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THBProp Gun Used in Cole Younger's Wild West Show with Certified Letter and Ticket for Jesse James' Gravesite
About Seller
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
With offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver, Cowan’s holds over 40 auctions each year, with annual sales exceeding $16M. We reach buyers around the globe, and take pride in our reputation for integrity, customer service and great results. A full-service house, Cowan’s Auctions specializes in Am...Read more
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About Auction
LiveMay 3, 2017 - May 5, 2017
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (450)
- Lot Description
.427" rifled bore (probably .44-40), 6" octagonal barrel, S/N 414. Possibly an Iver Johnson, but unmarked. Double-action, solid frame, with loading gate. Probably originally blued, but now with a flat, black painted finish. Hard rubber grips with embossed decorations and initials scratched on the inside.
This revolver was used as a prop gun (probably firing blanks) in Cole Younger's Wild West Show, and is accompanied by a wonderful period letter detailing this provenance. Cole Younger was a member of the infamous James-Younger Gang, whose members included brothers Frank & Jesse James and the Younger brothers; Cole, Jim, John and Bob (at various times). The gang had its origin in the Civil War, where Cole Younger and Frank James initially fought for the Confederacy under the leadership of infamous Confederate "bushwhacker" William Clarke Quantrill and later under the equally infamous "Bloody Bill" Anderson. Jesse joined the Confederate guerrillas under Anderson in 1864. After the war, the "un-reconstructed" Confederates found adjustment to peaceful civilian life difficult and it is believed they were involved in their first bank robbery in February 1866 when the Clay County Savings Association was robbed. Over the next decade, the gang would be involved in numerous bank, train and stagecoach robberies, becoming legends in their own time and attaining almost mythical, "Robin Hood"-like status among the common people of Missouri and the surrounding states.
During their career, many members of the gang came came and went, but the core leaders Frank & Jesse James and Cole Younger remained fairly constant. The gang's career came to an end in 1876 after the failed robbery of the First National Bank of Northfield, MN. Both of the James brothers were wounded during the raid, as were the three Younger brothers that participated (Cole, Jim & Bob), all three of which were eventually captured. The three Younger brothers were eventually tried, plead guilty and given life sentences. Bob Younger died in prison, while Cole and Jim were paroled in 1901, but were required to remain in Minnesota. In 1903 Cole was pardoned and required to leave the state. He returned to Missouri and joined a wild west show that had been started by Frank James, in an attempt to cash in on their outlaw fame. Cole Younger died on March 21, 1916 at the age of 72.
The accompanying letter that provides the provenance for this revolver is written in old iron gall ink that has oxidized to a rich brown color, and is dated July 03, 1914 in the header, less than two years before Younger's death. It reads: This stove blacked pistol was given to my father Walter Gamel 2 years ago by Mr. Cole Younger of Lee Summit, Missoura (sic). We helped him with his Wild West Show items. My father placed it with the MoArkLa Indian Agency. The letter is singed Ralph Gomel, Halfway, Missoura May 16, 1946 and is stamped with the MO-ARK-LA (Missouri - Arkansas - Louisiana) Indian Agency embossed seal. The letter is contained in a MO-ARK-LA Indian Agency printed envelope with the return address reading Colonel Walter Gamel / Chief Indian Agent / General Delivery - Buffalo, Missouri with an embossed 2 cent stamp. The envelope also contains a ticket that reads: COLE YOUNGER / LEE'S SUMMIT, MISSOURI / 1 FREE VISIT / JESSE JAMES' GRAVESITE and is dated 1914. The pistol and documents are contained in a old wooden EL FANTEE cigar box.
This is a wonderful opportunity to own a legitimate piece of real Wild west history with association to one of the most famous and notable gangs of the era.
Good overall. Retains much of the period applied black painted finish. Double-action mechanism is functional, but the trigger return spring does not work. The hammer does not hold full cock in single action mode. Bore is good. Hard rubber grips are about fine, without breaks or cracks. Accompanying letter is in good condition with some minor rips and tears.Condition
- Shipping Info
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