Winchester 1873 Lever-Action Rifle – Rawhide-Wrapped Tribute to Crow Scout Curley, Cal. .32-20 General Custer Little Big Horn

This extraordinary Winchester 1873 lever-action rifle is a culturally significant artifact attributed to Curley, the Crow Indian scout who served with the U.S. Army during the 1876 campaign under General Custer. Chambered in .32-20 with a 24” octagon barrel and full-length magazine tube, this antique rifle features exceptional Plains Indian embellishments, including extensive rawhide wrapping and brass tack ornamentation across the stock and forearm.

The rifle is further adorned with leather-wrapped copper bells, traditional to Crow craftsmanship. A signed letter from Wendell Grangaard of The Guns of History, Inc. provides an in-depth interpretation of the Togia pictographs (Plains Indian picture writing) present on the rifle, identifying symbols related to River Crow clan structure and prayer buttons believed to represent the Whistling Water Clan. The rifle’s markings are said to reference six sacred prayers, each brass button symbolizing blessings such as long life, family, and success.

Curley, born ca. 1856 on the Little Rosebud River, served as a scout for the 7th Cavalry and is historically documented to have accompanied Custer’s column to the Little Bighorn. Though not a combatant, his firsthand knowledge became essential to recounting the events following the battle.

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