COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, BELT AND HOLSTER RIG THAT BELONGED TO INFAMOUS 19TH CENTURY TRAIN ROBBER OLIVER CURTIS PERRY.

SN 142873. Cal 44 WCF (44-40). Revolver has 4-3/4″ bbl, full front sight and 2-line address with “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” roll marked on the left side. Left side of frame has 2-line 3-patent dates and rampant Colt in a circle. Mounted with rampant Colt hard rubber grips. Accompanied by an El Paso Saddlery single loop holster for the revolver with large makers cartouche toward the top. “El Paso” has been obliterated from this cartouche. Also accompanied by an unmarked period cartridge/money belt that is about 38″ long by 3″ wide, made of 1-pc pigskin grained leather with a rectangular shaped iron buckle that has 34 sewn-on large cartridge loops. The tongue billet of the belt was relocated during the period of use. Additionally accompanied by a small thin blade skinning knife with wood slab handles carved on the left side with a “P”. The blade has a hole drilled near the handle where it was apparently attached to a display board. Blade is marked “L&G. MFG. Co / CAST STEEL”, along with its brown leather sheath which has a corresponding hole on the back side. Additionally accompanied by a very rare Pinkerton National Detective Agency reward flyer offering $1,000 for the arrest of Oliver Curtis Perry. Flyer has a picture and signature of Perry. Also accompanied by 3 cartridge boxes of ammunition reportedly found in Mr. Perry’s bag captured with him after the train chase: 1). Early 2-pc Winchester box for 44-40 ammo with green top label and line drawing of an 1873 Carbine on one side, containing 41 original rounds of ammo; UMC 2-pc box for 44 Colt ammo, red label on plaid, rnd corner box containing 5 original rds of ammo; Winchester 2-pc picture box for 32 S&W ammo containing 2 rds 32 S&W & 2 rds 38 S&W ammo. Oliver Curtis Perry was a career criminal in late 19th century New York who was a burglar and train robber. On February 22, 1892 Perry hopped the American Express special train as it pulled out of the station in Syracuse, NY, a train he had robbed the year before. He climbed to the roof of the express car, tied a rope to the roof ventilator, put on a cape & mask and swung down through the messenger car window. Once inside he got into a gun fight with a messenger named Daniel McInerney. Meeting the unexpected resistance, after wounding McInerney 3 times, he retreated back to the roof of the train and rode there all the way to Lyons, Wayne County, NY. He was spotted jumping from the roof of the train by the local sheriff and a doctor who had come to treat McInerney. Perry ran over to another platform, climbed into a locomotive, started it up and drove away down the tracks. Wayne County Sheriff Jerry Collins commandeered another train and gave chase. Collins was catching up with Perry, apparently on parallel tracks, when Perry suddenly reversed his engine with the sheriffs express train following suit. The two trains continued this dance until steam pressure in Perry’s train fell off, immobilizing him, so he abandoned the locomotive, stole a horse & buggy and then took off on foot. He was eventually cornered by Deputy Collins and his men where they engaged in a gun battle before Perry gave up. For his crimes Perry was sentenced to 49 years 3 months of hard labor in Auburn Prison. In October 1892 he escaped but was caught before he could get out of the prison by the guards who gave him a severe beating. He continued attempting to escape until December, 1893 when he was declared insane and sent to an asylum for insane criminals. In April 1895 he again escaped but was captured 6 days later in New Jersey. He eventually was declared sane and returned to Auburn Prison. Shortly thereafter he deliberately blinded himself with two needles fixed in a piece of wood, after which he was returned to the asylum. In 1901 he was sent to Dannemora State Hospital where he remained until he died in 1930. At the time of Perry’s arrest by Deputy Sheriff Collins, Walter Thornton was the sheriff of Wayne County and the great-great grandfather of consignor. Reportedly Perry gave Sheriff Thornton this revolver and accessories as he was being transferred to prison. Sheriff Thornton retained Perry’s revolver, belt, holster and knife until his death. They descended down Sheriff Thornton’s descendants until they passed to consignor in 2003. Also accompanied by a large packet of old newspaper clippings about Perry, his arrest and confinement. Additionally included is the 8-page, hand-written article by Mrs. Edna Munn, daughter of Sheriff Thornton and Great Grandmother of Consignor, which appeared on the front page of The Newark Union-Gazette, Feb 25. 1930. Mrs. Munn details most of the information as related above, which she heard directly from her father, Sheriff Thornton. The front page of the same newspaper also had an article about Perry’s costume he wore during the robbery, the rope ladder and weapons he carried being displayed in the front window of the newspaper’s office. Also accompanying are 1982 reprints of this article in a special edition of the 90th year anniversary of the robbery and arrest of Perry, and about Deputy Sheriff Jerry Collins who captured him. CONDITION: Revolver is good to very good, no orig finish remains being an overall cleaned, mottled gray metal patina with scattered spots of surface rust. Trigger guard and backstrap are a plummy brown patina. Left grip is missing a large chunk of its toe, otherwise grips are fine, showing moderate wear. Mechanics are fine. Strong bright bore with scattered pitting. Belt & holster are fine with slightly crackled surface showing light to moderate wear. Pinkerton poster is yellowed and brittle with several folds, some of which have separated along with a small tear and a couple of chips missing with some old tape on a couple edges. Knife is fine as is the sheath. Winchester 44-40 ammo box is missing both top end flaps, with soil and split edges, ammo is fine; UMC 44 Colt Box is sound with soil and edge wear, ammo is fine; Winchester 32 S&W box is solid with soil, one side band still intact, ammo is fine. 4-53691 JR289 (5,000-15,000) – Lot 3098

