WONDERFUL, HISTORIC TOMBSTONE ARIZONA TERRITORY LOT INCLUDING EXTREMELY RARE, DOCUMENTED, SAMUEL L. HART MARTIALLY MARKED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER & EXTRAORDINARILY RARE TOMBSTONE “PATTON & CO.” DOUBLE LOOP HOLSTER.

Revised: 2/28/2011

Correction: Estimate should read $65,000-85,000.

WONDERFUL, HISTORIC TOMBSTONE ARIZONA TERRITORY LOT INCLUDING EXTREMELY RARE, DOCUMENTED, SAMUEL L. HART MARTIALLY MARKED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER & EXTRAORDINARILY RARE TOMBSTONE “PATTON & CO.” DOUBLE LOOP HOLSTER. SN 111602. Cal. 45 Colt. In the annals of Western History very few incidents have been so repeatedly portrayed, both in print & movies than the event that occurred Oct. 26, 1881 in Tombstone, Arizona, “The Gun Fight at the OK Corral”. This famous shootout was between the three Earp brothers & Doc Holliday who were loosely considered law enforcement in Tombstone and the Clanton Brothers, McLaury Brothers & Billy Clairborne who were outlaw gang members of a loose confederation in the Tombstone area known as “The Cowboys”. At the time of the shootout there was only one gunsmith shop in the area and that was the Hart Gun Shop owned by Samuel Lombard Hart, a former Civil War soldier, who had his shop on Fremont Street, across the street from the O.K. Corral, in Tombstone from about 1880 to about 1890. Mr. Hart apparently marked all of the arms he sold with small hearts accompanied by the initials “SL”. Very few Colts are known, probably only five, with, most likely only this one still being in orig configuration without shortened bbls. The subject Colt Single Action Army revolver is an orig “DFC” (David F. Clark) inspected cavalry model with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates with a small “U.S.” which is overstamped with a heart over each letter and tiny initials “SL” above each heart. Fitted with 1-pc walnut grip which has the last four digits of serial number in the back strap channel. Left side of grip has rudely scratched initials “E.C.G.R.” which stands for Edward C. Griswold Robinson who married Ruth Hart, the daughter of Samuel Hart. Right side of grip is marked with large crude initials “D.R.” which stands for Dorothy Robinson, Edward & Ruth’s daughter. Revolver has the “DFC” inspector initials in the usual places on the frame, bottom of bbl & cylinder with the grip cartouches either never stamped or worn away. The trigger guard & butt strap have tiny “G” (Capt. John E. Greer) inspector initials. Fitted with third type ejector rod housing and a bull’s eye ejector rod head. This revolver was produced in the period Aug. 1882 – Apr. 1883, which was during the Indian War period on the Western Frontier and certainly could have and likely did see service during that period. This revolver is accompanied by an extraordinarily rare, possibly one of a kind, orig dbl loop holster. It is made from one piece of leather which measures about 6″ at widest point of the skirt and is overall about 11″ long with two 3/4″ loops. Skirt is elliptical shaped coming to a point at the bottom with a small hole, apparently for a leg thong. Front of the holster has a dbl rolled border with stitched rear edge and toe and is marked across top “PATTON / TOMBSTO–” which should read if fully legible, “PATTON & CO / TOMBSTONE AT”. The wear and slight deterioration to the surface has obliterated part of the lettering. The Patton & Co. leather works was only in business from 1884-1888 which certainly dates this holster. Although it was shortly after the shootout at the OK Corral, it and this Single Action were still part of the wild and woolly West. Among knowledgeable gun leather collectors & experts this ranks as one of the most rare and earlier Western holsters. Accompanied by a photo of a young man from Fly’s Gallery of Tombstone, and a silver match safe with repoussed scene of a hunter & dog with treed bear in a forest scene on one side and a leather insert embossed in gold “CAN CAN / TOMBSTONE A.T.” The Can Can was a single story gambling hall/saloon which was located at 14th & Allen St. in Tombstone and was a favorite watering hole for outlaws & gamblers. A reproduced photo of the old building with still visible marquee accompanies this lot. Also accompanying is a convention or reunion ribbon of an attendee of the I.O.O.F. (International Order of Odd Fellows). The top is a red & black rosette with black ribbon embossed in gold with the logo of the I.O.O.F. over “COCHISE LODGE #5, TOMBSTONE, A.T.” Additionally accompanying are two reproductions of large photos, one of which depicts six men on horseback and two standing with the six mounted men all armed. The scene is set in front of what appears to be a livery stable with a hitch rail and a horse drawn Hearse in the background. The six men are identified with one being the Steve Birchfield, the Deputy Sheriff to whom the above described badge belonged and another identified as C.S. Fly, the owner of the photography studio mentioned above. The other photo is a vertical image set in front of the same livery stable with the foreground scene of two cowboys standing behind the hitch rail, one holding a Winchester Model 1892 SRC and the other a Colt Single Action. These two men are identified in a smaller copy of the photo as Deputies