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Little Bull's Battle of Wounded Knee Pipe Tomahawk

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
Little Bull's Battle of Wounded Knee Pipe Tomahawk
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This is a rare and important authentic pipe tomahawk from the famed Lakota Sioux Miniconjou, Little Bull from circa 1890 with two documents of authentication. The pipe tomahawk war axe has been examined and authenticated by renowned historian and Togia language expert, Wendell Grangaard of The Guns of History, Inc. The piece was found to show an iron blacksmith forged iron head with elongated blade with a chiseled beveled edge and octagonal pipe bowl, having etched, cut, or carved symbols in the Togia Language. On the right side of the tomahawk weapons blade is carved in Togia, “Afraid of Nothing Bear / Fools Bear / Little Bull / Wounded / Killed / Wounded Knee”. Also on the piece is the Togia signature for the Lone Horn Devil Medicine Man Mark (the holy band). The piece also comes with a Certificate of Authentication from Bennett’s Artifact Authentication in Ohio. The document, with the tomahawk pictured, states that this was one of three pieces found in a rock crevice by Bill Busskohl in the Southern Black Hills area of South Dakota in circa 1990. The COA states that this is an authentic original pipe tomahawk head with later contemporary added wood haft with brass tacks. Afraid of Nothing Bear and Little Bull were brother-friends both born in circa 1844, and both belonged to the band of Mineconjou, the holy band called the Devil Medicine Man Band. Together these warriors fought side by side at The Battle of Rosebud and Battle of the Little Bighorn (otherwise known as The Battle of Greasy Grass and commonly referred to as Custer’s Last Stand) as part of the Lone Horn’s Mineconjou. They both went to Canada with Chief Sitting Bull and when they surrendered, they settled on the Standing Rock Reservation, 15 miles from the mouth of the Grand River where they later raised horses. The men joined the Ghost Dance movement, started by Pauite religious leader Wovoka, and when Sitting Bull was killed, both men joined Big Foot’s ban to travel to Pine Ridge. Both men were captured by the 7th Cavalry and brought to the Wounded Knee Creek. Afraid of Nothing Bear was killed at the Battle of Wounded Knee and Little Bull was wounded. Little Bull returned to Standing Rock Reservation with a group of Mineconjou after the massacre. It is believed that the message written on the blade of the pipe tomahawk by Little Bull was as a tribute to his brother-friend Afraid of Nothing Bear when Little Bull was recovering from his wounds at the Stronghold. The tomahawk could have been in the possession of Afraid of Nothing Bear or Little Bull at the time of the capture and massacre of Wounded Knee. The piece comes with the signed letter describing the piece’s history from Wendell Grangaard along with a detailed illustration 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. The pipe tomahawk comes with documentation including a detailed description authenticating the piece signed by Wendell, along with a illustration showing the togia language carvings drawn and the Bennett’s COA. From a large Montana Historical Collection. This is possibly one of the most historic and well documented Wounded Knee Massacre / Battle of Wounded Knee relics ever offered for public sale and definitely the finest piece from the personal use of warrior Little Bull. The truly historic and important tomahawk measures overall 20.75”L x 8 7/8”W x 2.25”D and 1.5” thick. This is believed to be one of the only known relics to have surfaced from the Minecoujou Lone Horn Devil Medicine Man Mark (the holy band) making this significantly a historic piece.