Relics of the American West: 1850-1920
Lot 2065:
Description
This industrial three-piece kit represents a specialized stonemason’s assembly with direct ties to mid-century infrastructure on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The set consists of two heavy “toothed” or claw chisels—engineered for scaling and dressing stone—and one hollow-core steel sleeve, which likely served as a guide for a star drill or a drift tool. These tools feature hexagonal steel shafts with “LONDON” stamps, industrial stars, and “36 IT” batch markings, many of which were intentionally preserved under the protective canvas sleeves. The canvas wraps are hand-inscribed in red ink with “Rosebud 1945” and “Two Hawk,” identifying them as the personal property of a member of the prominent Two Hawk Lakota lineage. Given the “LONDON” origin and the 1945 date, these were likely part of a high-durability government procurement for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or late-stage Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) masonry projects. The canvas wraps served a dual purpose: dampening the intense vibration of heavy strikes and marking the worker’s individual kit in a communal tool crib. The set shows extensive field use, with significant “mushrooming” on the striking heads, a deep, pitted patina on the steel, and authentic fraying/staining on the canvas grips. H 14.25″, W 1.25″, D 1.25″. Please see photos for condition.
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