Use of the Sword by American Indian Tribes

[Jim McDougall]

In the queries section of an arms magazine, this image of a portrait of an Indian chief appeared, which clearly shows him wearing what appears to be a European saber. The question asked was, 'did American Indians actually use swords?'.

This painting (attached) is of Etoh Oh Koam, who was part of a delegation of leaders of the Iroquois Nation who were taken to London by the governor of New York in 1710. Queen Anne was notably impressed by these chiefs and they were treated like royalty, and she commissioned artist Jan Verelst to paint this portrait.

He is seen holding his ball type war club, but wearing a European saber of oriental style in the typical side sling position. So would this be a studio prop or possibly his own weapon? perhaps a diplomatic gift?

It is suggested that Indian tribes had acquired swords from Europeans as early as the 17th century, and perhaps the first illustrated record of their use was by a Pawnee warrior against the Spanish Villasur expedition in Nebraska in 1720. However it seems clear that the Eastern Woodland tribes were exposed to European items earlier as suggested, and military style gorgets were presented to the chiefs. Possibly a sword such as this may have been given to one or more chiefs and this was his own?

There were apparently far more situations in the American west in the 19th century with Indian use of the sword, as described in "Long Steel in the Buffalo Grass:The Sabre and the Plains Indian", Wayne Austerman ('Man at Arms" magazine Vol.12, #6, Nov/Dec 1990, pp.10-19).

It is noted (p.13) that the braves had a natural affinity for the captured sword or cavalry sabre due to the familiarity with the war club as the club had much in common with the blade.

In 1834, U.S. Dragoons met with Comanche's in Texas and the warriors were immediately enthralled by the gleaming long knives. it appears that this classic symbol of the U.S.cavalry was ultimately proudly carried by many a Sioux, Cheyenne, Kiowa and Comanche warrior.

In the summer of 1845, Lt. James Carlton of the 1st US dragoons meeting with Siox said, "...a great many of the Dacotahs have swords which they also purchased from the traders. They know nothing about using them but only use them for grandeur".
This observation was patently wrong.

Apparently the Bordeaux Trading Post in Chadron, Nebraska in the 1840s was selling imported swords, many of which were surplus British M1796 sabres.

Interestingly, while it is well known that Custer's troops left behind their sabers when headed for the Little Big Horn, however a number of the Indian warriors there ironically were using them.

The photo of Sitting Bull holding a sabre is was taken in Canada in 1878. This does not suggest he was using one at Little Big Horn, but simply holding this in the sense of these being regarded as symbols of authority and power.