LARGE LOT OF HISTORICAL WYOMING COWBOY & LAW ENFORCEMENT ITEMS THAT BELONGED TO HAPPY JACK ALLEN.

LARGE LOT OF HISTORICAL WYOMING COWBOY & LAW ENFORCEMENT ITEMS THAT BELONGED TO HAPPY JACK ALLEN. This lot consists of an engraved single action army Colt, Allen’s original Casper, WY made belt & holster rig, an original pair of Schnitger silver decorated spurs, three of Allen’s police badges, two peace officer association meeting ribbons, Allen’s early Lower’s Patent handcuffs and Allen’s Clabrough & Bros. dbl barrel hammer shotgun.

All of these items were the property of and used by Robert John “Happy Jack” Allen. Mr. Allen was born in 1876 in Brooklyn, NY, orphaned in 1880, lived with his grandparents until their death in 1890. At the age of 14, in 1890, he arrived in Cheyenne, WY and took a job at the Arbuckle Ranch on Pole Creek, outside of Cheyenne. In 1892 he was hired by U.S. Senator J.M. Carey’s CY Cattle Ranch outside of Casper. This was the ranch used as a staging area when the cattlemen of the area employed about 40 hired guns to drive out the outlaws and rustlers, which is now known as the Johnson County War. In 1897 Allen and his fellow CY cowboys raided the famous “Hole in the Wall” to retrieve stolen cattle and had a shootout with the gang residing there, killing one and wounding and capturing another. Also in 1897 Allen was a bronc rider in the very first Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. In 1898 Allen enlisted in Torrey’s Rough Riders and became a Sargent in Troop K. They were eventually drafted into the regular Army and became the 2nd U.S. Volunteer Cavalry and rode with Theodore Roosevelt up San Juan Hill during the Spanish American War. After the War, Allen returned to the CY Ranch where he remained for another 1-1/2 years. In 1903 he was hired as a deputy sheriff of Natrona County, WY.

Accompanying this lot is Allen’s original Deputy Sheriff’s badge. In 1905 Allen was persuaded to join Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show as a member of the Congress of Rough Riders and toured Europe with the show for two years. When he returned to the U.S. he moved to Coatesville, PA and became a detective for the Coatesville Police Dept. and Chief of Police for the Worth Steel Corp. where he served until 1917, when he re-entered the Army and served in the Intelligence Corps. In 1921 he returned to Wyoming and was appointed a State Agent of Law Enforcement. In 1923 he was appointed Deputy U.S. Marshall for Wyoming and in 1929 was appointed as Commissioner of Law Enforcement for the State of Wyoming (Today’s Chief of State Police). Accompanying this lot is Allen’s original Commissioner of Law Enforcement badge. In 1932, he was appointed U.S. Marshall for Wyoming by President Herbert Hoover. Also accompanying this lot is Allen’s original appointment certificate. In 1934 he was elected Sheriff of Natrona County, WY. Accompanying this lot is Allen’s sheriff’s badge with number “1”. Allen was re-elected Sheriff several times and died in 1942 in Casper, WY. Also accompanying this lot are two Wyoming Peace Officer’s Association Meeting pins from 1941 and 1942. Also accompanies is a rare and original pair of Schnitger silver decorated spurs, custom made for Allen. Each spur has a 2-1/4” 32-point round rowel with 8 holes. Each spur has nicely carved 2-pc leather straps. Each spur has full silver overlay on the left side with two large domed buttons. The silver plate has light engraving and the buttons were also engraved in star pattern but are now worn smooth. Both sides of the shank and chap guard along with the rowel pin button are inlaid with decorated silver. The inside of the bow shank & chap guard are identically inlaid with silver without the large buttons. The strap buttons are covered with silver, engraved with a large “A”. Additionally is a rare pair of “Lower” marked iron handcuffs with their original key.

