2020 September Premier, Volume I

The Gateway Collection
180
As Pictured and
Described in The Colt
Engraving Book,
Volume I by Wilson
There is an article written by Bill Gerber in the June 1995 addition of “The Gun Report”
who did a lot of research into the Dalton revolvers. He had traded a mint cased Texas
Paterson for an engraved, pearl gripped 45 caliber, 5 1/2 inch barrel black powder
single action serial number 147,307. After the trade, he was told by the previous
owner that it was consecutively serial numbered to the Emmett Dalton gun which
was pictured in R.L. Wilson’s book “The Peacemakers” that was on display at the Gene
Autry Museum. He also learned of this revolver which was on loan at the time to the
Coffeyville museum. Three of the ten, serial number 147,305, 147,306 and this revolver
147,307, have been identified and authenticated as being in the Dalton’s possession
and part of a 10 revolver shipment sold to an A.E. Williams and shipped to Simmons
Hardware company in St. Louis, Missouri, on August 18, 1892. Several revolvers in
the order were consecutively serial numbered. Knowing that Colt did not engrave a
bunch of consecutively serial numbered guns and ship them to various dealers lends
credence to the shipment being a special order. Also with a short time for the gang
to get the guns he is logical to think it was planned. One can conclude that since the
guns were sold to an individual and not a wholesaler that it was no accident that the
guns ended up in the hands of the Dalton Gang. Very few outlaws in the day were
known to carry fancy gripped engraved revolvers let alone a pair, (10 guns, 5 gang
members). It was risky business in those days to stock 10 factory engraved, pearl
gripped revolvers for sale to the general public, which would probably mean that A.E.
Williams had a specific buyer in mind. Williams may have even been an alias or possibly
an agent for the Daltons. The shipment date didn’t leave the gang much lead time on
the Coffeyville Raid; however, it is interesting to note that Bob’s rifle was shipped from
the Winchester factory on August 27, 9 days later than the Colt shipment and only 39
days ahead of the raid, and as noted above, the rifle has been pictured with the bodies
of the four gang members killed that day. Interesting enough Grat, Emmett and Bob
Dalton served on the right side of the law prior to becoming criminals, serving as
deputy marshals. Emmett worked as a member of some of his brothers posses, but for
the most part he earned a living as a cowboy on the Bar X Bar Ranch near the Pawnee
Agency. Working there he met two of the gang’s future members and met future gang
members working at nearby ranches. The gang made a living from robbing trains
before planning the famous “Coffeyville Raid” which proved to be the gang’s Waterloo.
Around 9:30 am five members of the Dalton Gang (Grant, Emmett, and Bob Dalton,
Bill Power and Dick Broadwell) rode into Coffeyville, Kansas with the plan of making
outlaw history by robbing two banks at the same time. The plan was doomed from
the beginning. The hitching post where they intended to tie the horses had been torn
down because of road work, and they were forced to tie the horses in a nearby alley,
which proved to be a fatal mistake. Since Coffeyville was the Dalton’s hometown, two
of the Dalton’s wore fake beards and wigs to disguise their identity, however they were
immediately recognized by townspeople as they crossed the town plaza and split up
to enter the First National Bank and The C.M. Condon Bank. People also watched from
the front windows of the banks and saw the gang pulling their guns. Someone on the
street hollered “The bank is being robbed”, and citizens quickly armed themselves and
began taking up firing positions. The ensuing gun battle lasted less than 15 minutes,
and when the smoke settled, four citizens lay dead, three gang members were dead in
the alley (Grat and Bob Dalton and Bill Power), Dick Broadway was found dead along
the road about a half mile out of town, and Emmett was captured and survived despite
having received 23 gunshot wounds. The alley where they tied the horses became
know as “Alley of Death”, and the event made the small town of Coffeyville, Kansas,
famous. Emmett Dalton was sent to prison, was paroled in 1907 and died in 1937.
The revolver is decorated with floral scroll and punch dot engraving on the barrel and
frame. A scallop and dot design border the one line address on top of the barrel and
the “45 Colt” on the left side is in a banner
CONDITION: Extremely fine. The revolver retains 40% plus bright original blue
finish, concentrated mainly on the bottom of the barrel, protected areas of
the ejector housing, cylinder flutes and forward area of the trigger guard.
There is a smooth brown patina on the balance. The frame shows half of the
original case colors in the protected areas with a smooth brown patina on
the balance. The grips are excellent with a very small chip on the right toe.
The markings and engraving remain crisp and clear. The action is excellent. A
piece of history that may not come to public auction again for many years, if
ever again. Writer believes this to be the finest original documented Outlaw
Colt Single Action Army revolver to be offered at auction!
Provenance: The Gateway Collection.
Estimate: 350000 - 550000