ONE OF OUR MORE FASCINATING RELICS, A SAWED OFF 12-GAUGE PERCUSSION SHOTGUN THAT WAS ORIGINALLY COMMISSIONED FOR U.S. TROOPS AT THE BENICIA ARSENAL NEAR SAN FRANCISCO. AT SOME POINT IT MADE IT INTO THE HANDS OF THE LAKOTA SIOUX TRIBE, WHERE IT WAS MODIFIED WITH TACK WORK DECORATION AND SHORTENED IN LENGTH. WHETHER IT WAS TAKEN IN BATTLE BY THE TRIBE PRIOR TO THAT OR ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT, IT WAS USED BY THE U.S. INDIAN POLICE AGENCY ESTABLISHED BY THE TREATY OF 1889THE ROSEBUD INDIAN RESERVATION IS ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF SOUTH DAKOTA. THE SHOTGUN ITSELF DATES TO THE LATE 1850’S HAVING SEEN USE, BOTH IN GOVERNMENT AND PROBABLY SIOUX HANDS, BEFORE IT WAS ADAPTED FOR USE BY THE INDIAN POLICE AGENCY. THE FORMATION OF THAT AGENCY WAS JUST ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE ATTEMPTED CAPTURE AND SUBSEQUENT KILLING OF SIOUX CHIEF SITTING BULL BY THE U.S. INDIAN POLICE AGENCY AT STANDING ROCK RESERVATION.MARKINGS INCLUDE THE STAMP OF THE BENICIA ARSENAL; U.S. INDIAN POLICE ARMS-AMMO 44; INITIALS RBIA; AND A BADGE-LIKE MEDALLION OF ROSEBUD US INDIAN POLICE AGENCY 1889.