LOT #40178 |
Sold on Jun 19, 2023 for: Not Sold
Smith and Wesson Frontier Double Action Revolver with Documentation Pertaining to Virgil and Wyatt Earp Ownership. . ...
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Description
Smith and Wesson Frontier Double Action Revolver with Documentation Pertaining to Virgil and Wyatt Earp Ownership.Serial no. 12863 [butt and scratched inside grip], .44 Winchester CTG, 6-inch barrel. Top of barrel with two-line patent address. Blued finish with factory S&W hard rubber grips. Together with associated tooled leather holster.
Extensive research material pertaining to the association of Virgil and Wyatt Earp as follows; 1) Texas Gun Collector magazine from March 1979, Page 24 and 25 have an article written by Emory A. Cantey, Jr. In the article Emory writes "Virgil Earp's Smith & Wesson (Serial number 12,863). This gun was given to Virgil by his brother, Wyatt and it was the last gun that Virgil used as a law officer during his long career. (Owned by Emory A. Cantey, Jr.) According to Emory and mentioned in the article, "This pistol was originally purchased in early 1905 from Simmons Hardware Company by Wyatt Earp's wife, Josephine, as a gift for Wyatt's 57th birthday and was shipped to her in Goldfield, Nevada. However, Wyatt did not keep the gun for long. Almost immediately, he gave it to his brother, Virgil, who was at the time a deputy sheriff of Esmeralda County in Goldfield, Nevada. Virgil carried this S&W until his death in Goldfield on October 19, 1905. After Virgil's death, the Smith & Wesson was kept by his widow, Alvira. In the 1920's, she gave it to Wyatt's and Virgil's niece, Estelle Edwards Miller............Mrs. Miller and her husband, Bill, kept the gun until 1965 when she gave it to their close personal friend, Glenn G. Boyer, of Bisbee, Arizona, one of the country's leading historians of the Earp Family. It was kept by Glenn Boyer until 1976, when it was sold to the author...........The existence of the was first mentioned in an article by Glenn Boyer published in April of 1978 in TRUE WEST. It was displayed to the public in the lobby of the First National Bank of Fort Worth from February 27 until March 10, 1978.........It was displayed at the Texas Gun Collector's Association show in April of 1978 and it was the basis of a lecture on documentation by the author to the Collector's Study Club in that same month. The gun was given the extensive public coverage due to a request by Glenn Boyer and certain members of the Earp family that the gun be shared with the public as much as possible. [image on page 25 of the same TGCA magazine], shows Josephine Earp, Mabel Earp Cason, and Jeanne Cason Laing, Mabel Earp Cason was Josephine Earp's biographer. A description of the image says, The Virgil Earp Smith & Wesson is mentioned in the "Cason Notes" as well as in the Josephine Earp autobiography.
2) [Inter Department Communication] Letter from Fred Holladay of San Bernadino, Ca to Emory, dated June 1978. "Dear Emory, Concerning the Smith and Wesson Double Action Frontier, serial number 12863, I would be glad to make the following statement in Glenn G. Boyer's behalf; 1) I once held this gun in my hand and examined it while visiting with Glenn Boyer at his home in Bisbee, Arizona. I was told of the gun's origin and former ownership by Glenn at that time. 2) I am familiar with the fact that Glenn G. Boyer was the personal friend of Estelle and Bill Miller of Highland, California, and that Estelle was the blood niece of Wyatt and Virgil Earp. 3) Due to the reputation of Glenn Boyer, I have no doubt what-so-ever that the story concerning how he obtained the Smith & Wesson and what Estelle and Bill Miller told him concerning the origin of the gun, is true. 4) In my opinion, it is an authentic Earp gun." [signed and dated], Fred Holladay. [included as well is a follow up letter from Fred re: various topics including Warren Earp.]
3) Three letters (photocopies) but with ink marked "A True Copy" with correspondence to Glenn Boyer; Roy Jinks from Donald Shumar; Handgun Editor, American Firearms Industry regarding information, in it Roy Jinks of Smith and Wesson tells Mr. Shumar the configuration and the fact that records in S&W showed the gun was manufactured in 1904 and shipped from Simmons Hardware Company of St. Louis. [letters from 1976], interesting to note, Mr. Shumar tells Mr. Boyer in the letter dated August 1, 1976, "......As for now, it would seem that the S&W records confirm what you were told by Estelle and Bill Miller."
4) Small photo of Estelle and Bill Miller with relatives in 1965. Photo taken in Highland, California by Glenn Boyer, taped to a large piece of paper.