Steve Birchfield and Pink Peters, looking over saddles & guns captured from Black Jack Ketchum’s Gang. Also accompanying this provenance are the Civil War photos of Samuel Lombard Hart from the Arizona Historical Society and photos of Edward C. Griswald Robinson, Ruth Hart Robinson and their daughter Dorothy Robinson obtained from the family in Rochester, New York. Additionally accompanied by a Colt Factory letter identifying this revolver as having been shipped to the U.S. Government Inspector at the Colt Plant Oct. 30, 1884 in a shipment of 450 same type arms. Also accompanied by a 2-page letter from John Kopec, noted Colt Historian & Author, which verifies most of the above information regarding this revolver with the exception of the grip which he states was very likely a Colt replacement when it was resold after having been declared surplus by the government. He states that the number in the back strap channel is not consistent with the earlier style of numbering. Mr. Kopec ends his letter by saying “not only is this revolver a remarkable original condition U.S. cavalry example, but its association with the historic town of Tombstone, Arizona Territory, just puts icing on the cake! A collector’s dream…” Also included are copies of letters , ca-1880, to Hart’s wife. In one he tells her to send his gun tools as soon as possible as there is a great need for a good gunsmith in Tombstone. Included with the numerous research papers is a detailed list of ownership of the Colt to the present day. The gun apparently remained in the Hart family for generations. CONDITION: Revolver is very fine, all matching including grip, as noted above. Bbl retains about 90% strong orig blue with wear around muzzle, strong & bright in sheltered areas. Frame retains 60-70% orig case colors, strong & bright in sheltered areas. Hammer retains about 75-80% bright case colors. Trigger guard & back strap both retain strong orig blue in sheltered areas with front strap a gray patina and back strap dull blue. Cylinder retains 70-80% thin orig blue/brown patina on outer diameter with dark blue in the flutes and faces of the cylinder. Grip is sound showing moderate wear with usual nicks, dings & scratches and retains a hand worn patina. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Holster is sound with some drying & crackling on holster body & skirt and retains about 60% orig russet brown finish. Match safe & photograph are extremely fine, reproduced photographs are also fine. This is a very rare opportunity to own a genuine and historic lot from the most famous town in the history of the wild west. 4-37304 (65,000-85,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011

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
	2167	$63,250.00	Revised: 2/28/2011 Correction: Estimate should read $65,000-85,000. WONDERFUL, HISTORIC TOMBSTONE ARIZONA TERRITORY LOT INCLUDING EXTREMELY RARE, DOCUMENTED, SAMUEL L. HART MARTIALLY MARKED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER & EXTRAORDINARILY RARE TOMBSTONE “PATTON & CO.” DOUBLE LOOP HOLSTER. SN 111602. Cal. 45 Colt. In the annals of Western History very few incidents have been so repeatedly portrayed, both in print & movies than the event that occurred Oct. 26, 1881 in Tombstone, Arizona, “The Gun Fight at the OK Corral”. This famous shootout was between the three Earp brothers & Doc Holliday who were loosely considered law enforcement in Tombstone and the Clanton Brothers, McLaury Brothers & Billy Clairborne who were outlaw gang members of a loose confederation in the Tombstone area known as “The Cowboys”. At the time of the shootout there was only one gunsmith shop in the area and that was the Hart Gun Shop owned by Samuel Lombard Hart, a former Civil War soldier, who had his shop on Fremont Street, across the street from the O.K. Corral, in Tombstone from about 1880 to about 1890. Mr. Hart apparently marked all of the arms he sold with small hearts accompanied by the initials “SL”. Very few Colts are known, probably only five, with, most likely only this one still being in orig configuration without shortened bbls. The subject Colt Single Action Army revolver is an orig “DFC” (David F. Clark) inspected cavalry model with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates with a small “U.S.” which is overstamped with a heart over each letter and tiny initials “SL” above each heart. Fitted with 1-pc walnut grip which has the last four digits of serial number in the back strap channel. Left side of grip has rudely scratched initials “E.C.G.R.” which stands for Edward C. Griswold Robinson who married Ruth Hart, the daughter of Samuel Hart. Right side of grip is marked with large crude initials “D.R.” which stands for Dorothy Robinson, Edward & Ruth’s daughter. Revolver has the “DFC” inspector initials in the usual places on the frame, bottom of bbl & cylinder with the grip cartouches either never stamped or worn away. The trigger guard & butt strap have tiny “G” (Capt. John E. Greer) inspector initials. Fitted with third type ejector rod housing and a bull’s eye ejector rod head. This revolver was produced in the period Aug. 1882 – Apr. 1883, which was during the Indian War period on the Western Frontier and certainly could have and likely did see service during that period. This revolver