125

Mining Axe from Knife Chief Pawnee Warrior

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
Mining Axe from Knife Chief Pawnee Warrior
Advertising, Firearms, Antiques, Collectibles, Antique Furniture, Native American Artifacts, Navajo Jewelry, Silver, Gold, Montana History Artifacts, Navajo Indian Rugs, Taxidermy Mounts, Slot Machines, Cash Registers, Early Chinese Artifacts.
This is an exceptionally RARE mining axe once owned and carried by Knife Chief, a Pawnee chief. Knife Chief was a scout for General George R. Crook's regiment in the 1870's. In 1876, Brave Bull, an Oglala Sioux warrior joined the scout regiment. Knife Chief and Brave bull became friends and, while on a hunting trip in the Black hills, they encountered a miner and killed him. Sometime later, Knife Chief came into possession of the axe. In the 1880's, Knife Chief joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show as a performer where he remained for years. The axe has been examined by Wendell Grangaard, president of The Guns of History, Inc. who is a leading expert on the Sioux Native American Indian Tribe and their Togia language. Grangaard has authenticated the piece and provided a written description of the axe and its markings. The markings on th right side of the handle are interpreted as "Knife Chief kill man-Paha Sapa (Black Hills)-Friend-Brave Bull-Many". The left side of the handle reads "Man in River-Kill Pawnee Knife Chief-rode with friend Brave Bull-rode together-three battles". The authentication includes illustrations of the axe and the interpretations. Also included in the report are two copies of photographs showing Knife Chief with other members of the Wild West Show cast and Knife Chief with other Pawnee and Sioux chiefs. The axe shows a forged iron construction with a blunt hammer-like instrument on one end and a pick type implement on the other end. The wooden haft is tapered toward the middle with a carved notch at the end. This is RARE piece of Sioux Native American history and heritage. The axe shows good overall condition. It measures 8.5" x 29.75.