GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
RARE COLT MODEL 1883 DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN TWO BARREL SET THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS ARIZONA SHERIFF JOHN H. SLAUGHTER. COLT 1883 1249 10 GA Cal. 10 ga. Fine grade 3 hammerless Colt shotgun with 2 sets of fine Damascus bbls, one of which is 18-1/8" and the other 32-1/8". Mounted with highly figured European walnut with 2 checkered, semi-schnable, black insert splinter forearms and Prince of Wales stock with round knob and solid red pad of recent vintage. Bottom of the stock has a small nickel silver oval engraved "J.M. Thurston". Receiver is engraved with light border patterns and rosettes around the hinge pin, screws and receiver pins. Accompanied by 2 Colt Factory letters, one dated March 5, 1977, and the other April 8, 1987. Both letters agree that this shotgun was a 10 ga with 32" bbls and blue finish, shipped to Collins & Gordon, Omaha, NE, February 22, 1887. The 1977 letter additionally lists the weight as 10 lbs. with "walnut" stocks and a note at the bottom "Records also indicate extra barrel was supplied for this shotgun on May 24th, 1889". The 1987 letter simply lists the type of stocks as "wood" but has the additional information of being factory engraved, grade 3. In this latter letter there is no mention of the extra bbl. Additionally accompanied by a sworn, notarized affidavit dated September 8, 1973, over the signature of Richard R. Riss, II. Mr. Riss states that he is the owner of "How The West Was Won Memorial Museum", located in Custer, SD, which houses the Riss collection, "Which is considered to be the rarest and largest collection of authenticated Outlaw and Frontier guns, photographs, mementos and material that made Western Expansion possible". He further states that in 1961 he received the "American Archives Award for Sincere Dedication to Research, Authenticity and the Preservation of American History". He further states that his collection has been written up in more than 80 publications and has been exhibited ----- since it was started in 1936. Mr. Riss certifies that he "Did purchase in 1947 (through Lynn Reeder, gun dealer, of Kansas City, MO.) a 10 ga doubled barreled Colt Shotgun cased with two sets of barrels bearing serial #1249, that belonged first to J.M. Thurston (magician) and so inscribed on a silver medallion in the stock. This gun was later given to John Slaughter and I purchased it from family heirs in Florida."
Additionally accompanied by a large volume of research material on John Horton Slaughter, compiled by consignor. Included are several copies of photographs from the Arizona Historical Society which cannot be reproduced without authorization. This shotgun has been the subject of several articles including one by Robert Doyle which appeared in the April 1980, Arms Gazette. It has also been exhibited by consignor and his 3-piece, folding, tabletop display accompanies this lot. The display board includes 7 framed photographs and the framed title board. In addition there is a plastic wrapped 100-rd box of UMC Majestic 10 Gauge Paper Shot Shells, probably new primed empties. Plastic was not opened to check contents. Also accompanying are 4 books which are The Southwest of John Horton Slaughter Cattleman Sheriff, Erwin. The other 3 only have a mention or a chapter about Slaughter: The Last Chance Tombstone''s Early Years, Myers; Tombstone''s Immortals, Traywick; Billy King''s Tombstone, Sonnichsen.
John Horton Slaughter was born October 1841, in Louisiana and when he was only a few months old his family moved to a homestead in west Texas. He grew up ranching and fighting Indians & Renegades and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Texas Cavalry but was soon mustered out for illness. He returned to his home and enlisted in the Texas Rangers, quickly rising to the rank of Lieutenant. With the boom in cattle prices Mr. Slaughter went into the cattle business with his wife. He stayed in Texas for a period of time and then in the 1870''s moved to Arizona, purchasing the San Bernardino ranch of about 70,000 acres east of Douglas, in Cochise County, which sprawled below the Mexican border. Later he added an additional 30,000 acres where it became one of the largest ranches in the U.S. Although Mr. Slaughter was a small man, less than 5'' 6", he was no one to argue with and is credited with having killed at least 20 men. He was so feared that outlaws and even the fearsome Apache avoided his ranch. His ranch was in the area of Tombstone, which had become a tough, wild town. He served as Sheriff of Cochise County from 1888 - 1892 and was known throughout the area to have carried a double barrel shotgun which he applied liberally, usually without the benefit of trial. He was known to have frequently confronted local "Bad Men" and with a simple "Get Of Cochise County or I''ll kill you" which usually sent the miscreant packing, never to been seen again. Mr. Slaughter''s wife, Adeline died in 1878 and he then married Viola Howell a woman 21 years younger than him. Together they built the San Bernardino ranch into an amazing entity unto itself, completely self sustaining, even with its own Post Office, School, store, farm and orchards and over 30,000 cattle. Mr. Slaughter had a fierce reputation as a man hunter and tracker and along with the infamous Tom Horn was enlisted by the Army to track down the famous Apache Chief Geronimo, which he did, leading to the Apache''s surrender. John Slaughter died in bed February 2, 1922 at age 80 with his boots off, leaving that area of Arizona a better and safer place. His great ranch was gradually sold off with the last parcel of 4,000 acres sold in 1965. Today the ranch headquarters is a museum. PROVENANCE: John H. Slaughter descendants; Richard R. Riss, II Collection; John R. Butcher Collection; to present Consignor. CONDITION: Very fine. The 32" bbls are extremely fine showing virtually all of their strong brown Damascus pattern and bright shiny bores with a few small spots of light pitting. The 18" bbls show most of an old blued finish with wear over the forearm area and have bright shiny bores. Receiver retains 40-50% faded case colors with the balance turned silver. Wood is sound with a gouge in the buttstock, light nicks and scratches, showing light to moderate diamond point wear. The buttstock is 13-5/8" without the pad, which would comport with a man of short stature. Obviously the pad was added later. Shot shell box has a couple of broken corners and a tear with tape on one side, otherwise is sound with light soil and a dark yellow/brown patina. Books are fine as is the display. 49537-1 JR (15,000-30,000)