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T. O'Heir · July 6, 2017, 12:59 PM

"...why wasn't the hammer broken off..." Probably because the Sioux ATF didn't have the technology to break steel. Bending a barrel is relatively easy. However, the 'more' link says the lock is jammed and the extractor is gone. The previous owner may have destroyed it so his brother in law couldn't have it. There were no Indian gunsmiths either. Once a trade firearm got damaged it was only kept as a status symbol. Certainly not as a totem.
I think .50-70 TD carbines were given or traded to the tribes before the U.S. government decided to ignore the treaties with the Sioux. The thing is an 1866 TD.

July 6, 2017, 12:59 PM	#3
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...why wasn't the hammer broken off..." Probably because the Sioux ATF didn't have the technology to break steel. Bending a barrel is relatively easy. However, the 'more' link says the lock is jammed and the extractor is gone. The previous owner may have destroyed it so his brother in law couldn't have it. There were no Indian gunsmiths either. Once a trade firearm got damaged it was only kept as a status symbol. Certainly not as a totem. I think .50-70 TD carbines were given or traded to the tribes before the U.S. government decided to ignore the treaties with the Sioux. The thing is an 1866 TD. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!