Available for sale is an extraordinary Missouri War Axe tomahawk from the Osage Native American Indians in Oklahoma dated to circa 1850-1860. The piece features a forged iron head with weeping heart cutout hand made by the Dunlap & Florer Trading Post at Pawhuska, Oklahoma in circa 1850-1860. The tomahawk war club shows a long hard wood haft adorned with brass trade tacks and a hasp drop of fringed buckskin at the bottom end. The haft shows traces of early mineral black and blue paint along with a shiny polished patina with proper signs of age and use. Pawhusha, Oklahoma is the heart of the Osage Nation, and Dunlap & Florer Co. manufactured and sold the heads to the local Osage Indians, who would then decorate their own handles. This is an excellent striking weapon, with a foreboding presence and look and would truly be a great addition to any major private or museum collection. The term "Missouri War Axe" was coined by American Indian weapons collectors to describe this particular style of tomahawk. They were first discovered by Lewis & Clark on their 1804-1805 expedition financed by Thomas Jefferson, which sent them exploring up the upper Missouri River basin. Meriwether Lewis wrote about these weapons and sketched one in his journal, stating that the local Indians were fervently requesting the expedition blacksmith to make additional examples for them. He went as far as to state that it was the only item the Indians were willing to trade corn, grain and other expedition necessities for and that manufacture and trade of additional axes is what solely got the explorers through the winter of 1805. From the Ex-collections of John Baldwin and Mark Francis. The piece measures “L overall with a “L x “W x “ thick head.

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