1800's authentic indian tomahawk peace pipe. WOW! This is it, one of a kind find. This Hawk - Pipe has been in 2 to 3 white families since it's use by the Indians. Review the documented information for details. Written by hand " Iron pipe tomahawk head (circa early 1800's) found on the Cheyenne River- southwest of Bridges South Dakota- 1932 (on the Cheyenne Indian Reservation) c.261.23  Purchased from Jim Aplan*, Ft. Pierre, SD 57532."

* says there is Bodner print with a Sioux Chief holding the exact head.

E.V. Adams, Willowick, Ohio

In 1971 "The Forge" of Cleveland, Ohio manufactured and installed an authentic, reproduction haft for the head, cost for the haft only in 1971 was over $500. The documentation from "The Forge" reads as follows:

Mr. Joe Merk 18245 Amberley Lane South Bend, Indiana 46637

Dear Joe, The completed haft has been mounted to your tomahawk head and will be sent within 2 days. We have endeavored to make same to meet the following spec. 1. Two protuberance, one to be adjacent to the mouthpiece. 2. Brass tacks to convey Sioux ownership. 3. Haft to be distressed. 4. Haft material to be Ash.

We have designed the haft to be a composite of three different types, but are all attributed to the Sioux. The basic haft design is from photo 201. The protuberance adjacent to the mouthpiece from photo 174, attributed to the Teton Sioux. The brass tack design from photo 227, attributed to the Oglala Sioux. Our standard hafts are made and cut from wood stock, but for your fine head specimen we decided to use our museum quality material.The haft is made from a Ash branch that has been air dried for three years. The pith was removed by drilling. If you view the tomahawk from the fore end, you can see the concentric circles around the haft hole, also this and the butt end were checked to further  convey age.

The brass tacks were individually distresses before they were mounted on the haft. The haft was finished finished with oil and hand rubbed. We would recommend that for cleaning complete tomahawk you use the standard silicone cleaning cloth. The head was mounted using the leather gasket, and was and can be smoked.

The head was hard waxed and buffed for protection. We would place the completed tomahawk in the period between the Revolutionary War and 1820. The head design is known as the British Broad Arrow, as pictured on  photo 113. The same basic design but not marked, like your specimen, Broad Arrows are photo 111 and 115, however yours is very similar to photo 126, attributed to the Sisseton Sioux.

We feel that we have achieved authenticity in both  the design and material used, however if you are not pleased with either it's design or quality of workmanship, our offer still stands, that we will accept the return of the haft for complete refund.

Very truly yours,

Gene

The Forge

E.J. Adams

Photo reference -- Harold L. Peterson  "American Indian Tomahawks"

Note: all of this documentation comes with the hawk and was with the item when it was purchased by the present owner in 1986. Don't miss out on this very rare item of significant history. The leather gasket around the head has shrunk slightly and the head is slightly loose, this can be tightened up with some additional leather.