Black Powder Frame Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Letters

View Item in Catalog
 
  Lot #4021  (Sale Order: 22 of 960) 
Time Remaining:
updating...
Opening Bid: USD 1,800.00 by YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

You've been outbid. Bid again.

Reserve Not Met
You Entered:
Your bid is between increments. How about one of these instead?

x Cancel
By clicking the Confirm Bid button, you are agreeing to the terms of sale.
Please do not show confirmation for remainder of session.
"Tax, Shipping & Handling and Internet Premium not included. See Auction Information for full details."

Payment Type:

Payment Type: Please Add / Select Card



 
Description Terms of Sale
Item Description: Translate description
Antique Colt Black Powder Frame Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter, Holster, and Provenance Identifying It as Owned and Used by Texas Ranger Walter Russell

The factory letter lists the revolver in .44-40 with a 4 3/4 inch barrel, and blue finish and indicates it was one of 26 in a shipment on April 4, 1891, to E.C. Meacham Arms Company in St. Louis. The back sides of the grips are inscribed "JAW" (right) and "IKN J" (left). Includes a brown leather holster with floral tooling.An included notarized letter written by gunsmith Fred Q. Walls indicates that he worked on the revolver in 1967 for Zack Miller Jr., son of Zack Miller Sr. of the 101 Ranch and Wild West Show. "As I recall Zack obtained the gun from a retired Texas Ranger whose name was Walter Russell. Ranger Russell lived in Kingsville, Texas and his wife taught at the local college. His photograph once appeared on the cover of Live Magazine as result of a political corruption case he was working on in Duval County, Texas involving a man named Parr who had helped Lyndon Johnson get elected to the United States Senate." Walter Russell's (1903-1986) obituary stated: "Walter A. 'Ray' Russell, one of the last of the old-time horseback Texas Rangers, died Saturday at age 83. Russell worked as a cowboy on cattle drives in Arizona and as a cattle detective, before riding with the Arizona Rangers and then with the Texas Rangers. He retired in 1967. 'Walter was the last of the old-time lawmen,' said his wife, Beth Bake, a history professor at Texas A&I. Russell worked at a time when 'being a tough Ranger was the name of the game,' said Kleberg County Sheriff Jim Scarborough." Walls indicates that Miller's "brother-in-law, Jim Gibbs knew Ranger Russell and that was how Zack became acquainted with him. Zack related to me that the Ranger had used and carried the gun at times during his career as a Texas Ranger." The letter also provided the subsequent provenance.

Class: Antique

Good overall with refinished blue, replacement parts (including the barrel, hand, hammer, firing pin and cylinder lock), worn grip checkering, and moderate wear. Mechanically fine. The holster is very good with mild wear.

Provenance: Texas Ranger Walter Russell; The Zack Miller Jr. Collection; The Garreth Muchmore Collection; The Bill Bishop Collection; The Al Ritter Collection

Unable to retrieve AutoCheck Summary Report, please try back later.


Summary Vehicle History Report below provided by AutoCheck.

AutoCheck® vehicle history reports deliver information on reported accidents, odometer rollback, lemon vehicles, branded titles and much more.

AutoCheck found record(s) for this   


VIN:

Style/Body:

Engine:


Get the full report to learn more:

Know the exact vehicle you want? One report may be all you need.  Single Report $24.99

Researching more than one vehicle? Run as many reports as you like for 21 days Unlimited Reports for 21 Days $44.99
This item is part of Sporting & Collector Firearms Auction
 Sunday, Jun 23, 2024 | 9:00 AM  Central
 
Print This Page

Black Powder Frame Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Letters
Black Powder Frame Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Letters
Lot number: 4021
Seller: Rock Island Auction Company
Event: Sporting & Collector Firearms Auction
Ends: Sunday, June 23 | 9:00 AM  Central

Message: 500 characters remaining

Cancel 

1.178.0.922.07285a0.8.4