"Wendell Grandgaard, "Guns That Talk To Us"
by Rex Abrahams
Did you know that many Plains Indian warriors clearly marked their firearms as to ownership? Would it surprise you to know that over the years the ability to "read" these markings was held in close secret among the "Wakan" or Holy Man of the tribe? And finally, would it be even more surprising to know this "language" was passed down through a white man?
Come to Fort Larned's annual Mess & Muster, Saturday, April 28, 2018, and hear the amazing story of Wendell Grangaard. Wendell will share how over time this ancient secret called Togia, was explained to him by Lakota historian Benjamin Black Elk, son of Nicholas Black Elk and Grandson of Black Elk (John G. Neilhardt's Black Elk Speaks) of the Lakota Sioux. Why Wendell? Come and find out.
Wendell and his friend, Steve Livermore, acquired many firearms over the years and now own a treasure trove of documented Indian guns. Wendell's first book, Documenting the Weapons Used at the Little Bighorn, chronicles the location of individual warriors and their guns at this famous battle.
He Dog, Rain In the Face, Two Moon, Little Big Man, Dr. Henry Porter, California Joe, and yes, Crazy Horse's 1873 Winchester, all used at the Little Big Horn are documented. If you are a history fanatic and a weapon historian, this is a can't miss opportunity to hear "Guns That Talk To Us." Wendell's story and the history of some of these famous Indian-owned firearms is amazing. He will have several historical weapons with him to show and share this fascinating tale. I have purposely left out one significant firearm from this short list. It is a jaw dropper and could literally rewrite Little Big Horn history. What is it? Be there and find out. Mr. Grangaard plans on bringing it to Fort Larned."
www.santafetrailresearch.com/fort-larned/outpost-v28-n2-17.htmlwww.agmuseumstore.com/documenting-the-weapons-used-at-the-little-bighorn.htmlFrom what I can gather, it's a secret language passed on by Benjamin Black Elk to Wendell Grangaard, which has helped him 'authenticate' and attribute guns to various men and, of course, hike up the price - a move which has served to raise doubts.
gunsofhistoryauction.com/artifacts/aboutIf you scroll down here, you get a different point of view...
www.furtradetomahawks.com/i-want-to-believe---30.htmlI have no horse in the race, but I suspect you're thinking what I am...
Yeah, we're probably thinking along the same lines. No one will doubt that this are weapons at auction that were commonly used in the Indian wars. But whether these are weapons of such well-known people as Sitting Bull or Crazy Horse? I have my doubts.There is a lot of money involved in such ventures.
McLaughlin purportedly removed several items from the Sitting Bull cabin, no doubt understanding their future value as souvenirs. Some reports say 5 weapons were confiscated (or stolen
), some say only two.
E.g. : Photographer Barry was presented with 1 Sharps by McLaughlin.
Some of Sitting Bull's weapons are known or were in auctions before, e.g.
Sitting Bull‘s Winchester 1866The Smithsonian Institution owns a Winchester Model 1866 Carbine, said to have belonged to Sitting Bull. This was the only „Sitting Bull gun“ confiscated by Maj. David H. Brotherton, Fort Buford in 1881.
Serial No. 124335, round barrel, Cal .44. Ornamented with Brass tacks, and carved with letters „S B“. Manufactured in 1875.
Ernie Lapointe with this SB gun
„Sitting Bull‘s Winchester“ Model 1866 carbineThis „Sitting Bull Winchester“ was was auctioned by Bonhams in 2008. Serial no. 126747 for 1876, .44 caliber. 20 inch barrel. The catalog states
#126747 was shipped from the Winchester factory in March of 1876.
This gun „was given by Sitting Bull to Dr. Nicholas Senn for attending to the chief in his later life“. Dr. E.J Senn, who donated the gun in 1921 to the Chicago Historical Society. Dr. Nicholas Senn, 1844-1908, had a long and distinguished career as a surgeon in Wisconsin and Illinois and as a professor of surgery at a number of universities. He was Surgeon-General of the National Guard of Wisconsin in 1882.
Hmm, I never heard of a Dr. Senn in relation to Sitting Bull ....
Sitting Bulls Winchester 1876This Winchester Model 1876 lever action rifle - also known as the “Centennial Rifle” – was produced for several calibers. Sitting Bull’s is chambered in .45/75 WCF. According to the
serial number (3536) it was produced in 1877 – so, no LBH gun! The rifle was supposedly recovered from Sitting Bull’s cabin on the day he was killed (December 15, 1890). Agent James McLaughlin became the first owner of this „Sitting Bull’s rifle“. But .... No serial number was documented by McLaughlin.
1932 attorney Walter H. Robinson acquired this rifle from the Bank of West Hollywood, which belonged to SB – allegedly.
1965 Parker Whedon of Charlotte, North Carolina, purchased the rifle from Robinson’s widow.
In a
1968 (!) affidavit Chief William Red Fox of the Oglala Tribe (!) attested that the Model 1876 Winchester serial number 3536 it was in his opinion “an authentic ‘Indian’ rifle of the kind in general use by the Sioux in the Dakotas during the 1880s.
July 2000 the rifle was auctioned by Christie’s
Nov 2000 the rifle was auctioned again by Little John’s Auction Service (between $40,000 and $60,000)
2015 owner is the James D. Julia, Inc.
2022 this rifle (serial number 3536) was auctioned again by Cowan’s (sold for
$132,000)
Sitting Bull weapons now on Guns of History action (2023)Sitting Bull’s 1873 1st Model Winchester Deluxe Rifle S/N 21417
Sitting Bull’s 1866 Winchester SRC S/N 134564
Sitting Bull’s 1866 Winchester Carbine S/N 27147
Sitting Bull/Little Soldier’s Model 1866 Winchester SRC S/N 36899
Sitting Bull/Old Bull’s 1866 Winchester Rifle S/N 152146
1866 Winchester Musket S/N 31817
All this weapons have the name Sitting Bull / Slow „
written in togia“ on it. Maybe Tom Hanks and the Illuminati should solve this mystery.
Wow! Maybe Sitting Bull had a gun shop
It's all very mysterious.
), some say only two.