of the grip of the Colt SN 5773 sold for $460,000 is also present on this Springfield rifle.