is accompanied by an extraordinarily rare, possibly one of a kind, orig dbl loop holster. It is made from one piece of leather which measures about 6″ at widest point of the skirt and is overall about 11″ long with two 3/4″ loops. Skirt is elliptical shaped coming to a point at the bottom with a small hole, apparently for a leg thong. Front of the holster has a dbl rolled border with stitched rear edge and toe and is marked across top “PATTON / TOMBSTO–” which should read if fully legible, “PATTON & CO / TOMBSTONE AT”. The wear and slight deterioration to the surface has obliterated part of the lettering. The Patton & Co. leather works was only in business from 1884-1888 which certainly dates this holster. Although it was shortly after the shootout at the OK Corral, it and this Single Action were still part of the wild and woolly West. Among knowledgeable gun leather collectors & experts this ranks as one of the most rare and earlier Western holsters. Accompanied by a photo of a young man from Fly’s Gallery of Tombstone, and a silver match safe with repoussed scene of a hunter & dog with treed bear in a forest scene on one side and a leather insert embossed in gold “CAN CAN / TOMBSTONE A.T.” The Can Can was a single story gambling hall/saloon which was located at 14th & Allen St. in Tombstone and was a favorite watering hole for outlaws & gamblers. A reproduced photo of the old building with still visible marquee accompanies this lot. Also accompanying is a convention or reunion ribbon of an attendee of the I.O.O.F. (International Order of Odd Fellows). The top is a red & black rosette with black ribbon embossed in gold with the logo of the I.O.O.F. over “COCHISE LODGE #5, TOMBSTONE, A.T.” Additionally accompanying are two reproductions of large photos, one of which depicts six men on horseback and two standing with the six mounted men all armed. The scene is set in front of what appears to be a livery stable with a hitch rail and a horse drawn Hearse in the background. The six men are identified with one being the Steve Birchfield, the Deputy Sheriff to whom the above described badge belonged and another identified as C.S. Fly, the owner of the photography studio mentioned above. The other photo is a vertical image set in front of the same livery stable with the foreground scene of two cowboys standing behind the hitch rail, one holding a Winchester Model 1892 SRC and the other a Colt Single Action. These two men are identified in a smaller copy of the photo as Deputies Steve Birchfield and Pink Peters, looking over saddles & guns captured from Black Jack Ketchum’s Gang. Also accompanying this provenance are the Civil War photos of Samuel Lombard Hart from the Arizona Historical Society and photos of Edward C. Griswald Robinson, Ruth Hart Robinson and their daughter Dorothy Robinson obtained from the family in Rochester, New York. Additionally accompanied by a Colt Factory letter identifying this revolver as having been shipped to the U.S. Government Inspector at the Colt Plant Oct. 30, 1884 in a shipment of 450 same type arms. Also accompanied by a 2-page letter from John Kopec, noted Colt Historian & Author, which verifies most of the above information regarding this revolver with the exception of the grip which he states was very likely a Colt replacement when it was resold after having been declared surplus by the government. He states that the number in the back strap channel is not consistent with the earlier style of numbering. Mr. Kopec ends his letter by saying “not only is this revolver a remarkable original condition U.S. cavalry example, but its association with the historic town of Tombstone, Arizona Territory, just puts icing on the cake! A collector’s dream…” Also included are copies of letters , ca-1880, to Hart’s wife. In one he tells her to send his gun tools as soon as possible as there is a great need for a good gunsmith in Tombstone. Included with the numerous research papers is a detailed list of ownership of the Colt to the present day. The gun apparently remained in the Hart family for generations. CONDITION: Revolver is very fine, all matching including grip, as noted above. Bbl retains about 90% strong orig blue with wear around muzzle, strong & bright in sheltered areas. Frame retains 60-70% orig case colors, strong & bright in sheltered areas. Hammer retains about 75-80% bright case colors. Trigger guard & back strap both retain strong orig blue in sheltered areas with front strap a gray patina and back strap dull blue. Cylinder retains 70-80% thin orig blue/brown patina on outer diameter with dark blue in the flutes and faces of the cylinder. Grip is sound showing moderate wear with usual nicks, dings & scratches and retains a hand worn patina. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Holster is sound with some drying & crackling on holster body & skirt and retains about 60% orig russet brown finish. Match safe & photograph are extremely fine, reproduced photographs are also fine. This is a very rare opportunity to own a genuine and historic lot from the most famous town in the history of the wild west. 4-37304 (65,000-85,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011 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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