HISTORIC COLT 3-1/2″ CONVERSION REVOLVER INVOLVED IN THE LINCOLN COUNTY WAR.

HISTORIC COLT 3-1/2″ CONVERSION REVOLVER INVOLVED IN THE LINCOLN COUNTY WAR. SN 5093. Cal. 38 RF. Usual configuration with 3-1/2″ rnd bbl, replaced brass front sight and 2-line address. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates with “36 CAL” on the left shoulder of trigger guard. The brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a 1-pc walnut grip without marking in backstrap channel. Cyl is rebated, 5-shots like the percussion pocket Navy revolver. It has the standard Richards Mason conversion with a loading groove in the right recoil shield and rimfire firing pin attached to left side of hammer nose with 2 transverse rivets. Backstrap is hand stamped “JOHN W. OLINGER”. Left side of front strap, under the grip, is stamped in the same font “JWO”. Accompanied by a “REDHEAD BRAND” cartridge belt with company cartouche on the tongue billet. Belt has 35 sewn-on 38 cal cartridge loops and contains eighteen 38 RF cartridges. Also accompanied by a period, military-style flap holster with brass thumb strap stud in the flap and a thumb strap attached to the body. Holster is very well made with Cheyenne plug and a wide belt loop angled for right hand cross draw. Additionally accompanied by a nickel silver Deputy Sheriff badge in the shape of a star and crescent with “DEPUTY” and 2 6-pointed stars on the crescent and “SHERIFF” on the star. On each side of the star the letters “N” and “M” were added. On the back of the badge is an early style pin back and has been hand stamped on the back of the crescent “J.W. OLINGER” in letters that are the same font as is on the revolver. The badge has its original black leatherette covered, white satin and blue velvet lined, hinged lid case embossed in gold on the top “John Wallace Olinger”. John Wallace Olinger was probably born in 1849 in Delphi, Indiana. Very little is known of him before he appeared in Lincoln County New Mexico in the late 1870’s. He became involved in the Lincoln County War and it is recorded that he was part of the “posse” who overtook and murdered John H. Tunstall, the English rancher, a few miles outside of Lincoln, New Mexico. The fight between Tunstall and the Regulators, aided by store owner Alexander McSween, against the Murphy/Dolan faction erupted into a shooting war, which was to make Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett some of the most famous and notorious figures of the Old West. Apparently John W. Olinger and his brother, Bob, sided with the Murphy/Dolan faction. Olinger was deputized by Sheriff George Peppin, a Murphy/Dolan appointee. Olinger was also part of the posse that had a shoot-out with 3 of the McSween Regulators outside of Lincoln, wherein a man by the name of Frank McNab was killed, Ab Sanders was wounded and Frank Coe was captured. Ameredith Robert B. (Pecos Bob) Olinger was John’s brother and also was deputized by Sheriff Peppin. During the Lincoln shoot out Billy the Kid killed Bob Olinger’s good friend, Bob Beckwith, creating an intense hatred for Billy the Kid by Bob Olinger. Bob Olinger was one of Billy the Kid’s guards during the Kid’s trial at La Mesilla. He was also one of the Kid’s guards in Lincoln while Billy was locked up, waiting trial. Bob had purchased a new 10 gauge shotgun just for guarding Billy. Bob is reported to have continuously tormented Billy. On April 28, 1881, while Billy was locked up in the courthouse, Bob was across the street at the Wortley Hotel when somehow Billy obtained a pistol and killed the other guard, J.W. Bell. He grabbed Bob’s shotgun and when Bob came running across the street Billy fired from the second story window with both barrels, killing Bob instantly. Previously, however, on August 16, 1878, John Olinger had become involved in a domestic dispute between Olinger’s partner, William H. Johnson, who had gotten into a quarrel with his father-in-law, Henry Beckwith. When the argument escalated into violence, Beckwith shot Johnson in the chest and neck with a double barrel shotgun. Olinger retaliated and shot Beckwith in the cheek and nose, but he survived. Olinger was arrested and taken to Ft. Stanton and was later released, after which he retired to more peaceful endeavors. Accompanied by copies of 3 photographs of Bob Olinger with 2 other men. Also accompanied by an orig signed and notarized statement from Billy Johnson of Espanola, New Mexico, as follows: “My statement, my grate (sic) uncle Bill Johnson for who I am named, was partner with Deputy Sheriff John W. Olinger. When my G. uncle got shot by Hank Beckwith, Olinger shot Beckwith. Olinger gave his Colt #5093 and badge to my gradpa (sic) because John got arrested. The gun and badge was past (sic) down to me.” Signed Billy Johnson. The notarized signature is dated 22 May 1933 with the notary’s seal. CONDITION: Revolver is fair to good. No orig finish remains, being overall a cleaned metal patina and shows 30-40% stagecoach hold-up scene on cyl. Trigger guard and backstrap are a light mustard patina. Grip shows heavy wear with a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with moderate pitting. Belt is fine, showing light to moderate wear with some crackling and most of its dark brown finish. Belt is probably not of the age of the revolver and the holster. Holster shows moderate to heavy wear with crackled finish and overall retains 75-80% orig brown finish. Thumb strap is broken. Cartridges are lightly oxidized. Badge is fine with light nicks and scratches. Badge case is also fine with some crackling to outer cover, interior is moderately faded. 4-46892 JR405 (5,000-8,000)

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
