204

C. 1875 Double Batwing Copper Inlaid Pipe Tomahawk

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD
C. 1875 Double Batwing Copper Inlaid Pipe Tomahawk
This is a fantastic circa 1875 double batwing cutout pipe tomahawk collected from the Crow in Montana. The piece exhibits a 10 ¾ inch long forged iron head that has eight copper inserts in the blade. The haft is adorned with old hot file branding, a small wrap of copper telegraph wire, brass tacks, and a wrap of old red stroud cloth around the gripping area secured with buckskin lacing and tacks. This is a large, heavy tomahawk with minor wear and oxidation to the blade and haft. Nice deep chocolate patina. From a large weapons and beadwork collection in Ohio. The double batwing cutout tomahawk is exceedingly rare with few known to exist in museums or private collections. These tomahawks rarely come up for public sale making them a very scarce and unique American Indian collectible. Cowan’s Auctions offered a Southern Plains Style Pipe Tomahawk with Inlay and Double-Cutout in their 4/5/2013 sale attributed to circa 1870 and sold for an astounding $42,000. A similar tomahawk is photographed in Hartzler and Knowles Indian Tomahawks and Frontiersmen Belt Axes (1991 figure 60). This example is also very similar to the example documented by Harold L. Peterson in his 1965 book, “American Indian Tomahawk” on page 119 figure 191. A photo of Baldwin's example in his book is included for reference. This tomahawk measures 23 inches long overall.