Thanks for showing that rifle and its accoutrements, Fred. Incredible…
More knowledgeable folks than I might be able to comment on the rifle. To me, it looks like a Lancaster-type trade rifle that has seen some hard knocks, as well as some al fresco repairs and embellishments by a succession of native owners. I can’t tell from the photos… is the buttplate still on it? Maybe still present but with the toe of the buttplate bent under?
The Taos Revolt was in January, 1847. Flintlocks were still pretty common in the west then, but percussion firearms were gaining in prevalence. I suspect that rifle had seen some use prior to that event, and I wouldn’t be surprised to find that its native owner(s) kept it hidden, possibly for generations, for fear of confiscation. I understand that many Lakota and Cheyenne families kept firearms hidden that way after the wars of the 1860’s and 1870’s, and these guns were not brought out until the late 20th century. My point being that may be why the old rifle and its accessories are as complete as the are.
The pouch and horn are equally remarkable. I’ll have to say I have never seen a horn spout quite like that one, though! There are some comparable pouch and horn outfits from Taos, San Ildefonso, and maybe Santa Clara in the anthropological collections of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). I don’t know if any of them are linked to the Taos Revolt, though. I can send you some photos of these, or link you up to their searchable database.
That pouch appears to have the shoulder strap simply tied on the pouch with thongs, in typical native style.
Fur trade enthusiasts on this board should take a deep interest in this rifle and outfit. The mountain men of that time were outraged over the murder of Charles Bent, and took immediate and well-coordinated action. There is an eyewitness account in Lewis Garrard’s Wah-to-Yah and the Taos Trail.
Fred, thanks so much for sharing this with us!
Notchy Bob
