Warrior Queens: Lozen

She was known for carrying a rifle and has been described by people more than once with the mention of one. A child who was fleeing American forces named “Kaywaykla said he saw a “magnificent woman” on a beautiful horse, holding a rifle above her head.” The exact rifle Lozen carried is undetermined, but photos of other Apache warriors holding them resemble old models of Winchester rifles. They are around four feet long, have a brown wooden stock, a silver or black trigger and details, and usually a double barrel, (Some photos depict warriors with single barrel rifles.) Originally priced at $50 upon their release.8 Although, you could find them cheaper, around $20. Modern Winchester rifle models go for anywhere between $300 and $2,000.

"The Apache Woman Warrior Who Helped Lead Resistance to European Invaders.” History.com.

“Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle (6).” National Firearms Museums: Research & Resources. Accessed July 26, 2024. 

https://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/the-american-west-1850-to-1900/ca se-20-colt-winchester/winchester-model-1873-lever-action-rifle-(6)

Another thing that Lozen would’ve worn during battles and training are moccasin boots made from buckskin sewn onto a piece of rawhide. They typically contained a hard sole to protect the feet from rocks and other sharp objects. The moccasins varied depending on the intended use, dance moccasins were more stylized and colorful, whereas battle/ warrior ones were usually a plain brown/ leather color. These moccasins are still made and worn today by indigenous tribes and people who participate in the dance ceremonies. There are also design variations and stylistic differences that different tribes utilized within their moccasins. For example, the Arapaho tribe used a lot of green and red stealing, and square/ checkerboard patterns on their designs. Whereas the Kiowa tribe utilized fringe in a lot of their designs.

"History.” Fort Sill Apache Tribe, August 18, 2023. 

https://fortsillapache-nsn.gov/history-and-traditional-culture/history/.16 “R4 Clothing & Regalia - Work 4.” Native American Art Teacher Resources. Accessed July 27, 2024. 

https://www.naaer.hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu/plains/clothing-regalia/work-4#:~:t ext=Most 

She was very eager to learn from a young age and excelled in using weapons and horseback riding. The war clubs came in a few stylistic variations, but they all had a stone attached to a smooth stick using rawhide to wrap them together, and most, if not all, of them had a feather or fur attached to the end of the handle. The one in the photo below is listed by the museum as possibly Apache and the dimensions are 32 inches long and 2.5 inches in width (the handle).

Franziska. “Little Sister Lozen.” New Mexico Historic Women Marker Program, February 11, 2023.

"The Apache Woman Warrior Who Helped Lead Resistance to European Invaders.” History.com. 

Gendron, Ernest. “Plains Indian Weapons-Part 2: Stone War Club.” Buffalo Bill Center of the West, April 28, 2021. 

https://centerofthewest.org/2017/07/31/plains-indian-weapons-part-2-stone-war club/

These shields have a variety of materials, colors, and design variations. I have seen brown versions that appear to be made of wood with white detailing and feathers attached to the bottom. The one in this image appears to be also made from wood, maybe using a light wash, with silver (possibly metal) detailing to stabilize the shield onto the arm. There is white detailing on this one, too, along with blue and red ones, giving it a stylistic uniqueness. 

These shields were lightweight and protective, making them a good choice of armor for Lozen because of her mobility and agility. She had to move around a lot, running from soldiers and getting people to safety, so she would need armor that didn’t slow her down. The shields in this depiction are especially nice because they fit around the arm so that the user does not have to hold onto anything and could even hold an additional object in the hand with the shield.

The bow and arrow wasn’t your typical bow and arrow, the Apache had a unique set of bows and arrows. Apache bows were large and were made from the wood mulberry and wrapped in buffalo sinew. But also Apache arrows were just as large as the bow, adding new materials that would help them on the battlefield.

https://www.naaer.hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu/southwest/tools-technology/work-1 .