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Oglala Sioux Indian Police Sharps 1865 Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
Oglala Sioux Indian Police Sharps 1865 Rifle
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This is an excellent historic and important Sharps 1865 New Model Military Rifle in a .52 caliber issued to No Flesh by Dr. McGillyCuddy. The rifle features a heavy 20.5 inch long octagon barrel with a serial number of C42898 along with various “X” Togia Language Carvings. Marked on the right side of the receiver, “C. SHARPS’ PAT / OCT. 5TH 1852” and “R.S. LAWRENCE PAT / APRIL 12TH 1859.” Marked on the left side of the receiver with additional patent dates and along the top of the barrel with manufacture and “Old Reliable”. The rifle has been examined and authenticated by renowned historian and Togia language expert, Wendell Grangaard of The Guns of History, Inc. The firearm is marked with an “X”, in Togia stands for “Conica Wanica” which is No Flesh’s name. Marked on the left and right of the foregrip, twice on the left side of the stock and receiver line, along each side of the stock at the rifle serial number marked tang connection to the stock, and also on either side of the stock at the top corner near the stocks intersection with the metal butt stock. No Flesh was an Oglala Sioux Native American Indian Warrior born in 1845 and given the name Conica Wanica (No Flesh). He was born into the Three Bears Band of Kiyuksas (The Cut-Off Band). No flesh grew up around Paha Sapa (The Black Hills) and fought with Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse in 1874 on the Yellowstone River against General George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry. After this battle, he went home to the reservation on the White River. He joined the Wagluhe, who were known as Southern Sioux – Agency Sioux who gave up fighting. In 1879, No Flesh joined the Pine Ridge Agency Indian Police under Dr. McGillycuddy, and achieved the rank of corporal. He married his first wife, Smoke the same year. They had three children, he later married his second wife, Shell Woman in 1894. No Flesh was part of the delegation from Pine Ridge that went to Washington D.C. in 1888 to settle the dispute over the Black Hills. While on the trip, He Composed a song that the delegation sang: “Kola Takuca Yakanyela Paha Sapa Mitawa Unkis” which translates to “Friend what are you speaking of, The Black Hills belongs to us.” No Flesh went on to live the rest of his life in the Porcupine District of the Pine Ridge Reservation, along a creek which bears his name, No Flesh Creek, which is Southwest of Kyle, South Dakota. He is buried on a high hill overlooking the creek. The family of No Flesh knew of the Sharps rifle with serial number C42898 but did not know where it cam from. The family gave testimony to Wendell Grangaard that he did not participate in the Ghost Dances, but took his people to the Stronghold during the winter of 1890 and carried his Sharps at the Stronghold. Included in the lot is a copy of a photograph of No Flesh holding this very Sharps Rifle. This rifle is marked with the “X” of No Flesh’s Togia signature and was part of a set of letter and number stamps that the Department of Indian Police used to mark weapons. No Flesh also carried a Colt Model 1873 Single Action Army 45 caliber revolver, which came from Dr. McGillyCuddy also. Also included is a copy of an image of No Flesh (also called Without Meat) aside the famous Chief Sitting Bull when on their Delegation Trip together, possibly moments from singing the song authored by No Flesh. The 1865 Sharps New Model Military Rifle was manufactured from 1865-1866 in a .52 caliber with the serial number range of C40000-C50000. The rifle 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. Dr. McGillycuddy has been documented to have given firearms such as Sharps, Winchesters and Colt SAA to the Indian Police that he instituted at Pine Ridge. McGillycuddy was very close friends with Crazy Horse while posted as the Assistant Post Surgeon at Fort Robinson in what is now Nebraska. McGillycuddy was documented as taking the Colt Single Action Army from Moses Milner “California Joe” after his death and later issuing it to Indian Policeman at Pine Ridge Agency to Afraid of Eagle, another firearm offered in this sale.