Chief Joseph’s Hunting Rifle

[rollingb]

Circa. 1860.

After Chief Joseph and the US Army agreed to stop hostilities at Bear Paw in October, 1877, Joseph’s people were taken into exile. From the summer of 1878 until 1885, many of the Wallowa Band remained in Oklahoma. This .45 caliber rifle was used by Joseph for subsistence hunting. Prior to leaving Oklahoma for their new home on the Colville Reservation in Washington, Joseph gave the rifle to the Chilocco Indian School, near the border with Kansas. When the school was closed in 1980, the rifle was given to the Nez Perce Tribe.

[Roaddog]

What a grate pice of history.Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Ohio Joe]

Did not know this rifle existed. Thanks Rondo!

[Hanshi]

Thanks for posting this great info.

[larryp]

Nice!

[rollingb]

Did not know this rifle existed. Thanks Rondo!  

I wish I had more details about the rifle,.... a closer look at the lock, barrel length and diameter, and etc.
Sure looks like a H.E. Leman Trade Rifle to me.

[larryp]

Barrel looks on the short side. Maybe 28-30" ?

[Ohio Joe]

Did not know this rifle existed. Thanks Rondo!  

I wish I had more details about the rifle,.... a closer look at the lock, barrel length and diameter, and etc.
Sure looks like a H.E. Leman Trade Rifle to me.

I'd bet you're right about it being an H.E. Leman Trade Rifle. I'm also going to venture a guess that the barrel was shortened for easier management while on horse back, or it was actually built with that short barrel and offered to Chief Joseph as a Chief's Rifle.

[Riley/MN]

Very Cool!