An important part of this collection is a single action Colt revolver, 4-3/4” bbl, caliber 45, serial number 92242. It has about 60% coverage, fine New York style foliate & floral arabesque pattern engraving with punch dot background. It has 2-pc pearl grips with a very deep carved steer head on the right grip. Accompanying the Colt is a factory letter identifying this revolver as having been shipped May 9, 1883 in a shipment of 10 such revolvers to Hartley & Graham, NY, NY. The letter indicates that the finish was “soft”. This indicates that it was not factory finished but was shipped for engraving & finishing outside the factory. This engraving has all the earmarks of Nimschke or his shop. Also accompanying the Colt is a letter dated 23 April 1998 from Jack Allen, the grandson of Happy Jack Allen, who states that in approximately 1903 his grandfather acquired this revolver and that it was his personal sidearm throughout his law enforcement career and remained in his possession until his death in 1942 when it was passed on down the family. Also included is a well-made and decorated period belt & holster set. The holster is a 2-loop style with tooled edges and a home buck-stitched open edge. The center of the top is stamped “OSCAR HIESTAND / MAKER / CASPER, WYO.” The belt is a folded soft leather money belt with nicely press-decorated edges with 41 cartridge loops. And lastly is Allen’s J.P. Clabrough & Bros. damascus bbl hammer shotgun. It is a side lever model with the bbls cut to 20”. It has had heavy use with severe damage to the forearm & wrist with clever old repairs using copper plates & strips. Additionally accompanying are two large framed photos of performers in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. One photo dated 1905 with a plaque stating “Budapest, Hungary 1905 / Happy Jack Allen Fourth from Right”. The other shows a large group of mounted cowboys & cowgirls in a semi-circle and is dated “1906”.

CONDITION: Three badges are all fine with the Commissioner of Law Enforcement badge showing light wear with some brass showing through the nickel, the other two are fine. Spurs and straps are very worn but sound and intact. Handcuffs are a smooth gray patina with some light surface spotting. Holster is very dry & fragile with a break near the top loop. Belt is also dry with the loops having been re-laced with rawhide and the billets moved as the owner expanded. Shotgun is very worn with breaks in the forearm & wrist and a small splice in the wrist with copper plate repairs. Mechanics are fine with pitted shiny bores. Colt retains most of a fine restored finish with some scattered light pitting. Exceptional grips have two or three small hairlines and a tiny chip at the heel and receiver on the left side but are brilliant with lots of fire and color, a truly exceptional pair of grips. Mechanics need attention as it will not hold on any of the hammer notches. Strong bright bore with fine pitting. Photographs are hand colored and in fine condition. 4-51586 JR1018 (27,500-37,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2004

