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Kills A Hundred's Indian Police Colt SAA Revolver

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
Kills A Hundred's Indian Police Colt SAA Revolver
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This is a rare and important Colt Single Action Army Model 1873 revolver attributed to being owned by John Kills A Hundred. The revolver features a factory blue finished revolver with a 7.5 inch round barrel with ejector housing with the barrel being marked, “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” The receiver is marked, “PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871. / “ JULY. 2. -72. / “ JAN. 19. -75” AND “45 CAL” on the trigger guard. The frame, trigger guard, back strap butt frame are all marked “85949” with the cylinder also being marked “5949” all matching serial numbers. Along the original wood grips is signed in Togia Language carvings. The revolver has been examined and authenticated by renowned historian and Togia language expert, Wendell Grangaard of The Guns of History, Inc. In the tradition of the Lakota Sioux, the grips were marked by the owner John Kills A Hundred in the Togia Lakota Sign Language carvings for “lemita” with “oowa” marks. Marked right, “Hundred kills” and on the left “Corporal” and “Police”. John Kills A Hundred, a Lakota Sioux Warrior, was born in 1848, the son of Red Dog and Jennie Pretty Woman. He was one of the first men to join the Pine Ridge Police Force created by Indian Agent Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy in 1879 at the Pine Ridge Agency. When McGillycuddy started the Indian Police Agency, he had no weapons to give his officers, so weapons were requisitioned from any source available. He started with the US Indian Service and the Army and finally private weapon stocks. According to the family history of John Kills A Hundred, McGillycuddy bought the revolver from the trading post of the Standing Bears, run by Luther Standing Bear’s father George Standing Bear and his brother. McGillycuddy issued this Colt SAA Serial Number 85949 to John and John asked if he could buy the revolver so he could keep it by taking money out of his pay (from personally family testimony taken by Wendell Grangaard). John Kills A Hundred is listed by the South Dakota State Historical Society on the List of Original Pine Ridge Policeman as the following “Kills A Hundred – Oyuhpe (band0 – Red Shirt (Chief Status) – married – family 4 – age 28”. Included in the documentation is the original Colt factory letter stating this as being a circa 1883 .45 caliber blue finish revolver shipped to Hartley and Graham in New York, New York in a shipment of 50 firearms. The revolver comes with the signed letter describing the piece’s history from Wendell Grangaard along with detailed illustrations showing the markings he has translated. Wendell Grangaard is the foremost knowledge on the Togia language along with the Battle of the Little Bighorn as he is the author of the book, “Documenting the Weapons Used at Little Bighorn” 2015. Wendell was also intricate in the authentication and examination of the historic George Armstrong Custer Captured Sharps Carbine from Chief Black Kettle that sold at auction for $127,000. Comes with documentation including a detailed description authenticating the piece signed by Wendell, along with illustrations showing the Togia language carvings. From the excellent Indian Firearm collection of Steve Livermore of Fort Pierre, South Dakota.