FINE ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER IDENTIFIED TO TEXAS SHERIFF H. M. HOSKINS OF JACK COUNTY, TX IN 1890.

FINE ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER IDENTIFIED TO TEXAS SHERIFF H. M. HOSKINS OF JACK COUNTY, TX IN 1890. SN 111059. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates with caliber marking on left front web of trigger guard. Mounted with 2-pc pearl grips with raised carved steerhead on right side. Revolver is very nicely engraved in New York style, probably from the Nimschke shop, with about 60-65% coverage foliate arabesque patterns with hunter stars on sides of front frame. Foliate arabesque patterns extend up each side of bbl & at the muzzle. Top of backstrap is engraved with a fine fan pattern with foliate arabesque patterns down backstrap. Cyl is engraved with foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes and a foliate spray back of each flute. Ejector housing is engraved with a snake pattern on outer radius. Accompanied by a packet of information, mostly letters & court records about the man who owned this revolver, H.M. Hoskins, who was the Sheriff of Jack County, TX. Hoskins was born in Hardin County, KY in Nov. 1856 and became Sheriff in late 1890. In late May 1890 Sheriff Hoskins walked into a local saloon where several of the local bar flies goaded him into going after a young man named Byron Cope who had been drinking in the saloon, waving his gun around and threatening to kill the Sheriff. The Sheriff mounted his horse, took off after Mr. Cope and caught up with him about a mile out of town. In the ensuing shoot-out Sheriff Hoskins killed Mr. Cope and was himself shot in the stomach and died June 9,1891 and is buried in Jacksboro, TX. Included in this packet of information is a signed & notarized letter from Sheriff Hoskins’ daughter, Irene Hoskins Hilburn wherein she states that this revolver described as above and identified by SN was in the possession of her father at the time of his death and that it was the one he carried while in office and that he was carrying when fatally wounded while attempting to make an arrest. Also accompanied by a Colt factory letter which identifies this revolver in caliber 45 Colt with 7-1/2″ bbl, “soft” finish, type of stocks not listed and shipped to Schoverling, Daly & Gales, New York, NY on July 28, 1884 in a shipment of 15 guns. Under remarks section “The word ‘soft’ which appears with the finish indicates the frame and gate were not case hardened when this arm was shipped from the factory, and these parts were left in a soft condition for engraving outside the factory.” This revolver was pictured in Colts From Texas and the Old West. PROVENANCE: Charlie Schreiner Collection; R. Michael Kammerer Estate Collection CONDITION: Fine. Bbl retains 95-96% strong orig nickel with the only losses on each side of the muzzle; frame retains 60-65% orig nickel with losses around front of frame, top strap and ejector housing boss; trigger guard retains about 75-80% orig nickel with the backstrap & buttstrap bright metal; cyl retains traces of nickel in the flutes being mostly a gray metal patina. Grips have a chipped right toe and a couple of other small nicks, otherwise are sound with great fire & color. Hammer will not catch in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bore with light frosty pitting with a fine ring about 2″ from the muzzle that has caused a nearly unnoticeable bulge. 4-46574 (35,000-45,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

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
	1372	$40,250.00	FINE ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER IDENTIFIED TO TEXAS SHERIFF H. M. HOSKINS OF JACK COUNTY, TX IN 1890. SN 111059. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates with caliber marking on left front web of trigger guard. Mounted with 2-pc pearl grips with raised carved steerhead on right side. Revolver is very nicely engraved in New York style, probably from the Nimschke shop, with about 60-65% coverage foliate arabesque patterns with hunter stars on sides of front frame. Foliate arabesque patterns extend up each side of bbl & at the muzzle. Top of backstrap is engraved with a fine fan pattern with foliate arabesque patterns down backstrap. Cyl is engraved with foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes and a foliate spray back of each flute. Ejector housing is engraved with a snake pattern on outer radius. Accompanied by a packet of information, mostly letters & court records about the man who owned this revolver, H.M. Hoskins, who was the Sheriff of Jack County, TX. Hoskins was born in Hardin County, KY in Nov. 1856 and became Sheriff in late 1890. In late May 1890 Sheriff Hoskins walked into a local saloon where several of the local bar flies goaded him into going after a young man named Byron Cope who had been drinking in the saloon, waving his gun around and threatening to kill the Sheriff. The Sheriff mounted his horse, took off after Mr. Cope and caught up with him about a mile out of town. In the ensuing shoot-out Sheriff Hoskins killed Mr. Cope and was himself shot in the stomach and died June 9,1891 and is buried in Jacksboro, TX. Included in this packet of information is a signed & notarized letter from Sheriff Hoskins’ daughter, Irene Hoskins Hilburn wherein she states that this revolver described as above and identified by SN was in the possession of her father at the time of his death and that it was the one he carried while in office and that he was carrying when fatally wounded while attempting to make an arrest. Also accompanied by a Colt factory letter which identifies this revolver in caliber 45 Colt with 7-1/2″ bbl, “soft” finish, type of stocks not listed and shipped to Schoverling, Daly & Gales, New York, NY on July 28, 1884 in a shipment of 15 guns. Under remarks section “The word ‘soft’ which appears with the finish indicates the frame and gate were not case hardened when this arm was shipped from the factory, and these parts were left in a soft condition for engraving outside the factory.” This revolver was pictured in Colts From Texas and the Old West. PROVENANCE: Charlie Schreiner Collection; R. Michael Kammerer Estate Collection CONDITION: Fine. Bbl retains 95-96% strong orig nickel with the only losses on each side of the muzzle; frame retains 60-65% orig nickel with losses around front of frame, top strap and ejector housing boss; trigger guard retains about 75-80% orig nickel with the backstrap & buttstrap bright metal; cyl retains traces of nickel in the flutes being mostly a gray metal patina. Grips have a chipped right toe and a couple of other small nicks, otherwise are sound with great fire & color. Hammer will not catch in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bore with light frosty pitting with a fine ring about 2″ from the muzzle that has caused a nearly unnoticeable bulge. 4-46574 (35,000-45,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 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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