HISTORIC COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER.

HISTORIC COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER. Cal. 44 Perc. This revolver was the property of Mr. Ed Watson and was consigned by his grandson. Ed Watson was from Vincennes, IN and left home on March 4th, 1867 bound for the West. Prior to his leaving for the west, he had been employed in Cincinnati, OH at the R. M. Pommeroy & Co., a large mercantile company, and apparently had made arrangements with this company to supply him with goods and sundries once he was established in the west. Ed Watson traveled by train to the end of the track, which was under construction to meet the Union Pacific to form the Trans Continental Railway. When he reached the end of the track, he set up a tent-store and began selling his merchandise, which according to family legend, consisted of firearms and ammunition, household goods, clothing and tools. Mr. Watson continued following the railroad, packing his store into a freight wagon and traveling to the next “end of track”. This route brought him to Cheyenne, Dakota Territory, where there is a record that on September 4th, 1867 he purchased a commercial license for $12.50. The original of this license is included with this lot. Mr. Watson traveled on with the railroad, ultimately winding up at Promontory Point, UT and witnessed the driving on the golden spike to join the 2 railroads. He then traveled on to California, where he remained for a time, owning a partnership in a “store” called Watson & Barnhardt in San Francisco. Mr. Watson was in Bear River City when the Bear River City Riot took place on November 20th, 1868, lead by one Thomas J. Smith. Smith was later sheriff of Abilene, Texas and was killed in a gunfight and was replaced by Wild Bill Hickock. Later, on December 17th, Mr. Watson was camping in Echo Canyon when Smith rode into his camp. Smith apparently stated that he had been run out of Bear River City and was being chased by five men mounted with Henrys and rope.

Mr. Watson eventually returned to Indiana in 1875, where he became very prominent in politics and a very wealthy industrialist. He owned the Union Depot Hotel in Vincennes. He was involved in railroading, owned a steel mill, a shoe factory and a glass factory. He died in 1926 and is buried in Vincennes. During all Mr. Watson’s travels he maintained a series of diaries, that were on loan to the American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY. We have several of the original pages of this diary, beginning when he left Vincennes on March 4, 1867. Mr. Watson states in one entry that he met “Wild Bill (Hickock)”. The successful bidder will have access to the consignor, Watson’s great-grandson, for additional information. This lot consists of this fine Colt revolver, a wonderful and rare “Freund & Bros.” Slim Jim decorated belt holster for the Model 1860, a fine buffalo hide belt covered with elk skin, decorated with spectacular ultra-fine beadwork of trillium and hearts. The belt is 1860’s period with a Civil War-style brass buckle and brass hook. Also accompanying is a photograph of Ed Watson dated on the back 1870 and signed by Mr. Watson. It bears the mark of BF Howland & Co. photographers of San Francisco. The belt beadwork has been identified as Shoshone, specifically from Fort Bridger, where Mr. Watson, according to his diaries, spent some time. It is well documented that Freund and Bros. were also merchants at the “end of track” during the same time frame that Mr. Watson was there. It is logical to assume that Watson either purchased or bartered for the holster directly from the makers. SN 177394. CONDITION: The revolver is very good with bbl retaining about 30% original finish, mostly in sheltered areas with the balance a smooth dark brown patina. Cylinder retains about 40% glossy, original blue with the large diameter of the cylinder having traces of finish and about 85% of the original Naval battle scene. The frame retains about 75% dark, original case colors, fading to gray on the sides. The recoil shield retains 50-60% faded dark case colors and the hammer, traces of case colors, slightly pitted around the nose. The backstrap has 25-30% original blue with the balance a gray-brown patina. The trigger guard is a light mustard patina. This revolver is all matching, except the wedge, which is unnumbered. The bore is strong and bright with scattered pitting. The wedge screw is battered and there are light dings around the wedge slot. The grips are outstanding, retaining 95-97% strong bright original varnish. Holster is dark and oil stained, flexed around the trigger guard slot with the seam down the back edge missing all the stitching. Belt is dark and flexed with crackled surface where the buffalo hide is exposed. The elk skin is dark and stained showing heavy wear, but still supple. The beading is missing a few spots here and there, but generally intact with the colors vivid and bright. Photograph is fine. A fine historical set that further research in the accompanying translations of Mr. Watson’s diaries and contact with the consignor, may develop much more information. 4-46982 JR430 (10,000-20,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2003

