EXTREMELY RARE JOHNSON COUNTY WAR COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

EXTREMELY RARE JOHNSON COUNTY WAR COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 118765. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with bbl cut from a longer length to 4-13/16″. Front sight is replaced near the muzzle and it has a 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and it is mounted with extremely worn rampant Colt eagle hard rubber grips. This Colt is one of the very few positively identified firearms that was used in the infamous “Johnson County War”. The Johnson County War took place in Johnson County, WY, between Buffalo & Casper, Wyoming between big ranchers and smaller ranchers & homesteaders. In early 1892 the Cattlemen’s Association of that area decided to put an end to rustlers & cattle thieves in the region by importing a group of hired gunmen from Texas & Idaho to come to Wyoming to kill these perceived cattle thieves. In early April 1892 they staged the invasion by this group of hired guns, who had arrived by train from Cheyenne to Casper. Initially the invasion force intended to ride to Buffalo where a number of men on the “Death List” were to be found. Shortly after unloading from the train at Casper, however, they were told that there were several other men on the death list to be found at the KC Ranch. They sidetracked to the KC Ranch and surrounded the small cabin there, killing Nick Ray & Nate Champion. There had been two trappers also at the KC Ranch who escaped and rode to Buffalo spreading the word about the invasion. The local men, alarmed at this invasion, mobilized and trailed the invaders to the TA Ranch and besieged them there. The siege lasted two days until the Army was called in to put a stop to all the unlawful activity. When the invaders surrendered, their defacto leader, Maj. Walcott, a former Civil War officer from Kentucky, recorded all the participants’ names state of residence or occupations & their individual firearms including caliber & serial number. This revolver was seized from a young man named J.A. Garrett who was listed on Maj. Walcott’s list as a “Texan”. Mr. Garrett was one of four of the invaders charged and indicted for first degree murder in the deaths of Nick Ray & Nate Champion. The charges were first brought on June 6, 1892 but through pressure brought by the cattlemen and lack of evidence as the two trappers who witnessed the killing had disappeared, the charges were dismissed on Jan. 21, 1893. Mr. Garrett then disappeared in history. Accompanied by a packet of information regarding the Johnson County War and another which includes Maj. Walcott’s list. Also included are two copies of a photograph of the invaders taken at Fort D.A. Russell (now Francis E. Warren Air Force Base), Cheyenne, WY, wherein Mr. Garrett is pictured as number 27. Also accompanied by a well-worn dbl loop early F.A. Meanea holster. Holster is typical early Meanea made of 1-pc of medium weight leather with a wide and a narrow loop. Face of holster is nicely decorated in checkered pattern with a line & scallop border. Rear edge is sewn and the Cheyenne plug is missing. Also missing is the orig thumb strap. The back of the skirt of the holster has crude buckstitch laced repair. CONDITION: Fair. No orig finish remains retaining about 75% re-nickled finish. Grips are extremely worn. Mechanics are somewhat loose but function. Strong bore with fine pitting. Holster is in comparable condition to the revolver being very dry with some crackling and a break on front edge of skirt. “MEANEA” cartouche is crisp. Altogether an extremely rare opportunity for a piece of true western history. 4-35295 JR229 (30,000-50,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

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
	2134	$0.00	EXTREMELY RARE JOHNSON COUNTY WAR COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 118765. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with bbl cut from a longer length to 4-13/16″. Front sight is replaced near the muzzle and it has a 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and it is mounted with extremely worn rampant Colt eagle hard rubber grips. This Colt is one of the very few positively identified firearms that was used in the infamous “Johnson County War”. The Johnson County War took place in Johnson County, WY, between Buffalo & Casper, Wyoming between big ranchers and smaller ranchers & homesteaders. In early 1892 the Cattlemen’s Association of that area decided to put an end to rustlers & cattle thieves in the region by importing a group of hired gunmen from Texas & Idaho to come to Wyoming to kill these perceived cattle thieves. In early April 1892 they staged the invasion by this group of hired guns, who had arrived by train from Cheyenne to Casper. Initially the invasion force intended to ride to Buffalo where a number of men on the “Death List” were to be found. Shortly after unloading from the train at Casper, however, they were told that there were several other men on the death list to be found at the KC Ranch. They sidetracked to the KC Ranch and surrounded the small cabin there, killing Nick Ray & Nate Champion. There had been two trappers also at the KC Ranch who escaped and rode to Buffalo spreading the word about the invasion. The local men, alarmed at this invasion, mobilized and trailed the invaders to the TA Ranch and besieged them there. The siege lasted two days until the Army was called in to put a stop to all the unlawful activity. When the invaders surrendered, their defacto leader, Maj. Walcott, a former Civil War officer from Kentucky, recorded all the participants’ names state of residence or occupations & their individual firearms including caliber & serial number. This revolver was seized from a young man named J.A. Garrett who was listed on Maj. Walcott’s list as a “Texan”. Mr. Garrett was one of four of the invaders charged and indicted for first degree murder in the deaths of Nick Ray & Nate Champion. The charges were first brought on June 6, 1892 but through pressure brought by the cattlemen and lack of evidence as the two trappers who witnessed the killing had disappeared, the charges were dismissed on Jan. 21, 1893. Mr. Garrett then disappeared in history. Accompanied by a packet of information regarding the Johnson County War and another which includes Maj. Walcott’s list. Also included are two copies of a photograph of the invaders taken at Fort D.A. Russell (now Francis E. Warren Air Force Base), Cheyenne, WY, wherein Mr. Garrett is pictured as number 27. Also accompanied by a well-worn dbl loop early F.A. Meanea holster. Holster is typical early Meanea made of 1-pc of medium weight leather with a wide and a narrow loop. Face of holster is nicely decorated in checkered pattern with a line & scallop border. Rear edge is sewn and the Cheyenne plug is missing. Also missing is the orig thumb strap. The back of the skirt of the holster has crude buckstitch laced repair. CONDITION: Fair. No orig finish remains retaining about 75% re-nickled finish. Grips are extremely worn. Mechanics are somewhat loose but function. Strong bore with fine pitting. Holster is in comparable condition to the revolver being very dry with some crackling and a break on front edge of skirt. “MEANEA” cartouche is crisp. Altogether an extremely rare opportunity for a piece of true western history. 4-35295 JR229 (30,000-50,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 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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