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	$0.00	LARGE LOT OF HISTORICAL WYOMING COWBOY & LAW ENFORCEMENT ITEMS THAT BELONGED TO HAPPY JACK ALLEN. This lot consists of an engraved single action army Colt, Allen’s original Casper, WY made belt & holster rig, an original pair of Schnitger silver decorated spurs, three of Allen’s police badges, two peace officer association meeting ribbons, Allen’s early Lower’s Patent handcuffs and Allen’s Clabrough & Bros. dbl barrel hammer shotgun. All of these items were the property of and used by Robert John “Happy Jack” Allen. Mr. Allen was born in 1876 in Brooklyn, NY, orphaned in 1880, lived with his grandparents until their death in 1890. At the age of 14, in 1890, he arrived in Cheyenne, WY and took a job at the Arbuckle Ranch on Pole Creek, outside of Cheyenne. In 1892 he was hired by U.S. Senator J.M. Carey’s CY Cattle Ranch outside of Casper. This was the ranch used as a staging area when the cattlemen of the area employed about 40 hired guns to drive out the outlaws and rustlers, which is now known as the Johnson County War. In 1897 Allen and his fellow CY cowboys raided the famous “Hole in the Wall” to retrieve stolen cattle and had a shootout with the gang residing there, killing one and wounding and capturing another. Also in 1897 Allen was a bronc rider in the very first Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. In 1898 Allen enlisted in Torrey’s Rough Riders and became a Sargent in Troop K. They were eventually drafted into the regular Army and became the 2nd U.S. Volunteer Cavalry and rode with Theodore Roosevelt up San Juan Hill during the Spanish American War. After the War, Allen returned to the CY Ranch where he remained for another 1-1/2 years. In 1903 he was hired as a deputy sheriff of Natrona County, WY. Accompanying this lot is Allen’s original Deputy Sheriff’s badge. In 1905 Allen was persuaded to join Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show as a member of the Congress of Rough Riders and toured Europe with the show for two years. When he returned to the U.S. he moved to Coatesville, PA and became a detective for the Coatesville Police Dept. and Chief of Police for the Worth Steel Corp. where he served until 1917, when he re-entered the Army and served in the Intelligence Corps. In 1921 he returned to Wyoming and was appointed a State Agent of Law Enforcement. In 1923 he was appointed Deputy U.S. Marshall for Wyoming and in 1929 was appointed as Commissioner of Law Enforcement for the State of Wyoming (Today’s Chief of State Police). Accompanying this lot is Allen’s original Commissioner of Law Enforcement badge. In 1932, he was appointed U.S. Marshall for Wyoming by President Herbert Hoover. Also accompanying this lot is Allen’s original appointment certificate. In 1934 he was elected Sheriff of Natrona County, WY. Accompanying this lot is Allen’s sheriff’s badge with number “1”. Allen was re-elected Sheriff several times and died in 1942 in Casper, WY. Also accompanying this lot are two Wyoming Peace Officer’s Association Meeting pins from 1941 and 1942. Also accompanies is a rare and original pair of Schnitger silver decorated spurs, custom made for Allen. Each spur has a 2-1/4” 32-point round rowel with 8 holes. Each spur has nicely carved 2-pc leather straps. Each spur has full silver overlay on the left side with two large domed buttons. The silver plate has light engraving and the buttons were also engraved in star pattern but are now worn smooth. Both sides of the shank and chap guard along with the rowel pin button are inlaid with decorated silver. The inside of the bow shank & chap guard are identically inlaid with silver without the large buttons. The strap buttons are covered with silver, engraved with a large “A”. Additionally is a rare pair of “Lower” marked iron handcuffs with their original key. An important part of this collection is a single action Colt revolver, 4-3/4” bbl, caliber 45, serial number 92242. It has about 60% coverage, fine New York style foliate & floral arabesque pattern engraving with punch dot background. It has 2-pc pearl grips with a very deep carved steer head on the right grip. Accompanying the Colt is a factory letter identifying this revolver as having been shipped May 9, 1883 in a shipment of 10 such revolvers to Hartley & Graham, NY, NY. The letter indicates that the finish was “soft”. This indicates that it was not factory finished but was shipped for engraving & finishing outside the factory. This engraving has all the earmarks of Nimschke or his shop. Also accompanying the Colt is a letter dated 23 April 1998 from Jack Allen, the grandson of Happy Jack Allen, who states that in approximately 1903 his grandfather acquired this revolver and that it was his personal sidearm throughout his law enforcement career and remained in his possession until his death in 1942 when it was passed on down the family. Also included is a well-made and decorated period belt & holster set. The holster is a 2-loop style with tooled edges and a home buck-stitched open edge. The center of the top is stamped “OSCAR HIESTAND / MAKER / CASPER, WYO.” The belt is a folded soft leather money belt with nicely press-decorated edges with 41 cartridge loops. And lastly is Allen’s J.P. Clabrough & Bros. damascus bbl hammer shotgun. It is a side lever model with the bbls cut to 20”. It has had heavy use with severe damage to the forearm & wrist with clever old repairs using copper plates & strips. Additionally accompanying are two large framed photos of performers in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. One photo dated 1905 with a plaque stating “Budapest, Hungary 1905 / Happy Jack Allen Fourth from Right”. The other shows a large group of mounted cowboys & cowgirls in a semi-circle and is dated “1906”. CONDITION: Three badges are all fine with the Commissioner of Law Enforcement badge showing light wear with some brass showing through the nickel, the other two are fine. Spurs and straps are very worn but sound and intact. Handcuffs are a smooth gray patina with some light surface spotting. Holster is very dry & fragile with a break near the top loop. Belt is also dry with the loops having been re-laced with rawhide and the billets moved as the owner expanded. Shotgun is very worn with breaks in the forearm & wrist and a small splice in the wrist with copper plate repairs. Mechanics are fine with pitted shiny bores. Colt retains most of a fine restored finish with some scattered light pitting. Exceptional grips have two or three small hairlines and a tiny chip at the heel and receiver on the left side but are brilliant with lots of fire and color, a truly exceptional pair of grips. Mechanics need attention as it will not hold on any of the hammer notches. Strong bright bore with fine pitting. Photographs are hand colored and in fine condition. 4-51586 JR1018 (27,500-37,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2004 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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