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
	1097	$0.00	HISTORIC COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER. Cal. 44 Perc. This revolver was the property of Mr. Ed Watson and was consigned by his grandson. Ed Watson was from Vincennes, IN and left home on March 4th, 1867 bound for the West. Prior to his leaving for the west, he had been employed in Cincinnati, OH at the R. M. Pommeroy & Co., a large mercantile company, and apparently had made arrangements with this company to supply him with goods and sundries once he was established in the west. Ed Watson traveled by train to the end of the track, which was under construction to meet the Union Pacific to form the Trans Continental Railway. When he reached the end of the track, he set up a tent-store and began selling his merchandise, which according to family legend, consisted of firearms and ammunition, household goods, clothing and tools. Mr. Watson continued following the railroad, packing his store into a freight wagon and traveling to the next “end of track”. This route brought him to Cheyenne, Dakota Territory, where there is a record that on September 4th, 1867 he purchased a commercial license for $12.50. The original of this license is included with this lot. Mr. Watson traveled on with the railroad, ultimately winding up at Promontory Point, UT and witnessed the driving on the golden spike to join the 2 railroads. He then traveled on to California, where he remained for a time, owning a partnership in a “store” called Watson & Barnhardt in San Francisco. Mr. Watson was in Bear River City when the Bear River City Riot took place on November 20th, 1868, lead by one Thomas J. Smith. Smith was later sheriff of Abilene, Texas and was killed in a gunfight and was replaced by Wild Bill Hickock. Later, on December 17th, Mr. Watson was camping in Echo Canyon when Smith rode into his camp. Smith apparently stated that he had been run out of Bear River City and was being chased by five men mounted with Henrys and rope. Mr. Watson eventually returned to Indiana in 1875, where he became very prominent in politics and a very wealthy industrialist. He owned the Union Depot Hotel in Vincennes. He was involved in railroading, owned a steel mill, a shoe factory and a glass factory. He died in 1926 and is buried in Vincennes. During all Mr. Watson’s travels he maintained a series of diaries, that were on loan to the American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY. We have several of the original pages of this diary, beginning when he left Vincennes on March 4, 1867. Mr. Watson states in one entry that he met “Wild Bill (Hickock)”. The successful bidder will have access to the consignor, Watson’s great-grandson, for additional information. This lot consists of this fine Colt revolver, a wonderful and rare “Freund & Bros.” Slim Jim decorated belt holster for the Model 1860, a fine buffalo hide belt covered with elk skin, decorated with spectacular ultra-fine beadwork of trillium and hearts. The belt is 1860’s period with a Civil War-style brass buckle and brass hook. Also accompanying is a photograph of Ed Watson dated on the back 1870 and signed by Mr. Watson. It bears the mark of BF Howland & Co. photographers of San Francisco. The belt beadwork has been identified as Shoshone, specifically from Fort Bridger, where Mr. Watson, according to his diaries, spent some time. It is well documented that Freund and Bros. were also merchants at the “end of track” during the same time frame that Mr. Watson was there. It is logical to assume that Watson either purchased or bartered for the holster directly from the makers. SN 177394. CONDITION: The revolver is very good with bbl retaining about 30% original finish, mostly in sheltered areas with the balance a smooth dark brown patina. Cylinder retains about 40% glossy, original blue with the large diameter of the cylinder having traces of finish and about 85% of the original Naval battle scene. The frame retains about 75% dark, original case colors, fading to gray on the sides. The recoil shield retains 50-60% faded dark case colors and the hammer, traces of case colors, slightly pitted around the nose. The backstrap has 25-30% original blue with the balance a gray-brown patina. The trigger guard is a light mustard patina. This revolver is all matching, except the wedge, which is unnumbered. The bore is strong and bright with scattered pitting. The wedge screw is battered and there are light dings around the wedge slot. The grips are outstanding, retaining 95-97% strong bright original varnish. Holster is dark and oil stained, flexed around the trigger guard slot with the seam down the back edge missing all the stitching. Belt is dark and flexed with crackled surface where the buffalo hide is exposed. The elk skin is dark and stained showing heavy wear, but still supple. The beading is missing a few spots here and there, but generally intact with the colors vivid and bright. Photograph is fine. A fine historical set that further research in the accompanying translations of Mr. Watson’s diaries and contact with the consignor, may develop much more information. 4-46982 JR430 (10,000-20,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2003 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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