June 22, 2024 Brian Lebel's Santa Fe Old West Events Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/22/2024
SERIAL 72263. MFG. 1882. BARREL 7.5". CALIBER 44-40. BLUE & CASE COLOR. This would have been an etched panel gun, but no longer visible. Caliber is stamped in trigger bow. Letter states shipped to Simmons Hardware Company, January 4, 1882, in shipment of 50 guns. Matching serial number on frame, trigger guard and back strap. Assembly number 6721 on loading gate. One line barrel address. Three-line patent dates on frame. Wears a set of one-piece ivory grips with Mexican snake & eagle on right panel. The back strap is presented "To Deputy US Marshal L.P. "BONES" ISBEL From H. Thomas Henry "Heck". Thomas was a US Marshal during the 1880s & 90s for Judge Parker in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Levi Paschal Isbell (sp) was also a long time Marshall working at same time for Judge Parker. The inscription, style and age are of the period. Thomas is famous for taking out Ned Christie, tracking the Wild Bunch and killing Bill Doolin. Isbell is on the official historical list of Judge Parker's Marshals, and his first-born son also became a Marshal. While not well known today, Isbell was one of Heck Thomas' dear friends, and they went out on many a manhunt together. In the book Heck Thomas Frontier Marshal by Glenn Shirley, he is mentioned on 8 pages: on page 57, they went out together after boot leggers; page 60 mentions Isbell bringing five prisoners to Judge Parker, one a murderer; page 77 talks about their hunting in Indian Nation; and on page 87-88 Heck and Isbell had cornered the famed outlaw, Ned Christie. Isbell had his shoulder shattered by one of Christie's bullets, and Heck saved his life and spent weeks with him while recovering. Finally, on page 147-148, they relay how Isbell brought Grat Dalton to trial. CONDITION: Very Good. Gun shows no original finish. Edges are soft, as this gun spent years in a holster. Gun has four clicks with solid half cock. Bore is defined but has abrasions. While Isbell is not a household name, Heck Thomas is one of the more famous Marshals of the old West.
Provenance: Ex Ron & Linda Gillett Collection