5) Small informational foldout titled: THE EARP BROTHERS' PISTOL with an image of what appears to be this Frontier S&W. Inside, text related to the pistol and Earp association.
6) Correspondence between Emory Cantey and Roy Jinks.
7) Original letter [appears to be a bill of sale] from Emory A. Cantey to Nelson A. Faerber; To Whom It May Concern: This statement shall certify that I, Emory A. Cantey, Jr. Fort Worth, Texas, as the SELLER, did convey, on or about September 20, 1979, to the BUYER, Nelson A. Faerber, Naples, Florida, one handgun described as follows: / SMTH & WESSON, FRONTIER MODEL DOUBLE ACTION, CALIBER, 44/40 W.C.F., 6" BBL., BLUE FINISH, H.R. GRIPS. FACTORY SERIAL NUMBER 12863 / together with extensive historical documentation pertaining to the original ownership of said handgun by Virgil W. Earp as received from his brother Wyatt Earp in Goldfield, Nevada. / Signed by Witness, Seller and dated Feb. 20, 1980.
8) Copy of the Exhibitor's Agreement, from the First National Bank of Fort Worth regarding the Wyatt/Virgil Earp Smith & Wesson Double Action Frontier Revolver. Also letter [Dictaphone] from Branch Manager, Stan McGowen to Emory Cantey thanking him for the display at the bank,
9) Extensive embossed leather cover binder with research material related to Virgil and Wyatt Earp's personal life, career and the history of this S&W Revolver #12863. Mostly photocopies of documents mentioned above along with other secondary research material, too extensive to mentioned it all from Emory A. Cantey, Glenn Boyer and Fred Holladay, among others.
10) Original 11 page typed document titled: THE WYATT/VIRGIL EARP SMITH AND WESSON DOUBLE ACTION FRONTIER [copyright 1978 by Emory A. Cantey, Jr.] detailing the history of the purchase of the gun from Glenn G. Boyer, being referred by the Arizona State Historical Society and correspondence between all parties involved.
11) [Inter Department Communication] letter dated March 8, 1978, Subject: The Wyatt/Virgil Earp Smith & Wesson. An addendum regarding the purchase agreement, ". . . .If some unknown ever arrises, since there are uncertainties, minor though they may appear, and if as a result any reasonable doubt of this gun's authenticity as an Earp gun enters the buyer's mind or if uncertainty of the seller's title to the gun, hense right to sell, arrises the seller absolutely guarantees the return of the buyer's investment up to that point"
12) Typed letter dated 1 December 1977 [Notarized December 2], from Glenn G. Boyer to Emory Cantey, Jr. regarding the proposed purchase and history of Smith & Wesson .44 Caliber Double Action Frontier revolver, serial number 12863.
13) Letter dated November 17, 1978 from Donald Shumar on TOMBSTONE'S GUN HAWK GALLERY stationary to Emory A. Cantey, Jr. regarding the Smith & Wesson, "I have known of the gun's existence for some years, have studied the documentation on it compiled by Glen G. Boyer, and independently had it researched through Smith & Wesson's factory records...........There is no reason I know of to not consider the revolver to be legitimate."
14) 5 pages marked G [notarized], G1, G2, G3, G4, photocopies from the original manuscript of the memoirs of Mrs. Wyatt Earp.
15) 6 pages marked H-1 thru H-6, bottom right hand [page H-6 is notarized, all pages signed by Alford Turner] titled; PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT OF A TAPED INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM OSTER AND ALFORD TURNER WITH HILDRETH HALLOWELL ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1971. In it, it states; "The tapes were sent to me by Mr. Glenn G. Boyer of Bisbee, Arizona via insured mail, #280532. It is being done in that these tape contain some important, first hand documentation pertaining to the Smith & Wesson Double Action revolver once belonging to Virgil W. Earp, in 1905."
16) Folder containing primary and secondary provenance of the Wyatt/Virgil Earp Smith and Wesson [photocopies].
Wyatt and Virgil Earp will forever be associated and romanticized with the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881. Although Wyatt is often referred to as the central figure in the O.K. Corral shootout, it was his brother Virgil, the Tombstone City and Deputy U.S. Marshall that day, that had more experience as a sheriff, constable, and marshal.
Condition: Very good plus, retains approximately 50% finish with balance turning gray and scattered patina concentrating on barrel, rear of frame, frontstrap and backstrap. leather hostler with heavy wear overall. Badge ok, with overall patina and discoloration. Nelson A. Faerber Collection.
Auction Info
2023 June 19 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction #6271 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2023
19th
Monday
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