*BRACE OF SMITH & WESSON 44 HAND EJECTOR 3RD MODEL DA REVOLVERS THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS TEXAS SHERIFF JESS SWEETEN.

SN 41281 & 41258. Cal. 44 Special. Revolvers are nickel finish with 3-1/4″ bbls, relocated half moon front sights and fixed sight in top straps. Both revolvers are mounted with 2-pc stag grips. Both revolvers are marked on left side of front strap with tiny numbers “7 53”. This signifies that these revolvers were factory refinished in Jul. 1953. Revolver #41258 has bbl marked with serial number “4358”, apparently installed by the factory before restoration. Both revolvers are engraved on the right side plate “JESS SWEETEN”. These revolvers were the property of very famous Henderson County, Texas sheriff, Jess Sweeten. Jess Sweeten became constable of Trinidad, TX in 1929. Trinidad, at that time was a real rough and tumble town and Constable Sweeten cleaned it up in short order. Mr.Sweeten was elected Henderson County Sheriff at age 24 in Nov. 1932, a job he held until 1954. Sheriff Sweeten, by all accounts was an outstanding lawman and criminal investigator. He was also Texas state pistol champion. He solved numerous high level robbery & murder cases including the kidnapping of a used car salesman and theft of an automobile in Jul. 1943 which resulted in a 25 mile, high speed chase reaching speeds of 90mph through Athens, TX with the convicted murderer Gerald Johnson shooting at him all the way. Sheriff Sweeten was shooting back with two Colt 45 Automatics and two “44 snub-nosed specials”. He emptied both Colts and both revolvers with no effect, reloading one of the revolvers several times one handed while chasing Johnson, until he was down to his last cartridge. Sheriff Sweeten was able to force Johnson’s car off the road, which flipped over in a huge cloud of dust. He stopped and approached the wrecked car, which he could not see through the dust, and observed a figure coming toward him through the dust, which he correctly assumed to be Johnson. He took careful aim and fired his last bullet, but Johnson kept coming for about another 30 steps and fell dead, shot through the heart. Sweeten states that the revolver he killed Johnson with, was SN 41258. He noted that the end of the bbl is scratched and cut from where he used it to break out a hole in his windshield during the chase large enough to shoot through. Sheriff Sweeten’s law enforcement life & exploits are commemorated in two books: 1). Jess Sweeten Texas Lawman, Lindquist published in 1961 and 2). A Trail is Never Cold, The Life and Times of Sheriff Jess Sweeten, Melton published in 1995. Both books devote an entire chapter to the Gerald Johnson shooting. Three copies of book #1 (two of which are autographed) and one copy of book #2 accompany this lot. PROVENANCE: Tommy Rholes Estate Collection. CONDITION: Both revolvers are virtually identical condition with bbls having been reduced, as noted, and both factory refinished as noted. They retain virtually all of this factory restored finish showing heavy wear prior to the restoration. Grips are all sound. Mechanics are fine; bright shiny bores. 4-50662, 4-50663 JR489 (5,000-8,000) – Lot 1407

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	1407	$10,350.00	BRACE OF SMITH & WESSON 44 HAND EJECTOR 3RD MODEL DA REVOLVERS THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS TEXAS SHERIFF JESS SWEETEN. SN 41281 & 41258. Cal. 44 Special. Revolvers are nickel finish with 3-1/4″ bbls, relocated half moon front sights and fixed sight in top straps. Both revolvers are mounted with 2-pc stag grips. Both revolvers are marked on left side of front strap with tiny numbers “7 53”. This signifies that these revolvers were factory refinished in Jul. 1953. Revolver #41258 has bbl marked with serial number “4358”, apparently installed by the factory before restoration. Both revolvers are engraved on the right side plate “JESS SWEETEN”. These revolvers were the property of very famous Henderson County, Texas sheriff, Jess Sweeten. Jess Sweeten became constable of Trinidad, TX in 1929. Trinidad, at that time was a real rough and tumble town and Constable Sweeten cleaned it up in short order. Mr.Sweeten was elected Henderson County Sheriff at age 24 in Nov. 1932, a job he held until 1954. Sheriff Sweeten, by all accounts was an outstanding lawman and criminal investigator. He was also Texas state pistol champion. He solved numerous high level robbery & murder cases including the kidnapping of a used car salesman and theft of an automobile in Jul. 1943 which resulted in a 25 mile, high speed chase reaching speeds of 90mph through Athens, TX with the convicted murderer Gerald Johnson shooting at him all the way. Sheriff Sweeten was shooting back with two Colt 45 Automatics and two “44 snub-nosed specials”. He emptied both Colts and both revolvers with no effect, reloading one of the revolvers several times one handed while chasing Johnson, until he was down to his last cartridge. Sheriff Sweeten was able to force Johnson’s car off the road, which flipped over in a huge cloud of dust. He stopped and approached the wrecked car, which he could not see through the dust, and observed a figure coming toward him through the dust, which he correctly assumed to be Johnson. He took careful aim and fired his last bullet, but Johnson kept coming for about another 30 steps and fell dead, shot through the heart. Sweeten states that the revolver he killed Johnson with, was SN 41258. He noted that the end of the bbl is scratched and cut from where he used it to break out a hole in his windshield during the chase large enough to shoot through. Sheriff Sweeten’s law enforcement life & exploits are commemorated in two books: 1). Jess Sweeten Texas Lawman, Lindquist published in 1961 and 2). A Trail is Never Cold, The Life and Times of Sheriff Jess Sweeten, Melton published in 1995. Both books devote an entire chapter to the Gerald Johnson shooting. Three copies of book #1 (two of which are autographed) and one copy of book #2 accompany this lot. PROVENANCE: Tommy Rholes Estate Collection. CONDITION: Both revolvers are virtually identical condition with bbls having been reduced, as noted, and both factory refinished as noted. They retain virtually all of this factory restored finish showing heavy wear prior to the restoration. Grips are all sound. Mechanics are fine; bright shiny bores. 4-50662, 4-50663 JR489 (5,000-8,000) – Lot 1407 Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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*BRACE OF SMITH & WESSON 44 HAND EJECTOR 3RD MODEL DA REVOLVERS THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS TEXAS SHERIFF JESS SWEETEN.