December 6-8, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2023
Shipped May 2, 1899 as a single gun shipment to John Florer & Company, of Grey Horse (Indian Territory), Oklahoma with a 4 - 3/4" barrel, .45 Colt chambering, nickel finish, pearl grips, factory engraving, and a factory inscription reading "W.B. Jackson Grey Horse I.T." on the backstrap. William "Billy" B. Jackson was born in 1856 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He led his family West from Iowa, wintering at Cowskin Prairie, Missouri circa 1888, before making their journey via covered wagon to Oolagah and then in 1892 on to Gray Horse, Indian Territory, an Indian trading post supposedly frequented by the Dalton Gang. He was first appointed Indian Constable and then Deputy Sheriff of Pawnee County. In 1898, Jackson became United States Deputy Marshal of the Osage Reservation after his predecessor was murdered. He served until 1920, labeled as one of the "bravest men in Oklahoma" by a period newspaper. His service continued as City Marshal and then as Police Judge of Bigheart, Oklahoma, prior to his death in 1923. Although Jackson, by his own recollection, never shot a man in his Indian Territory peace keeping, he certainly went armed, very likely packing this circa 1899 Single Action inscribed to him. It remains in the configuration as shipped with full nickel finish and characteristic Helfricht style "C" class scroll engraving over punchdot backgrounds with floral devices and rocker linework. The 4 - 3/4" barrel is rolled on top with 2-line address and on the left with "45 COLT" designation. Crosspin frame stamped on the left with 2-line patent and encircled rampant Colt. Backstrap inscribed "W.B Jackson. Gray Horse. I.T." Grips are well-fitting, slim, 2-piece mother of pearl and appear original to the gun. Jackson's six-gun is accompanied by a period set of handcuffs, a reproduction 6-pointed star Deputy Marshal badge, and a circa 1906 to 1908 panel tooled laced edge single loop holster marked "W.D. BREWER / MAKER / MUSCOGEE. I.T.", as it was displayed at the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum in Springfield, Missouri from 2015 to 2020 and published thoroughly. A few of the numerous publications include page 91 of Graham, Kopec, and Moore's "A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver" and page 429 of Wilson's "The Colt Engraving Book" Volume I, as well as gracing the cover of issues of "Man at Arms" and the "Texas Gun Collector Association" periodicals. Copies of the periodicals are included with this lot. A large binder of research and provenance is also included, which consists of copies of period photos of Jackson and his family, numerous copied newspaper articles about Jackson and his service, archival references, Dick's research notes, various correspondence regarding this revolver, and a factory letter, as well as documentation from the NRA museum loan and museum display plaques. PROVENANCE: Purchased in Texas by Bob Elz in the 1970s and sold to Eric Vaule, who then sold the gun to Jonathan Peck. Dick Burdick purchased this centerpiece gun from Peck's collection at auction in 1995. CONDITION: Very good for its age. Revolver retains the majority of its original nickel with wear commensurate with use by an Indian Territory lawman. Markings are clean and legible. The left grip is as found with a large crack at the center and a small area of loss. Frosted bore displays defined rifling. Fine mechanics, all 4 hammer clicks retained. This is a truly superlative, well documented and well published, Western lawman owned factory engraved and factory inscribed Single Action. A very rare opportunity for the discerning collector to acquire the iconic, museum worthy "Grey Horse" gun, one of Dick Burdick's favorites.
Paperwork
TGCA Magazine, Binder of Prov., Factory Letter