An original 1873 Springfield 45-70 Calvary carbine rifle, made for the US Calvary and used during the Indian Wars including the battle of Little Big Horn, although this one was made just later in 1882, but found its way to BRONCHO Motion Picture Co and is so marked on the left side of the stock. Broncho was wholly owned by the New York Film co and existed for only a year and a half: 1912-1913. It was housed at Thomas Inces fabled Inceville Studio, located on 18,000 acres, stretching seven miles along the south side of Sunset Blvd, embracing the Santa Ynez Valley and running to the Pacific Ocean at PCH. Ince was the father of the studio system, incorporating all aspects of film making under his control icluding labs, cameras, props, carpenters, plasters and multiple back lot towns and villiages. He built a western town for his main star William S. Hart and had a commissary that fed 100s of people a day. To make westerns, he approached the 101 Ranch, out of OK, a traveling wild west show, to winter on the property, under the agreement their 300 cowboys and 200 Sioux indians could be used in the pictures. Five of them claimed to be at the real battle. This film was the first film on the subject and was a sensation. The Springfield carbines were standard issue for the 7th Calvary. They were shortened and lighter versions of the full size Springfields to be better suited for horseback use. They were easier to draw and fire, but their 70 grain power would recoil a rider to the ground, so they came up with a lighter load. In 1925, a year after Inces untimely death, and being aware the 50th anniversiary of the real battle was approaching, they added another two reels to the film and re-released it to great applause. Schools made sure students saw the film as it was respected for the accuracy.
