Fall 2025 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
October 30th, 31st, November 1st, & 2nd, 2025
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
HISTORIC JOHN SHIELDS ATTRIBUTED SPONTOON BATTLE AX, CIRCA 1805
02-25363
This is the only attributed spontoon “war ax” made in 1805 at Mandan Village during winter of 1804-1805 during Lewis & Clark expedition. 12.5” overall, 11” x 2.5” head signed “JS” thought to be John Shields (1769-1809), the only married man on the expedition, he was Lewis & Clark’s gunsmith, blacksmith and artificer. The ”war ax” head is mounted on 16.5” haft with rawhide decoration. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: file of research on John Shields, battle axes made during Lewis & Clark expedition. Copies of text from 1805 journals, telling of the quantities of “war axes” and “battle axes” made and traded to the Mandan for corn, hundreds were made, and members of expedition survived difficult winter mostly due to corn obtained from traded “war axes”. 2 letters of authenticity and provenance, Thomas D. Richards, and Steve Hench. 2007 edition of “Rare & Unusual Indian Artifacts” by Lar Hothem, pictured on page 263. 2003 edition of “Arts of Diplomacy-Lewis & Clark’s Indian Collection, Peabody Museum, Harvard University”, on page 42 is drawing made of this style spontoon battle ax made in 1805 in William Clark’s journal; 2003 Smithsonian published “Lewis & Clark-Across the Divide”, similar spontoon pictured in Smithsonian collection, p 373. PROVENANCE: Jim Dressler collection; Thomas D. Richards collection, a prominent collector. (02-25363/JS). STATUS: NON-GUN.
