Indian Guns and Drums

Native people seemed to always embellish theirother side of the stock the tacks followed the lines
possessions. Whether it be shirts or weapons of war,of a teepee with a silver coin with period illustrations
they always added character to their bareemblazoned upon it. This rifle is now a valued part of
necessities. This time consuming practice could addmy collection.The Indian also decorated the tool he
meaning and personalization to their possessions. Withused in religious ceremonies. The drum was very
the introduction of the white man into their nativeimportant to the Indian. Part of its use was a tool
lands the indians began to adopt aspects of theused to communicate with the other world and
white mans society in order to compete with him.spirits. Modern science has verified that certain drum
Some of the white mans ways actually made itbeats transform ones brain into a type of receiver
easier for the native american to exist. The bow hadand transmitter. The drum changes the wave and
always been important to the indian. With the whitestate of your brain pattern. The indians mainly used
man came the introduction of firearms. The indiansanimal hides to make a covering for the drum.
adapted to this new form of power but also addedBeating on this material produced the tone so many
touches of their own. The firearm became an objectof us are familiar with. Synthetic material is a better
for embellishment. Tacks were generally used on guntransmitter of tonal quality than the animal hide.My
stocks and forearms in elaborate patterns. I havedrum arrived at my home having started out life as
also seen horse hair and other forms of decorationanimal hide and wood being crafted by tribal Indians.
used on these objects.I became fascinated by theAnimal hide reacts to changes in temperature and
firearms offered in the indian style in the form of thebarometric pressure. Humid days change the tonal
Winchester 94 and Marlin lever action rifles by variouscapacity of animal hide drums. I began by using a
modern day companies. The Crazy Horse riflesealer both front and back to the animal hide to help
offered in the form of the Winchester 94 rifle is aguard against changes in weather conditions.I am not
work of art. Artful scenes on the side plates of thethe fine artist in the family. I crafted a legible
rifles along with tactful tack decorations on the woodrendition of the scene that I wanted on the drum. In
parts of the rifles were awe inspiring. The art workthis case the scene involved a high desert scene with
on the Marlin firearm that I witnessed was artseveral teepees and a camp fire. My wife did
elevated to it's highest level.I had a Winchester 94 inwonders with the desert scenery and cactus. It was
my possession that was not new and had also takendusk on the desert and night was approaching. The
deer sized game in it's life. The gun was in goodsky reflected this aspect of the clock. Above this
shape with good wood and excellent bluing. This wasscene in shadowy tones was the power animal that
my project. I had looked at the various examples ofbenefitted the moment. Additional decoration was
decorations on various rifles. I decided to make myadded with leather lacing and hand painted feathers
own art work on this rifle my own personalthat resembled those of the eagle. With the help of
expression. The tack work followed the traditionalmy spouse I was able to add another valuable
lines of indian inspired rifle work. On one side of thedecoration to our home.Stephen Graham-Writes
stock I decorated the rifle with the out line of one ofarticles on his may hobbies and experiences. Read
the most inspiring power animals in Indian lore. On themore of his articles on the web sites below.