*SOLD* Little Bighorn Native Capture Springfield 1873 Carbine With Provenance

*SOLD* Presented for your consideration in this lot is a piece of history! This Springfield 1873 carbine serial number 17614 in .45-70 caliber was captured from the battle of the Little Bighorn and the Sioux Native American Warrior, High Eagle wound up with it. This amazing battlefield captured relic has been well documented by Custer Battle experts and has extensive provenance showing ownership from High Eagle to the present day. Listed below are several points of interest regarding this Native Capture Springfield Carbine: 1. Ownership from High Eagle to the current owner Kenneth Stasiak as such: 2. William Fowler (second owner) was close High Eagle (High Eagle was the first owner and documented participant in the battle). 3. Carbine was then purchased from the Fowler Estate in 1965 by Gary Holtus. 4. Dick Harmon purchased it from Holtus in 1970. Dick Harmon is a noted firearms expert and is well published on Custer Battlefield firearms. 4. Harmon sold the carbine to Kenneth Stasiak in July of 2001. 5. There is a letter from Harmon to Stasiak detailing the characteristics of the carbine as well as the provenance dating back to Chief High Eagle. 6. This carbine (serial number 17614) is in the range of carbines issued to Custer's 7th Calvary and several guns only a few numbers apart are well documented to the battle. 7. Chief High Eagle is pictured in a Life magazine article dated June 25th, 1951 which was the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He was one of the last surviving participants of the battle. 8. Based on their research, Little Bighorn experts Dick Harmon and Dr. Douglas Scott believe this carbine was captured at the Battle of the Little Big Horn by High Eagle.  Both have written several articles and co-authored two books about Custer Battle Guns. Included in this auction are Dick Hamon's bibliography and a letter from him; a photo of Chief High Eagle at the Little Big Horn Reunion on September 2, 1948 in Life Magazine, a letter from Ken Stasiak indicating this carbine's provenance up to his ownership, letter from Richard Hosmer showing gun as listed by a Springfield carbine expert (Schoeppl) as "presumed Custer Carbine", "Custer Battle Guns" book by John S. duMont (1988 edition), A Life Magazine dated July 9th, 1951 which includes an article about the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Big Horn and mentions High Eagle (also pictured).  If you are a collector of  historical items, you would be hard pressed to add a much better piece to your collection!  Good luck bidding. Please go here to read an article about the gun: https://westerntradingpost.com/blog/collectors-corner-little-bighorn-native-capture-gun/ 
MAKER: Springfield. Serial Number: 17614.
APPROX AGE: 1873 SIZE: Barrel Length: 22 inches. Caliber: .45-70 cal.
CONDITION: The condition of this carbine is poor. The carbine was fired at some time with a smokeless powder cartridge and the trapdoor and a portion of the barrel were blown away.. A portion of that brass cased cartridge remains in what is left of the chamber. A period correct trapdoor is included for display purposes. In true Native American fashion, there are multiple brass tack and brass nail enhancements to the stock as well as a wire repair to the wrist of the stock. Obviously, this carbine is not capable of being fired but its value lies in the fact that it was a Little Big Horn Battle captured gun with provenance. Please look closely at the pictures as they are an important part of our description and are hereby incorporated into the description, specifically with regard to condition.