CUSTER RANGE SPRINGFIELD U.S. MODEL 1873 TRAPDOOR CARBINE WITH PROVENANCE BACK TO STANDING ROCK RESERVATION

CUSTER RANGE SPRINGFIELD U.S. MODEL 1873 TRAPDOOR CARBINE WITH PROVENANCE BACK TO STANDING ROCK RESERVATION

| Cal. 45-70. | S# 41351. | 01-29240/MD |

Consignor provided documents show this rifle was purchased from the collection of Dr. Kenneth O. Leonard as the rawhide repair to the wrist indicated Indian usage.. Kenneth Leonard of Garrison, North Dakota (1927-2011) a WWII veteran & was a member of the Dakota Territory Gun Collectors Association. A 2001 dated copy of his “STATEMENT OF FACT” details how he collected Indian used artifacts, weapons & firearms as he operated a medical clinic in Garrison, ND. He describes he was a close friends to Indian Tribal Judge Frank Zahn and Vor “White Buffalo Man” Frank, grandson of Sitting Bull on the Standing Rock Reservation. While this statement was for a revolver that Leonard had purchased, but this links the connection of Dr. Leonard to Frank Zahn.
Dr. Leonard purchased this carbine from Tribal Judge Frank Zahn (Francis Benjamin “Flying Cloud” Zahn circa 1891-1966). Frank Zahn was born in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. He worked at the Standing Rock Reservation as clerk and official interpreter, , enlisted in World War I as interpreter for Co. G of 351st Infantry, start in the movies “Drums of Destiny” & “They Died With Their Boots On”, then appointed in 1946 as Chief Judge of the Court of Indian Offenses for North and South Dakota until retirement in 1959.
This carbine has standard configuration with 22″ barrel. Pinned blade front sight & 1200 yd. tangent ladder rear sight. 1873 dated high arch breech block. Walnut carbine stock w/ saddle bar on left side with rawhide repair to wrist. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: consignor provided paperwork along with copy of Vol. 17, #4 Aug. 1955 edition of Man at Arms detailing Battle of Little Big Horn & how collectors acquired arms from the battle. PROVENANCE: From the Collection of Lenard Cave. ANTIQUE GUN