From the Vault: Wild Bill Hickok's Colt 1851 Navy
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- Get ready for a History Rush, folks! Brownells Gun Tech™ Keith Ford is at Rock Island Auction Co. to give us a long look at a Colt 1851 Navy revolver attributed to Old West legend James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok. While the gun's provenance isn't perfect, Rock Island's Joel Colander points to several factors that indicate it WAS Wild Bill's Colt. It is one of a pair of matching ivory-gripped, heavily engraved 1851s only 17 serial number apart, formerly owned by the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming. The serial numbers fit the period when Wild Bill was known to carry Colt 1851s with ivory grips. Hickok historian Joseph Rosa has concluded that this gun was indeed owned by Wild Bill. Rosa is no pushover: he has also disproven Hickok ownership of several guns attributed to the law man, scout, gambler, showman, and gunfighter. Rosa believes this gun and the matching Colt 1851 in the Cody were the same two Colts auctioned off to help cover Hickok's funeral expenses after that fatal poker game in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. They sold for only 25¢ a piece! A shocking price for guns that cost a pretty penny when they left the Colt factory. The Rock Island gun is not in mint condition. There's some holster wear, and it's definitely been used but WELL cared for. The engraving is still crisp, and the nicely aged ivory grips are in beautiful condition.
During his career, Wild Bill and other professionals using percussion revolvers would customarily fire off all the rounds every morning, clean, and reload their sidearms to ensure reliability. Moisture from humidity and the temperature changes from day into night could contaminate the powder or caps. And it was a training routine. So the handguns would theoretically have been discharged at least as much as 42 times per week, a consideration to estimate wear and tear. Buffalo Bill Cody preferred a Remington Army Model 1858 counterpart.
Exactly. That’s one reason for his amazing skill.
The Cody museum is such a wonderful place.Everyone should visit it.
I personally got to handle Wyatt Earp's revolver when it passed thru the Windsor Collection.
In fact, I remember that moment fondly and I didn't even have to wear any gloves. Not like any of the gloves they had would even fit my tiny hands at that time. I was 11 years old if I remember correctly.
They instructed me to thoroughly wash my hands three times and I would be good-to-go. Afterwards, my skin was so dry from using the final hand solution that there was no risk of any oils rubbing off on this iconic pistol.
It was truly an honor to hold such a remarkable piece of American History.
Stay classy my friends.
I wonder if that is the same gun my dad had around 1937 to maybe spring1942 before the Army finally accepted him as a volunteer for the draft with only one eye. He served in the Pacific as a Medic riding troop ships out and back twice and working station hospitals waiting for a ship load of patients to be ready to ship back to Frisco. I still have a photo somewhere of the guns he had and sold before he shipped out. He sold them all to a collector with paperwork for the Pistol.
What kind of gun was it?
I doubt wyatt earp cared about his hand oils back in the day thought ahahah
That is the coolest thing I've seen on from the vault. Gave me goosebumps just thinking about holding it. Thank you for sharing this with us sirs. If my powerball ticket hits I will definitely bid
I saw this pistol at the Cody museum a few years ago and I got goose bumps just looking at it. Wow!
It's in excellent condition. The Colt Navy 1851 is a great looking gun: it's the shooter featured in that famous gun store scene in 'The Good The Bad and The Ugly' where Tuco puts all the parts of different guns together to customise his own.
The ivory gripped 1851 Navy Colts were presented to Hickok in 1869 by Massachusetts U.S. Senator Henry Wilson. Hickok had guided Wilson on a hunting trip on the Western Frontier in 1868. Prior to the presentation 1851's, as documented in pre-1869 photographs, Hickok had carried a pair of the regular finish, walnut-gripped 1851's.
I kind of wonder if he used these as his everyday carries or if he used them more as show pieces. He had these when he was murdered but I wonder what happened to his other set?
@@treynienhuser2616 The walnut-gripped Navy Colts used by Hickok circa 1858-1869, were sent to his family in Illinois, after he was given the presentation pair by Sen WIlson in 1869. Supposedly one of the walnut-gripped 1851's actually belonged to Hickok's brother Lorenzo. The walnut-gripped pair of Navy Colts carried by Hickok have never turned up that I am aware of, at this time in AUG-2024.
