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Historic Smith and Wesson .38 Safety Hammerless Revolver Engraved PFG, Owned by Pat Garrett.. ...
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Sold on Dec 12, 2022 for:
$50,000.00
Bid Source: Live: Phone bidder
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Description
With Letter from Jarvis P. Garrett Confirming Ownership.
Historic Smith and Wesson .38 Safety Hammerless Revolver
Engraved PFG, Owned by Pat Garrett.Serial no. 140122 , 4-inch barrel, .38 caliber. Blued finish with hard rubber checkered grips with S&W logos. Top of barrel with address and patent dates. Left side of barrel marked 38 S&W CTG. Together with hip pocket style brown leather holster, tooled and marked El Paso Saddlery Co. / El Paso, Tex. Also included is a 6-pointed star badge marked Sheriff / Lincoln County [not mention anywhere on paperwork if it came from Pat Garrett or added later, also we cannot confirm it to be from Lincoln County, N.M.].
Included in the sale of this gun are two notarized letters, one from Jarvis P. Garrett and the other from Emory Cantey [who sold the gun] to Nelson A. Faerber. Jarvis P. Garrett's letter on Robert E. McNellis letterhead dated April 1978 states; "I hereby certify that a certain Smith and Wesson pistol now owned by Emory Cantey of Fort Worth, Texas was the personal property of my Father Patrick Floyd Garrett. The Pistol refered to is a Smith & Wesson .38 Hammerless with the serial number 140122. The gun has a blue finish..........and my Father's initials, P.F.G. are engraved on the triggerguard. My Father carried this gun in a hip pocket holster before, during and after he was appointed Collector of Customs at El Paso by President Teddy Roosevelt on December 20, 1901......My Father was murdered on February 29th,. 1908 near Las Cruces, New Mexico."
Second letter dated Feb. 20, 1980 states; "This statement shall certify that I, Emory A. Cantey, Jr. Fort Worth, Texas, as the SELLER, did convey on or about Arpil 1, 1979, to the BUYER, Nelson A. Faerber, Naples, Fla. one handgun described as follows: SMITH & WESSON 'SAFETY MODEL' HAMMERLESS / CALIBER .38, BLUE FINISH, INSCRIBED ON / TRIGGERGUARD P.F.G. / FACTORY SERIAL NUMBER 140122 together with extensive historical documentation pertaining to the original ownership of said handgun to be one Patrick Floyd Garrett, Sheriff of Lincoln County, Arizona circa 1880 AD", [we believe he meant New Mexico and not Arizona circa 1880; when Garrett was the Sheriff from 1880 to 1882].
Note: According to S&W letter included from Mr. Jinks, noted S&W Historian states, "this model was introduced in 1887 and manufactured until 1940 with a total production of 261,493 revolvers. This particular example is considered the "Fourth Model" and shipped from S&W on May 14, 1901 to Foster Stevens & Company."
Pat Garrett, Old West lawman, bartender and customs agent, but best known for killing Billy the Kid. He was also a well-known sharpshooter and frontiersman. Sadly, he met one of the more unfortunate ends in the history of the West. In 1908, on his ranch in Las Cruces, while urinating, he was shot in the back of the head by Wayne Brazel. Brazel was arrested but claimed self-defense and was acquitted. Garrett's biographer, Leon Metz, dryly commented, "The only time in history a man has been assassinated while urinating that the defendant claimed self defense." We find it interesting how his son, Jarvis finishes his S&W letter mentioning the 1908 murdering of his father.
Condition: Good to very good. 20-30% bluing on gun with balance turning a gray patina. Noticeable, heavier wear to left side of frame along with some scratches. Grips good with wear from handling and storage. Mechanically sound, bore ok. Holster with age and handling wear, various scuffs throughout. Badge good as presented, modern clasp. Nelson A. Faerber Collection.
Auction Info
2022 December 12 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction #6261 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2022
12th
Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 14
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 3,475
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