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817. SITTING BULL'S WHITNEY REVOLVER,
Second Model Whitney Navy Revolver, a grey, heavily used revolver, showing evidence of much hard use. Two-piece walnut grips, with right side inscribed “DIE 1890 SITTING BULL.” With a matching hand-made harness leather fringed holster, with “DIE 1890 SITTING BULL” carved into its surface. The holster exhibits heavy wear from the contours of the revolver. The historic revolver was given to Colonel Alfred Burton Welch of Mandan, North Dakota in April 1920 by No-Two Horns, a Hunkpapa chief and cousin of Sitting Bull. According to Welch’s typed notes accompanying the revolver: "No Two Horns Presents Me With Sitting Bull’s Gun." In April of this year, 1920, this old man came to see me at Mandan and gave me this old sixshooter as a present. It is an old gun, showing much misuse and rough work. Wooden handled, upon which is scratched “Sitting Bull” and “Die 1890” The name E. Whitney, N. Haven can be made out on the top of barrel and upon the chamber ram rod, for the chambers of the gun are loaded with powder and ball and fired with carps, are the numbers and letters 67*9L. The scabbard is a no flap affair fringed and with belt slits, and also bears the writing “SITTING BULL" and "Die 1890.” I have heard of this gun for a long time and know that many people have tried to buy it. Indians say it is genuine."
Later, on July 23, 1920 Welch recorded the following information about the revolver. Pius Big Shield, who married one of No Two Horns daughters saw the gun and examined it. He said that he had seen his father in law with the gun, and had also seen Sitting Bull shoot larks with it, so he knew it had once belonged to Sitting Bull. He said No Two Horns had told him that many people had wanted to pay him money for the gun, but that he intended to present it to Mato Watakpe [Cataloger's note: Mato Watapke, or “Charging Bear” was Welch's Lakota name given to him by Chief John Grass on the occasion of his adoption by the Hunkpapa chief] He said No Two Horns and Sitting Bull were great friends and that Sitting Bull had given the gun to his father in law a long time ago. The gun is now in my collection. . This revolver is also listed in Welch's 1939 collection inventory in which he describes the revolver and its serial number and holster, along with the following notation: "This gun was given to me by He Nopa Wanica (No Two Horns) a Teton adherent of Sitting Bull, and it is a well known piece of artillery among the Indians, who quite often come to see it, and recognize it as the one Sitting Bull had. He presented it to No Two Horns Himself. I believe that there is little doubt but that it did belong to the old Medicine Chief, Sitting Bull." In addition to Welch’s typed descriptions, the lot also includes the following: a newspaper clipping from the June 24, 1940 Minneapolis Tribune showing Welch standing in his collection room posed before a shield belonging to No Two Horns, with the revolver clearly visible hanging on the wall above it; a copy of the inventory of Welch’s collection which includes the revolver; a beautiful ca 1920s 5 x 7” photograph of No Two Horns by Slorby of Bismarck, showing the chief in his headdress and holding a rare Kit Fox society lance bow; a 5 x 7” photograph of No Two Horns at Fort Yates on August 21, 1939. Welch notes, The tobacco bag in his hands, he gave to me is now in my collection; a fine color drawing of the war shield of No Two Horns, presumably done by Welch, but possibly by No Two Horns, himself.
No Two Horns (He Nopa Wanica) was a well-known Hunkpapa warrior who participated in the Battle of the Little Big Horn, where his horse was reportedly shot from under him. In his later years he also was known for his ledger drawings, artwork and a muslin map of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
(EST $25000-$45000)
Provenance: Ex Colonel Alfred Burton Welch Collection
Price Realized: $118,000.00
Price includes buyer's premium.
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 Oil on canvas, signed lower left. A lush landscape with a small stream... click here to read more
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