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GROUPING OF INDIAN TRADE RELICS TRADE GUN PART,
SEWING THIMBLE, IRON TRADE RING SCARCE SURVIVORS OF
THE FUR TRADE ERA: This three piece grouping
consists of a brass ramrod thimble from a Northwest
Trade Gun, a brass sewing thimble, and an adult size
iron finger ring. This grouping was excavated from a
now unknown site in west Texas and was recently acquired
from the man who found them decades ago. Unfortunately
he did not keep detailed records of his finds and he has
now aged past being able to recall the trails that led
him to these relic finds.
These three pieces were common items packed onto the
western frontier by the early fur trappers and the later
Comancheros alike to trade with the Native Americans for
furs, horses, and the other commodities the plains had
to offer. This grouping consists of:
1. A brass ribbed ramrod thimble from the famous
Northwest Trade Guns, the smooth bore muskets which
featured the iconic serpent side plates. Full length
and while it shows evidence of being buried and
misshapen to some degree at one time, it retains its
general original form. The thimble measures 5/16 long
and 3/8 in diameter.
2. A brass sewing thimble, surprisingly one of the most
popular and common items of trade on the frontier.
Apparently these were received with great enthusiasm by
the women as an improvement over the pieces of hide that
had been used previously to protect the finger tips when
sewing. This is thimble is of the style which slipped
down lower on the finger tip, without the enclosed dome
of the later style thimbles. Measuring just over 1/2
long and Ύ in diameter, the thimble shows evidence of
having been buried, but it still retains its full
original form.
3. This iron finger ring is perhaps the most remarkable
piece of the group. These cheaply made pieces of trade
jewelry could not have survived in great numbers due to
the light weight ferrous metal being so susceptible to
corrosion, and yet this one has survived in amazing full
form and in very nice condition. Certainly showing
signs of having been buried, however it is still very
strong with no weak points. The band is generally 1.4
wide and the finger hole is Ύ in diameter large
enough to comfortably on either of my ring fingers.
These is a very nice grouping of early relics of the
North American Fur Trade of the type that doesnt
survive in great numbers in any but the most advanced
collections and seldom show up on the modern collector
market. These would make an excellent addition to
display with any number of Native American pieces.
(0104) $125
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