Rifle Owned by Gen. Custer's Scout

[Shotgun Steve]

This rifle was owned by White Man Runs Him, General George
A. Custer's scout at the Battle of Little Big Horn. It is hand
decorated with Native American symbols and is 47 inches long.
It carries a pre-sale estimate of $15,000-$25,000.


ESSEX, Mass. — A rare rifle owned by Gen. Custer's scout will be offered by Kaminski Auctions during a two day auction next week. The two-day event features antiques, fine art, collectibles and maritime memorabilia from estates spanning Massachusetts to Kaminski's second location in California.

The rifle was originally owned by White Man Runs Him, General George A. Custer's famous Crow scout at the Battle of Little Big Horn (June 25, 1876). Custer's scout adorned the rifle with cultural symbols and regarded it as sacred, often using it in tribal ceremonies. It measures 47 inches in length. It is expected to hammer down between $15,000-$25,000.

The rifle finally sold for $21,850.

[kflach]

Any idea what caliber?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Snider System?   .577 cal.?

[River City John]

Snider System?   .577 cal.?

My guess would be .50-70 Government.

RCJ

[Dr. Bob]

Not a trap door.  I would have to agree with Sir Charles!

[Delmonico]

Could be one of those "Zulu" shotguns, looks a lot like the one I have.

[River City John]

Looking closer I see the hinge of the Allin/Snyder conversion.

RCJ

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

It doesn't look like my MarkIII Snider.  It is either a Mk I, or some predecessor to the Snider.  I don't recognize that hammer profile.

[Delmonico]

Could be one of those many forms of converted Springfields the army tested and surplussed when the addaped the trapdoor.  Also there were some French muskets that used that Snider type action.  Most were shotguns often sold under the "Zulu" trade name, but some could have been rifles, I'm not sure.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

it's a French conversion of the 1858 musket, adopted for French service in 1867.  Likely further converted in Belgium to become the ZULU shotgun.  Apparently many were imported to America in the 1880s.  Scroll down for a photo.

http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/topic/24759/t/C-R-Zulu-Shot-Gun.html

there are several original 1857/67 "Tabatiere" rifles on this antique site for about 250 UK pounds.

http://www.thomasdelmar.com/catalogues/as071206/lot509.jpg

No idea about the caliber.  The rifles have a serious backsight, which the scouts gun does not.  Therefore, I'd say a 12 gauge ZULU shotgun.

[Delmonico]

Mine ain't handy, but I thought it looked like one.  Mine was my Great-Great-Grandpa's and his SIL, my Great-Grandpa hunted geese for the market with it just before WWI in SW Iowa.  My Grandma was his retriever.