Those walnut-gripped Colts used by Hickok 1858-1869, were used in the Mccandles shootout in Nebraska Territory in 1861, in Hickok's scouting duties for the U.S. Army, during and after the Civil War, and were the Navy Colts used to kill Dave Tutt in the Springfield MO town square gunfight. Tutt was hit in the upper chest at 75 YARDS, with a shot that passed sideways thru Tutt's chest, thru both lungs and the heart, breaking ribs entering and exiting. Tutt had fired at Hickok with a Colt 1860 Army, in a duelist stance, standing sideways, when Hickok's shot struck him, the sideways stance being the reason for the unusual wound tunnel thru Tutt's upper chest right side to left side.
The Author Joseph Rosa, the Hickok expert referred to in this video, discovered the court transcripts in the Springfield MO records archive, from Hickok's August 1865 trial for the Tutt shooting two weeks earlier in July. The transcripts verified the multiple witness testimony details of the gunfight, plus the town coroner's examination of Tutt's wounds. The witnesses pointed out the spots the men stood, 75 yards apart and said that the two shots sounded like one. Hickok had drawn his left, butt-forward holstered Navy with his right hand, raising it to eye level, resting the revolver on his left forearm to fire at Tutt. Tutt's extended right arm holding the 1860 Colt, dropped to his side with the impact of Hickok's bullet; Tutt attempted to raise the 1860, but was too weak, so he turned and staggered toward the courthouse steps behind him, before saying, "Boys, I am killed." and dropping dead in the street.
Always a treat, Keith. Thanks for letting us show the good stuff!
Always enjoy getting to spend time with you and perusing all the good stuff.
I have been to his grave site. After he died Calamity Jane was buried right next to him. I wonder what he might have thought about that.
Me too.
well its said he didnt care much about jane its also said the townsfolk buried jane next to bill to play the ultimate joke on em so one could surmise wild bill rolled oover in his grave or is laughing for all of eternity this joke
Crazy that this ended up selling for $616,875
pretty good for a quarter investment
You know this is the real gun that Hickok carried cause Brandon said he's coming to get it too!
Wow, this gun looks like it should be a museum piece.
Amazing! Thanks for showing her off!
THANKS - - THIS is the coolest thing I've seen on from the vault.
Thanks Keith! Love it!
Beyond cool.
That's an incredible piece.
What an incredible piece of history. WoW😮
Wow. .....how cool is that then.
I love these videos of Old West, historic period guns. I also got goosebumps watching him pick up that Colt the butt-forward way Hickok would have done. Wow.
Good stuff right there!!👍🏼👍🏼
👍👍 thanks Keith…..that’s really an amazing firearm.
Beautiful gun!
if it was in the Cody Museum, why is it up for auction? Its mate is listed as being a gift to the museum
The museum may not have owned it. Just displayed it
@@M8Military people seem to think museums are… state-like entities that transcend society in some odd way.
We don’t know if it’s the mate to the piece in the Cody - There’s a good chance it is.
Most pieces on display are either on loan from a private collection or obviously owned by the museum itself.
They can naturally sell and trade their pieces if they own them.
Or the owners are auctioning this piece to invest in another piece.
You know… buying and selling…
oh why don't you go cry about it.
Why did the Cody Museum part with this gun, being part of a pair? Maybe I missed it.
It would be nice if you guys put the lot# in the description so we can find it more easily.
Wild bill got these from buffalo bill Cody as a gift. He wore these until his death in deadwood. Also wild bill didn’t wear a holster he wore a sash. Very cool
Ok a little help here! I have read several articles over the years the Wild Bill went to a cylinder conversion about a year before he died because of his loss of eyesight. Now this made sense to me because of the vision problem and when you google the question (which is a crapshoot with google) it is verified he had gone to the conversion rimfire cartridge. So the question is if that’s true then that couldn’t be his gun because it’s still in the percussion mode. Beautiful firearm regardless!
Awesome!
I heard "Attributed too", that tells me it is an unknown entity hinging purely on speculation.
Would wear marks from his holstering style show a mirror image for a left and right gun ? Thus adding to the pile .
