*COLT NEW SERVICE DA REVOLVER THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS TEXAS RANGER JOHN R. HUGHES.

*COLT NEW SERVICE DA REVOLVER THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS TEXAS RANGER JOHN R. HUGHES. SN 112944. Cal. 38 WCF (38-40). Blue finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 2-line address with left side of bbl marked “NEW SERVICE 38 W.C.F.”. Sideplate has the rampant Colt slightly offset towards rear and is engraved, probably by pantograph in simple lines with a 5-pointed star and the letters spelling “TEXAS” at each point of star. Center of star is engraved by hand “JRH”. Back strap is very nicely engraved in period script “Capt. John R. Hughes / TEXAS RANGER – AUSTIN”. Mounted with 2-pc silver medallion pearl grips with a deep relief carved eagle on right side and has a lanyard swivel in butt strap. Accompanied by two small badges, one marked “UNITED STATES MARSHAL” with an American eagle over the top, an American shield in the center and the other a rnd silver badge like the orig Texas Ranger badges made from Mexican one peso coins. This badge is 1-11/16″ in diameter with an early style pin-back marked on front “TEXAS RANGER/SPECIAL AGENT” with a “3” in the center of the star. Also accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver in caliber 38-40 with 7-1/2″ bbl, blue finish, type of stocks not listed and shipped to Abercrombie & Fitch Co., New York, NY on March 4, 1916 in a 1-gun shipment. Remarks section states “Records do not indicate any inscription on firearm when originally shipped.” John Reynolds Hughes, one of the most famous Texas Rangers in the illustrious history of that famous organization, was born in 1855 in Henry County, Illinois. When he was small they moved to Kansas where he learned to ride and by age 10 was an accomplished horseman. He received little education and by the time he was 14 left home for the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) where he lived with the Choctaws, Osages and later the Comanche where he became a close friend of Quanah Parker, Comanche Chief. He learned the Indian ways of tracking & hunting along with the languages and at age 17 was shot and severely injured in right arm & hand basically rendering that arm useless. Undaunted, Hughes taught himself to shoot left handed and became a noted expert with both rifle & handgun. He trailed the cattle over the Chisholm Trail and then bought a small ranch in Travis County, Texas where he trapped and broke & sold wild horses, building up a substantial herd of valuable stock. In 1886 rustlers stole much of his horse herd along with that of his neighbors and drove them off to New Mexico. Hughes gave chase, trailing the thieves & horse herd for over 1,000 miles until he located them. He enlisted the aid of a local sheriff and together they wiped out the thieves and recovered the stolen horses. Upon his return to Texas with his now recovered horses, he learned that the gang had been part of the Butch Cassidy Gang who had put out a contract on Hughes. When the contract assassin tried to kill Hughes the attempt failed and he & Texas Ranger Ira Aten tracked the killer and when the guy opened fire he missed but the ranger & Hughes didn’t. Ranger Aten persuaded Hughes to join the Rangers, which he did, becoming one of the most successful & brilliant crime solvers on the border earning the sobriquet “Border Boss”. He served with the Rangers for 28 years, the longest individual career in the history of the Rangers solving many crimes and preventing many others along the way. Capt. Hughes lived to age 92 and committed suicide with his trusty Colt 45 that he had carried throughout his career. Accompanied by reproduced copies of several pages from a book A Pair of Texas Rangers: Bill McDonald and John Hughes, Baugh, as furnished by the Texas State Archives. PROVENANCE: David Crocker Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Overall retains about 95% strong glossy orig factory blue with a few minor scattered spots and slight muzzle & sharp edge wear. Back strap is mostly a blue/gray patina with front strap turning slightly plum. Hammer retains mostly bright finish on sides and about 95% fire blue on top & back edges. Grips are sound showing little or no wear and retain great fire & color. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, may be unfired. Badges are fine. 4-36836 JR34 (6,000-10,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010

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
	2218	$11,500.00	COLT NEW SERVICE DA REVOLVER THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS TEXAS RANGER JOHN R. HUGHES. SN 112944. Cal. 38 WCF (38-40). Blue finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 2-line address with left side of bbl marked “NEW SERVICE 38 W.C.F.”. Sideplate has the rampant Colt slightly offset towards rear and is engraved, probably by pantograph in simple lines with a 5-pointed star and the letters spelling “TEXAS” at each point of star. Center of star is engraved by hand “JRH”. Back strap is very nicely engraved in period script “Capt. John R. Hughes / TEXAS RANGER – AUSTIN”. Mounted with 2-pc silver medallion pearl grips with a deep relief carved eagle on right side and has a lanyard swivel in butt strap. Accompanied by two small badges, one marked “UNITED STATES MARSHAL” with an American eagle over the top, an American shield in the center and the other a rnd silver badge like the orig Texas Ranger badges made from Mexican one peso coins. This badge is 1-11/16″ in diameter with an early style pin-back marked on front “TEXAS RANGER/SPECIAL AGENT” with a “3” in the center of the star. Also accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver in caliber 38-40 with 7-1/2″ bbl, blue finish, type of stocks not listed and shipped to Abercrombie & Fitch Co., New York, NY on March 4, 1916 in a 1-gun shipment. Remarks section states “Records do not indicate any inscription on firearm when originally shipped.” John Reynolds Hughes, one of the most famous Texas Rangers in the illustrious history of that famous organization, was born in 1855 in Henry County, Illinois. When he was small they moved to Kansas where he learned to ride and by age 10 was an accomplished horseman. He received little education and by the time he was 14 left home for the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) where he lived with the Choctaws, Osages and later the Comanche where he became a close friend of Quanah Parker, Comanche Chief. He learned the Indian ways of tracking & hunting along with the languages and at age 17 was shot and severely injured in right arm & hand basically rendering that arm useless. Undaunted, Hughes taught himself to shoot left handed and became a noted expert with both rifle & handgun. He trailed the cattle over the Chisholm Trail and then bought a small ranch in Travis County, Texas where he trapped and broke & sold wild horses, building up a substantial herd of valuable stock. In 1886 rustlers stole much of his horse herd along with that of his neighbors and drove them off to New Mexico. Hughes gave chase, trailing the thieves & horse herd for over 1,000 miles until he located them. He enlisted the aid of a local sheriff and together they wiped out the thieves and recovered the stolen horses. Upon his return to Texas with his now recovered horses, he learned that the gang had been part of the Butch Cassidy Gang who had put out a contract on Hughes. When the contract assassin tried to kill Hughes the attempt failed and he & Texas Ranger Ira Aten tracked the killer and when the guy opened fire he missed but the ranger & Hughes didn’t. Ranger Aten persuaded Hughes to join the Rangers, which he did, becoming one of the most successful & brilliant crime solvers on the border earning the sobriquet “Border Boss”. He served with the Rangers for 28 years, the longest individual career in the history of the Rangers solving many crimes and preventing many others along the way. Capt. Hughes lived to age 92 and committed suicide with his trusty Colt 45 that he had carried throughout his career. Accompanied by reproduced copies of several pages from a book A Pair of Texas Rangers: Bill McDonald and John Hughes, Baugh, as furnished by the Texas State Archives. PROVENANCE: David Crocker Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Overall retains about 95% strong glossy orig factory blue with a few minor scattered spots and slight muzzle & sharp edge wear. Back strap is mostly a blue/gray patina with front strap turning slightly plum. Hammer retains mostly bright finish on sides and about 95% fire blue on top & back edges. Grips are sound showing little or no wear and retain great fire & color. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, may be unfired. Badges are fine. 4-36836 JR34 (6,000-10,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010 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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