The Second Model Schofield revolvers were manufactured in 1876 or 1877. This example was manufactured towards the end of the range suggesting it was manufactured in 1877. Only a couple of Smith & Wesson Schofield revolvers are believed to have been used at the Battle of Little Bighorn. It has blade and notch sights, standard visible markings including "US" on the toe, shortened barrel, and a pair of handmade grips. The lot also includes a period made bowie knife built using an shortened sword blade with deep fullers, brass fittings, and a stag horn handle. Two included notarized letters (from different parties) state that these items belonged to famed Lakota chief Spotted Elk. "Big Foot" (Si-Tank) was a derogatory nickname given to Chief Spotted Elk by an American soldier. He became a chief upon the death of his father, Chief Lone Horn, in 1874. As a chief, Spotted Elk was a skilled diplomat and was generally successful in avoiding conflict. In the 1870s, Spotted Elk and his band allied with his half-brother Sitting Bull, brother Touch the Clouds and nephew Crazy Horse against the U.S. Army, but he did not fight in any major battles during the Great Sioux War of 1876-77. Nonetheless, his tribe suffered greatly and surrendered to the Americans. Poor conditions and mistreatment on the reservations led to the Ghost Dance movement and ultimately renewed tensions with American authorities. When Sitting Bull was killed on Standing Rock Reservation, many of his followers fled for refuge among Spotted Elk's people. Spotted Elk then led his band south to the Pine Ridge Reservation after receiving an invite from Chief Red Cloud who hoped they could maintain the peace. He traveled under a white flag and unfortunately contracted pneumonia on the journey. The Lakota were intercepted by Major Samuel M. Whitside's 7th Cavalry intercepted on December 28, 1890, and Spotted Elk and his followers surrendered without incident. They were taken to a camp on Wounded Knee Creek at Pine Ridge where cabins had already been built. The chief assured the Americans his people had no violent intentions, but Colonel James W. Forsyth arrived at Wounded Knee Creek that night and positioned Hotchkiss revolving cannons and Gatling guns around the peaceable encampment. The following morning the soldiers demanded that the Lakota turn over their weapons. A few weapons were gathered, but the soldiers did not believe all had been turned over, so they began searching through the Lakota possessions. What is not clear is what exactly happened next, but a shot was fired and shortly thereafter 153-350 Lakota, primarily women and children, lay dead. Among them was their leader, Spotted Elk. The first included notarized letter is signed by Deborah Spotted Elk Wilson and states that she obtained the revolver from her great uncle Wallace of the Pine Ridge Reservation. He informed her that it was taken by her great grandfather, "Chief Spotted Elk, and other survivors of the Battle of Little Big Horn who fled to Canada to 'avoid the inevitable reprisals from the U.S. Government.' Uncle Wallace had gone to Canada where his father, my Great Grandfather's brother, and other members of the tribe including my Great Grandfather, Spotted Elk, had hidden these firearms and other weapons." Most sources indicate Spotted Elk did not actively partake in military action and remained at the Indian Agency during the battle; however, many of the men of his band fought. The other notarized affidavits states that the knife was taken off of the body of "Chief Big Foot at Wounded Knee," and that the knife was formerly in the collection of "Doc Hubbard." Hubbard was the creator and director the Gold Seal Nature and Wildlife Museum in Medora after settling there in 1910. He was well-known in the Native American artifact collecting field.

Relic. The poor condition revolver shows signs of hard use and period alterations. Most of the surfaces have a mix of gray and light brown patina and there are some patches of mild pitting and oxidation. The replacement grips have some dings, chips, and scratches. The action does not function. The knife is a fine example of a frontier style thriftiness and was built using repurposed components as is often seen on piece originating from the West. The blade has some mild pitting and the other components have aged patina.