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Colt Single Action Army Revolver Inscribed Wm Bill Tilghman, U.S. Marshall.. ...
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$15,000.00
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Description
Fort Smith Ark.
Colt Single Action Army Revolver Inscribed Wm Bill Tilghman,
U.S. Marshall.Serial no. 25393 [matching, 5393 on cylinder], .45 caliber, 7 1/2-inch barrel. Hartford, CT address on top of barrel. Two-line patent address on left side of frame, large U.S. stamp right side of frame [larger than usual]. Gun has gold wash traces on loading gate and are pronounced in cylinder flutes. Backstrap engraved WM (BILL) TILGHMAN / US MARSHAL. Top of backstrap engraved FORT SMITH / ARK. Smooth grips. Sold together with brown leather holster and US MARSHALL / DEPUTY / OKLAHOMA TERR. badge. Together with Colt Factory letter from 1963 stating gun shipped to H&D Folsom, New York, N.Y. on August 31, 1876 in a shipment of 50. Other characteristics of the gun are marked "Not listed".
Extensive research and paperwork attributing this gun to Bill Tilghman as follows: 1) Letter dated March 9, 1966, "I have today examined a 45 colts revolver, Serial no. 25393, which belonged to my Father, William M. (Bill) Tilghman." Signed, W.W. Tilghman. / Witnessess: / [signed] Joan B. Johnston and Clint Gladden. Contained in McAlester, Oklahoma envelope.
2) Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company letter dated March 15, 1963 re: #25393 addressed to George H. Brasier
3) Typed letter addressed to Mr. Steve Englert of Loveland, Co. In it, it states; "This letter is being written to Mr. Englert, or to whom it may concern regarding the Bill Tilghman pistol (7 1/2). I myself, Bob Bates, first knew of this gun in the late 40's or early 50's and it had been given by Mrs. Tilghman to a policeman of the Oklahoma City Police Department, as he was a friend of Mr. Tilghman's. In which later this policeman sold this gun for $40 to Dennis Kazee (deceased) of Oklahoma City. This man kept this gun three to four years, there abouts, and occasionally I would see it on the table at a gun show in Yukon, Oklahoma, sponsored by Harry (Salt Valley) Elkins.......He later sold it to someone in Tulsa, Oklahoma...........low ad behold in (1962?) Dick Hilderbrand and myself were at the Tulsa gun show and met a man named George Brasier, who lives in Tulsa to this date (1978). Dick found out that he had some Winchesters, the he could possibly buy. So when the show was over that evening, we went to Mr. Braiser's house. Rifles were stacked against the walls, all the way around the room..........I found hanging on a nail, a holster and belt with a 7 1/2" Colt Single Action in it. There was a Marshall's badge hanging on the belt and holster. I looked at the gun and saw on the back strap that it was marked with Tilghman's name. I knew then what I was looking at. I took hold of the grips and pulled it out, about half way and it looked just like I remember it looking, the last time I saw it. George saw that I was looking at the gun and made the remark that he didn't know if it was authentic or not. I stated that it was, since I knew the gun from the late 40's or early 50's. We discussed it for a while and I told him I could get him a notarized statement from Mrs. Tilghman who lived at the time in California.........So I wrote to Mrs. Tilghman and told her what I would like for her to do and I would pay for her time, efforts and expense. So several months later I received a notarized letter from her stating that this was one of Bill's guns and described it to a "T". .........So she knew was she was talking about. But she didn't furnish any serial number. The next time I saw George was at the Bristow, Oklahoma gun show..............I saw him wearing a little Derby hat and drunker than hell. I went up to him and told him that I had the letter for him on the Bill Tilghman Colt. He looked at me and said, "who in the God damn hell are you?" Well he was drunk and I let him get by with that one. So I re-introduced myself and told of our deal. While all along he was still cussing me. So I finally got mad and I went back to the table and reached down in my pistol bag and got the letter. I tore it up............It was not until the Dallas, Texas gun show (1977 summer show) that a friend of mine Cal Stephens, went to, former Oklahoma City Policeman (retired), and met Mr. Englert. Mr. Englert stated to Cal he was looking to Tilghman guns or anything pertaining to him and that believed there was a 7 1/2 out there some where........Mr. Englert called many times, bless his heart.........Later I received a call from Mr. Englert stating that he had gotten hold of Mr. Patagla, who gave him George Brasier's number. He stated that he had flown to Tulsa and wined and dined Mr. Brasier and bought the Single Action, holster and badge............" Signed and dated, Bob Bates / Bates Custom Guns / Oklahoma City. P.S. [he writes in cursive] The Serial No. of this gun is 25393 [signed again].