I guess by 1876 cap and ball revolvers were considered obsolete and not worth anything, the future historical value not even a consideration. Only time would give Wild Bill's pistols the appreciation and value they are due, and I'm glad they are still around and weren't buried with him, or disappeared somewhere along the way.
ABSOLUTELY COOL 😎 👍👍👍👍👍! I've always liked the Prince of Pistoleers!
Wait...it's my understanding that the mate to the Cody Museum Wild Bill 1851 resides in the Autry Museum of the West in L.A. California. Is this particular pistol something that is merely speculated that he owned in addition those other two presented to him in 1869 upon his election as Marshal of Hays City, Kansas.
WOW !
Seems like they should be together.
Very cool. I believe those were "Wild Bill's".
WOW! just WOW. I'm speechless. Thanks
is the barrel catch , the lug that the loading lever fits in at the front of the barrel original to the revolver , most others gun of the period are thinner than the one on that revolver.
i'd take it straight to the range because Wild Bill would want that.
Amazing, thanks for sharing that
This seems like a historically significant firearm; why is the museum selling it? Is the Cody Museum struggling to survive?
I will buy it. But I need to be on a thirty year payment plan. Thanks.
This gun looks brand new.
is it perspiration getting on the gun over time that causes pitting , or is there some thing else that causes pitting.
Black powder residue will, holster tanning agents, moisture, particularly salt and moisture combined
Your move Hickok45. You Know what you have to do!
Maybe and maybe not and probably not. Big money for a guess or close. But... the ivory grip is pretty though.
"Attributed to" Is auction speak for "We can't prove it". Lack of Colt factory letter makes it questionable.
@@markgman4157 Well, I'm pretty happy with my Pietta Wild Bill Hickok replica. I paid $250. for it several years ago and love to shoot it.
Where's the other one???
Wait... Is this who Hickok45 was named after and not his actual name?
yes
what tf do you think, sunshine?
Why would he not choose a cartridge gun , that was a lot more reliable . Hard to find ammo perhaps ? Hard to beat 45 LC or 44 S&W ! Maybe it came down to $$$$ .
Where’s the other pistol?
That's a true piece of the west and one of the coolest things ever... to imagine WILD BILL'S IVORY HANDLED 6 SHOOTER'S
5:15 “don’t you dare touch Wild Bill’s gun without gloves. You know better, don’t touch… take your fingers off the grip… at least it’s only the grip and he’s not putting finger grease on the… Don’t touch the trigger guard! Take your fingers off
Cool
Looks like it went for over $600k.
RIA without Ian McCollum :(
I need 300 boxes of those to buy ok
what will it sell for?
My g+ grandfather Richard (Dick) Stirk was a friend of Wild Bill Hickok.
What caliber is this revolver?
@@hrfardan66 Thank you.
36.
@@billm2078 thank you.
Is it my imagination or can anyone else hearing someone breathing in the background? It's not Keith or Joel.
Not even close 😃😃😃😃
Does it have a hair trigger? If is was his it would have a hair trigger.
for anyone who has information of james butler (wild bill hickok) please tell me he is a distant cousin of mine and i would love to know more about him
Compare the grip in the photos
Kinda hard to concentrate hearing the guy in the blue shirt breathing so damn loud. Maybe set his mic up to be less sensitive next time
One of the guns is in the Gene Audry museum. This gun is suspect.
Calling bs. ivory and would have aged yellow/brown. Buyer got got screwed.
How can you sell/auction this with Ivory grips?
👍🏻👍🏻☕️☕️🇺🇸🇺🇸💯🛎
6 minutes of not identifying the serial number marks or the weapon
GOOSEBUMPS? WHAT ABOUT FINDING AN ARROWHEAD? MUCH OLDER,HANDMADE BY WHO? USED TO KILL WHO OR WHAT!
I'm willing to pay anywhere between 100 to 1000 times what it originally went for used. Still a used firearm.😏
Some rich person will buy it, throw it in some safety deposit box and use it as a tax shelter.
Sure talked in circles around actually saying "it is Wild Bill's". In other words... there is not proof!
Too much talking
WOW!