Shoshone War Club?

[Diane Merkel]

I was just sent the following photographs of an artifact that is supposed to be a Shoshone War Club from the 1870s and would be interested in your opinions. Below the photos is the provenance provided by the current owner who is interested in selling it. What do you think might be its value?

Shoshone “Stone Head” War Club, circa 1870s

The following is the only information that I have about the war club. It is in good condition. If you will notice the straps on the head itself and the handle are not part of the war club; it is part of the case that is holding the club to the board. It appears to have antelope or deer hide wrapped on the handle.

•Chief Washakie, Chief of the Eastern Shoshone Indians in Wyoming, sent some Indians to Gen. George Crook in the 1870s to serve as scouts against the Sioux. One of those Indian Scouts carried this war club.

•This Shoshone Scout traded the war club to one of the white soldiers, who was also serving under Gen. Crook, for tobacco.

•This soldier was in a bar one night near Cody, Wyoming, and was short of funds. A rancher bought him drinks, and he gave the war club to the rancher.

•Around 1904-1918 the rancher gave the war club, along with a side of beef, to Vince Rotter, another rancher from the lower Sage Creek area near Cody, Wyoming as payment for helping build a corral.

•1918 - Vince Rotter gave the war club to his nephew for doing chores around the ranch.

•1976 – The nephew spent much of his time in his woodworking workshop; the case containing the war club was one of his projects. He gave the war club, along with its history, to my father.

[Scout]

I don't really know, it is a rather plain looking relic....a rock, a stick and some leather strappings. No photos of anyone holding it, just a guess, but I would say not much. A rather weak line of provenance. Anyone can type those kind of things up....I'm not saying they did. I would need a old photo of Indian holding it before I would invest in it. Good luck though!

Anyone remember the Custer coat offered on ebay this last summer [ the one he was wearing when killed at the LBH ] for 3 million dollars? It had a letter of provenance as well. There were no photos of him wearing it and it was not the style associated with GAC. Such relics require strong supporting evidence to be taken seriously.

[Jim]

I agree with Scout! Too many changes of ownership. Remember when we (Or some of us) were young and played "Telephone"?? By the time it got to the last person, the first message never even came close to what the last one was. Unless there's a verifiable letter, photo or historical documentation, I would leave it alone, UNLESS you received it as a present!

[crzhrs]

<the straps on the head itself and the handle are not part of the war club>

Just the rock?!?!?!?

And it looks like it was just dug up. No nicks, marks, chips, etc. Big bucks for a rock on a stick!

I got a piece of land in the Everglades you will love . . .

[redwhiteman]

I have a rock album signed by a famous band that I met. I can't sell it because I can't prove it's authentic. Oh well, eventually it will end up in the garbage. As for the war club, regardless of the attached story that can't be proven, it's value is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $50, and even that's pushing it. Perhaps if it wasn't so plain looking it would be more appealing.

[Diane Merkel]

I agree with you all.

This is the first note I received about it:

My father has a Shoshone Indian Scout war club, It was has been pasted down several generations. He has a story of it being swapped for a gun by a scout under the command of General Washakie. It is in excellent condition, in a glass display case. Do you know of an organization that would be interesting in purchasing this war club for display purposes?

My father would like to see this war club displayed somewhere of importance.

I would greatly apprecciate any information about contacts to help preserve this club.

After I pointed out that Washakie was not a General, the story evolved over a couple more e-mail exchanges. It's quite a different story now!