	1450	$10,925.00	HISTORIC COLT 3-1/2″ CONVERSION REVOLVER INVOLVED IN THE LINCOLN COUNTY WAR. SN 5093. Cal. 38 RF. Usual configuration with 3-1/2″ rnd bbl, replaced brass front sight and 2-line address. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates with “36 CAL” on the left shoulder of trigger guard. The brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a 1-pc walnut grip without marking in backstrap channel. Cyl is rebated, 5-shots like the percussion pocket Navy revolver. It has the standard Richards Mason conversion with a loading groove in the right recoil shield and rimfire firing pin attached to left side of hammer nose with 2 transverse rivets. Backstrap is hand stamped “JOHN W. OLINGER”. Left side of front strap, under the grip, is stamped in the same font “JWO”. Accompanied by a “REDHEAD BRAND” cartridge belt with company cartouche on the tongue billet. Belt has 35 sewn-on 38 cal cartridge loops and contains eighteen 38 RF cartridges. Also accompanied by a period, military-style flap holster with brass thumb strap stud in the flap and a thumb strap attached to the body. Holster is very well made with Cheyenne plug and a wide belt loop angled for right hand cross draw. Additionally accompanied by a nickel silver Deputy Sheriff badge in the shape of a star and crescent with “DEPUTY” and 2 6-pointed stars on the crescent and “SHERIFF” on the star. On each side of the star the letters “N” and “M” were added. On the back of the badge is an early style pin back and has been hand stamped on the back of the crescent “J.W. OLINGER” in letters that are the same font as is on the revolver. The badge has its original black leatherette covered, white satin and blue velvet lined, hinged lid case embossed in gold on the top “John Wallace Olinger”. John Wallace Olinger was probably born in 1849 in Delphi, Indiana. Very little is known of him before he appeared in Lincoln County New Mexico in the late 1870’s. He became involved in the Lincoln County War and it is recorded that he was part of the “posse” who overtook and murdered John H. Tunstall, the English rancher, a few miles outside of Lincoln, New Mexico. The fight between Tunstall and the Regulators, aided by store owner Alexander McSween, against the Murphy/Dolan faction erupted into a shooting war, which was to make Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett some of the most famous and notorious figures of the Old West. Apparently John W. Olinger and his brother, Bob, sided with the Murphy/Dolan faction. Olinger was deputized by Sheriff George Peppin, a Murphy/Dolan appointee. Olinger was also part of the posse that had a shoot-out with 3 of the McSween Regulators outside of Lincoln, wherein a man by the name of Frank McNab was killed, Ab Sanders was wounded and Frank Coe was captured. Ameredith Robert B. (Pecos Bob) Olinger was John’s brother and also was deputized by Sheriff Peppin. During the Lincoln shoot out Billy the Kid killed Bob Olinger’s good friend, Bob Beckwith, creating an intense hatred for Billy the Kid by Bob Olinger. Bob Olinger was one of Billy the Kid’s guards during the Kid’s trial at La Mesilla. He was also one of the Kid’s guards in Lincoln while Billy was locked up, waiting trial. Bob had purchased a new 10 gauge shotgun just for guarding Billy. Bob is reported to have continuously tormented Billy. On April 28, 1881, while Billy was locked up in the courthouse, Bob was across the street at the Wortley Hotel when somehow Billy obtained a pistol and killed the other guard, J.W. Bell. He grabbed Bob’s shotgun and when Bob came running across the street Billy fired from the second story window with both barrels, killing Bob instantly. Previously, however, on August 16, 1878, John Olinger had become involved in a domestic dispute between Olinger’s partner, William H. Johnson, who had gotten into a quarrel with his father-in-law, Henry Beckwith. When the argument escalated into violence, Beckwith shot Johnson in the chest and neck with a double barrel shotgun. Olinger retaliated and shot Beckwith in the cheek and nose, but he survived. Olinger was arrested and taken to Ft. Stanton and was later released, after which he retired to more peaceful endeavors. Accompanied by copies of 3 photographs of Bob Olinger with 2 other men. Also accompanied by an orig signed and notarized statement from Billy Johnson of Espanola, New Mexico, as follows: “My statement, my grate (sic) uncle Bill Johnson for who I am named, was partner with Deputy Sheriff John W. Olinger. When my G. uncle got shot by Hank Beckwith, Olinger shot Beckwith. Olinger gave his Colt #5093 and badge to my gradpa (sic) because John got arrested. The gun and badge was past (sic) down to me.” Signed Billy Johnson. The notarized signature is dated 22 May 1933 with the notary’s seal. CONDITION: Revolver is fair to good. No orig finish remains, being overall a cleaned metal patina and shows 30-40% stagecoach hold-up scene on cyl. Trigger guard and backstrap are a light mustard patina. Grip shows heavy wear with a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with moderate pitting. Belt is fine, showing light to moderate wear with some crackling and most of its dark brown finish. Belt is probably not of the age of the revolver and the holster. Holster shows moderate to heavy wear with crackled finish and overall retains 75-80% orig brown finish. Thumb strap is broken. Cartridges are lightly oxidized. Badge is fine with light nicks and scratches. Badge case is also fine with some crackling to outer cover, interior is moderately faded. 4-46892 JR405 (5,000-8,000) 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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