4) Various correspondence letters addressed to George E. Virgines from Zoe A. Tilghman [none from George] between 1959 and 1962, Zoe was basically answering questions in her letters, one must assume, regarding this Colt and others. One letter from 1962 states: "Bill used to have a winchester, thought I do not think he had it after we were married. He used .45 had another plain that my have been a ,38 or 45. His .45 had an ivory handle and was silver plated. He captured Doolin with this gun and prized it highly. Carried in a great deal of his marshal work. When he had the movie picture he carried quite an exhibit of guns. But he once placed the revolvers in a shop window and in the night the plate glass was broken and the guns stolen. One was his .45 I hope this date will answer your purpose. He made the movie in 1915. Picture houses all tid up with Hollywood contracts, would not book it, and he had to exhibit it himself; but the movie houses would book him and lay their regular film order on the shelf. Cordially" [signed] Zoe A. Tilghman.
5) Type letter from George Virgines to Steve Englert regarding the Zoe Tilghman letters; thanking him for the "Dodge City" book and mentioning coming up with three letters from Zoe Tilghman..........."Note especially letters dated Jan. 1959 & Feb. 1959 in which she mentions Bill's Colt silver plated & pearl grips. Later years, Feb. 1962 she thought of the gun as having ivory grips, so you see the memory of these old-timers does not always improve with age. Alot of other thought provoking items are mentioned in the letters........Adios' Amigo" 6) Photocopy of typed letter from December 1957, from Zoe Tilghman to J.G. Rosa of England; 'Dear Mr. Rosa: It was nice to get your letter and red [read] your chat about Western matters. I did not know that the Chicago Corral of The Westerners had members elsewhere.......................As to the gold-plated Colt's .45 which Bill Tilghman had, he never carried it. When he was getting up a display for his pucture show, he bought it at a pawn shop and had it gold-plated. He used it only for display in the exhibit. Furthermore, I doubt exceedingly that Herb Glass has the Tilghman. Some years after Bill's murder, I and my son Tench agreed to let a Mr. Billingslea of Tulsa have it; and he said he intended to present it to Mr. Sherman Billingsley, owner of the famous Stork Club in New York City. I neglected to take the number of the gun at that time, and Mr. Billingslea has lately told me that he did take it, and has it somewhere among his effects. He gave the gun to Sherman Billingsley as he said; and like me, he does not think that gentleman would have parted with it........There was no name or other engraving on th gun when Bill had it; another thing that makes me believe the Glass gun or the Parsons book, is purely a fake. About two years ago, a gun collector of Texas came to see me. He had been offered a "Tilghman" six-shooter; but when he asked for verification the would-be vendor was merely indignant. He could produce several neighbors who would vouch for him as a good citizen etc. But nothing as to authenticity of the gun. So the sale was not made." [signed] Zoe A. Tilghman. Mr Rosa then types a quick response under Zoe's signature; Mr. Englert: Mrs. Tilghman never did find that serial number, and I suspect her conclusion about the pistol is 100%. JGR.
7) Copy of typed letter, dated October 1985 from Nelson A. Faerber to Ms. Susie Tilghman Baerst of Tempe Arizona [daughter of Bill and Zoe Tilghman's son Tench]. In the letter Mr. Faerber is asking Susie for some of Bill Tilghman's lawmen badges that have been apparently handed down through the family and owned by her now.
8) A few reproduced images of Bill Tilghman as U.S. Marshal and another standing outside a movie theater in Detroit Michigan showing his movie "Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaw" in1919.
9) Extensive embossed leather cover binder with research material related to Bill Tilghman's personal life and career. Mostly photocopies and duplicates courtesy of Western History Collections, University of Oklahoma Library.
10) 11 x 14 window card for the picture "The Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws", Bill Tilghman.
11) Large theatrical movie poster, "The Last of the Oklahoma Outlaws". An early Eagle Lion western three sheet. Backed on older linen and appears to be within the Good+ to Good range. Definitely, a candidate for additional restoration.
A one-time buffalo hunter, Tilghman began his law enforcement career in Dodge City, Kansas-at the time of Earp and Masterson-and was one of the "Dodge City Peace Commissioners." But his real reputation would be made in Oklahoma Territory, where as a deputy U.S. Marshal he helped stamp out the notorious Wild Bunch and single-handedly captured the outlaw Bill Doolin.
Condition: Gun is good as configured; retains an overall mellow nickel-silver patina overall. Light traces of gold wash on loading gate, heavier on cylinder flutes. Grips with great aging, moderate shrinkage and stress marks. Gun probably refinished at some point. Action good, bore ok. Holster is worn with separations and moderate to heavy scuffs. Badge with heavy handling/storage wear. Paperwork ok, cardboard poster with moderate folds and creases. Large theatrical poster has been stored folded, so multiple creases, wear and some tears. 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
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 4
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