Firearms
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A primary analytical tool
of the Little Bighorn Archeological project
was Firearms Identification. The comparative
study of ammunition components is known as
firearms identification analysis. Firearms,
in their discharge, leave behind distinctive
metallic fingerprints or signatures on the
ammunition components. These signatures, called
class characteristics, allow the determination
of the type of firearm (i.e., model or brand)
in which a given cartridge case or bullet
was fired.This
then allows determination of the number of
different types of guns used in a given situation. |
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A
sample of the many bullet types found at
the Little Bighorn.
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Further, they allow the identification of
individual weapons by comparing the unique
qualities of firearm signatures (individual
characteristics). This capability is very
important because coupled with the precise
artifact locations, identical signatures
can be used to identify specific combat
areas. This can be done with cartridge cases
and bullets even though the actual weapons
are not in hand. With this information,
patterns of movement can be established
and sequences of activity can be more precisely
interpreted.
The comparison microscope is critical to
the analysis of ammunition. Simply, the
microscope is constructed so that two separate
microscope tubes are joined by a bridge
with prisms mounted over the tubes. Two
separate images are transmitted to the center
of the bridge, where another set of prisms
transmit the images to central eyepieces.
The eyepieces are divided so that each image
appears on one-half of each eyepiece. Movable
stages allow the objects under scrutiny
to be manipulated so that they can be directly
compared for class and individual characteristics.
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Springfield
rifle parts found at the Reno-Benteen
Dump excavations. These parts are
probably from Scout and Packer guns
damaged during the fight. They are
not from the soldiers' combines.
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The
firearms analyses has verified
47 different types of guns used by the
warriors. A forty-eighth weapon is represented
by metal arrowheads, showing that the
stereotypical bow and arrow was also
used. By using modern crime laboratory
firearms identification techniques it
was possible to discover that a minimum
number of 415 guns were used by the
Indians. This
is a conservative estimate as groups
of round balls, on which these techniques
are not as effective, were counted
as one gun per caliber. |
Indian
arms included the .44 caliber
Henry, .44 caliber Model 1866 Winchester,
and the .44/.40 caliber Model 1873
Winchester, all repeating rifles.
The army in 1876 did not issue repeating
rifles
The
army's single shot Springfield
was simply not as fast as
the repeating rifles, although it
was more powerful and more accurate
than the majority of the Indian arms.
Indian arms also included the army's
Springfield carbine and Colt revolver.
These arms could have been captured
either in the Rosebud fight or the
valley fight against Reno and, in
addition, some were no doubt taken
from Custer's men during the battle.
Antiquated muzzle loading firearms
were also well represented. NEXT
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