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Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	3098	$13,800.00	COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, BELT AND HOLSTER RIG THAT BELONGED TO INFAMOUS 19TH CENTURY TRAIN ROBBER OLIVER CURTIS PERRY. SN 142873. Cal 44 WCF (44-40). Revolver has 4-3/4″ bbl, full front sight and 2-line address with “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” roll marked on the left side. Left side of frame has 2-line 3-patent dates and rampant Colt in a circle. Mounted with rampant Colt hard rubber grips. Accompanied by an El Paso Saddlery single loop holster for the revolver with large makers cartouche toward the top. “El Paso” has been obliterated from this cartouche. Also accompanied by an unmarked period cartridge/money belt that is about 38″ long by 3″ wide, made of 1-pc pigskin grained leather with a rectangular shaped iron buckle that has 34 sewn-on large cartridge loops. The tongue billet of the belt was relocated during the period of use. Additionally accompanied by a small thin blade skinning knife with wood slab handles carved on the left side with a “P”. The blade has a hole drilled near the handle where it was apparently attached to a display board. Blade is marked “L&G. MFG. Co / CAST STEEL”, along with its brown leather sheath which has a corresponding hole on the back side. Additionally accompanied by a very rare Pinkerton National Detective Agency reward flyer offering $1,000 for the arrest of Oliver Curtis Perry. Flyer has a picture and signature of Perry. Also accompanied by 3 cartridge boxes of ammunition reportedly found in Mr. Perry’s bag captured with him after the train chase: 1). Early 2-pc Winchester box for 44-40 ammo with green top label and line drawing of an 1873 Carbine on one side, containing 41 original rounds of ammo; UMC 2-pc box for 44 Colt ammo, red label on plaid, rnd corner box containing 5 original rds of ammo; Winchester 2-pc picture box for 32 S&W ammo containing 2 rds 32 S&W & 2 rds 38 S&W ammo. Oliver Curtis Perry was a career criminal in late 19th century New York who was a burglar and train robber. On February 22, 1892 Perry hopped the American Express special train as it pulled out of the station in Syracuse, NY, a train he had robbed the year before. He climbed to the roof of the express car, tied a rope to the roof ventilator, put on a cape & mask and swung down through the messenger car window. Once inside he got into a gun fight with a messenger named Daniel McInerney. Meeting the unexpected resistance, after wounding McInerney 3 times, he retreated back to the roof of the train and rode there all the way to Lyons, Wayne County, NY. He was spotted jumping from the roof of the train by the local sheriff and a doctor who had come to treat McInerney. Perry ran over to another platform, climbed into a locomotive, started it up and drove away down the tracks. Wayne County Sheriff Jerry Collins commandeered another train and gave chase. Collins was catching up with Perry, apparently on parallel tracks, when Perry suddenly reversed his engine with the sheriffs express train following suit. The two trains continued this dance until steam pressure in Perry’s train fell off, immobilizing him, so he abandoned the locomotive, stole a horse & buggy and then took off on foot. He was eventually cornered by Deputy Collins and his men where they engaged in a gun battle before Perry gave up. For his crimes Perry was sentenced to 49 years 3 months of hard labor in Auburn Prison. In October 1892 he escaped but was caught before he could get out of the prison by the guards who gave him a severe beating. He continued attempting to escape until December, 1893 when he was declared insane and sent to an asylum for insane criminals. In April 1895 he again escaped but was captured 6 days later in New Jersey. He eventually was declared sane and returned to Auburn Prison. Shortly thereafter he deliberately blinded himself with two needles fixed in a piece of wood, after which he was returned to the asylum. In 1901 he was sent to Dannemora State Hospital where he remained until he died in 1930. At the time of Perry’s arrest by Deputy Sheriff Collins, Walter Thornton was the sheriff of Wayne County and the great-great grandfather of consignor. Reportedly Perry gave Sheriff Thornton this revolver and accessories as he was being transferred to prison. Sheriff Thornton retained Perry’s revolver, belt, holster and knife until his death. They descended down Sheriff Thornton’s descendants until they passed to consignor in 2003. Also accompanied by a large packet of old newspaper clippings about Perry, his arrest and confinement. Additionally included is the 8-page, hand-written article by Mrs. Edna Munn, daughter of Sheriff Thornton and Great Grandmother of Consignor, which appeared on the front page of The Newark Union-Gazette, Feb 25. 1930. Mrs. Munn details most of the information as related above, which she heard directly from her father, Sheriff Thornton. The front page of the same newspaper also had an article about Perry’s costume he wore during the robbery, the rope ladder and weapons he carried being displayed in the front window of the newspaper’s office. Also accompanying are 1982 reprints of this article in a special edition of the 90th year anniversary of the robbery and arrest of Perry, and about Deputy Sheriff Jerry Collins who captured him. CONDITION: Revolver is good to very good, no orig finish remains being an overall cleaned, mottled gray metal patina with scattered spots of surface rust. Trigger guard and backstrap are a plummy brown patina. Left grip is missing a large chunk of its toe, otherwise grips are fine, showing moderate wear. Mechanics are fine. Strong bright bore with scattered pitting. Belt & holster are fine with slightly crackled surface showing light to moderate wear. Pinkerton poster is yellowed and brittle with several folds, some of which have separated along with a small tear and a couple of chips missing with some old tape on a couple edges. Knife is fine as is the sheath. Winchester 44-40 ammo box is missing both top end flaps, with soil and split edges, ammo is fine; UMC 44 Colt Box is sound with soil and edge wear, ammo is fine; Winchester 32 S&W box is solid with soil, one side band still intact, ammo is fine. 4-53691 JR289 (5,000-15,000) – Lot 3098 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, BELT AND HOLSTER RIG THAT BELONGED TO INFAMOUS 19TH CENTURY TRAIN ROBBER OLIVER CURTIS PERRY.