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Southern Plains Pipe Tomahawk 19th Century

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:4,500.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Southern Plains Pipe Tomahawk 19th Century
The lot features an excellent pipe tomahawk attributed to the Southern Plains Native American Indians and dating to the 19th Century. The piece shows a high craftsmanship iron axe head with pipe bowl showing a typical flaring small head with small rear facing spur and file groves along the eyelet hole. The head is secured to the haft with a gasket of Indian tanned hide which is still present, a rare fine addition. The bowl itself shows two heavy filed groves along the curved tall bowl which was forged from an old heavy rifle barrel, the cut rifling is still visibly present in the bowl itself. The haft handle is hardwood showing a nice curved finish with three deeply carved rings which end at the gripping area. The end of the pipe shows a hand stop raised area holding a pierced hole which would have held a drop of beadwork or feathers. The entire wood haft has a nice shiny mellow patina from much honest age and use. The head itself has a nice chocolate brown patina from honest age and use as well. Provenance: The piece comes with a handwritten letter from Jeremy Peconom, a Maidu American Indian which states that the piece was handed down through generations in his family and was obtained in trade in the Honey Lake Valley of Northern California. The piece was sold by Jeremy Peconom at a Las Vegas, Neveda Gun Show. This is truly a fantastic authentic tomahawk with nice letter from the previous Native family collection showing fine original patina dating to the circa 1870-1880’s. An examination of the eyelet hole shows the original clean out plug hole and the hide gasket. Measures 22.75”L with a head that is 8”L with a 3 1/8”L blade. The current owner of piece noted that the curved long haft lent the piece to being used on horseback.