Click here to print this page.

Buffalo Bill's 'Pony Express' Wells Fargo Inscribed 1851 Colt Navy Percussion Revolver - Lyon/Harrah Museum w/ Slim Jim Holster Guns International #: 100791727 Seller's Inventory #: Category: Colt Revolvers - Antique Percussion - Colt Revolvers - Antique Seller's Information When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com Seller: Jeremiah Johnson Trading Company: Jeremiah Johnson Trading Member Since: 1/27/12 First Name: Greg Last Name: Schimetschek State: Connecticut Zip: 06423 Country: United States Phone: (860) 873-1092 Number of Active Listings: 4 Total Number of Listings: 217 Seller: Private Seller Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns. 3 days Payment Types Accepted: Check (personal checks take 7-10 days to clear), money order, credit card (no fee), or wire About Us: Jeremiah Johnson Trading is one of the most experienced and trusted dealers of pre-1899 antique arms with over 40 years of collecting. We specialize in Colt, Winchester, Remington, Smith & Wesson, Parker, large-bore fowling guns, Revolutionary & Civil War arms, collectible Bowie & folding knives and more! We are also avid collectors of historic race cars & memorabilia. Visit us online at jeremiahjohnsontrading or find us on Facebook and Instagram. Description: Jeremiah Johnson Trading is one of the most experienced dealers of fine antique arms, with over 30 years of collecting. We also specialize in a vast array of collectibles, including western memorabilia, antique cars & automobilia, Revolutionary & Civil War relics, early Bowie & folding knives, and period nautical artifacts. Visit us online at JeremiahJohnsonTrading or find us on Facebook. Our shop is located at 1618 Saybrook Rd. Haddam, CT. Look for the gold '55 Chevy road sign! ~Trades and offers are always considered~ Important & Historic William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wells Fargo Inscribed Pony Express M1851 Colt Navy Percussion Revolver & Slim Jim Holster From the Parker Lyon/Bill Harrah Pony Express Museum Collection, .36 Cal, mfg. 1854. (William) Parker Lyon began collecting arms and antiquities of the old west throughout the early 1900's and officially opened his Pony Express Museum in 1935. Lyon's collection grew to encompass over 100,000 antiques including an authentic western stagecoach, complete gambling hall & bar, and several firearms documented to famous wild west outlaws and personalities. Parker Lyon knew Buffalo Bill as early as 1900 and received many personal items and gifts from him until his death in 1917, all of which were later displayed in his museum. According to Lyon's obituary in the Los Angeles Times December 16th, 1949; "Goggle-eyed Midwesterners clustered in awe about the expounding owner, heard of fortunes in gold recovered from the bellies of ancient fire engines from the Mother Lode; of Buffalo Bill personally attesting to the authenticity of dozens of rifles and pistols in the gun collection..." After Lyon's death, legendary casino tycoon Bill Harrah purchased the contents of the museum and moved them to Reno, Nevada, where he selected only the finest pieces from the group to display in his own Pony Express museum which would remain open to the public until his death in 1978. The collection was broken up and sold through various sources during the 1970's and 80's. This revolver was owned by renowned collector and eer Gary Hendershott who sold it in 2008 as part of his personal American Indian & Western History Collection. At that time the gun was accompanied by a letter of provenance from Harrah's collection identifying this gun to Buffalo Bill. Unfortunately the letter has been lost between then and now, however we still have Hendershott's catalog on hand to document and preserve the gun's story which was again reinforced when the pistol was more recently sold by Cowan's . A letter of provenance from Jeremiah Johnson Trading will also be included relaying the history of this gun and the Lyon/Harrah collection. In the later years of his life Buffalo Bill did more perhaps than anyone before or since to promote and preserve the history of the Pony Express, and while some historians may dispute the exact details of his service, Bill's association with the Pony Express has become an iconic symbol of old west folklore. When William F. Cody was just 11 years old he was hired to carry messages on horseback for the freighting firm of Majors and Russell. By the spring of 1860 the firm, now called Russell, Majors and Waddell, established the famed Pony Express to which the legend goes 14 year old Bill Cody rode the mail and took part in a plethora of adventures which were later documented by the most famous of western authors (including of course himself.) As author Larry McMurtry states; "...I am inclined to think that he did ride..., since that would merely have been a more or less natural extension of a job he already had." James E. Serven in his book "Conquering The Frontiers" notes "The revolvers of the express rider traditionally have been identified as Navy Colts, which would have been of the 1851 model, then in popular use." Within less than a month of the Pony Express line opening, Wells Fargo took over the western end of the Express route and by July the Overland Mail Company, also owned by Wells Fargo, called for a Pony Express route between San Francisco and Salt Lake City. Any revolvers provided to riders on these routes would have naturally been issued by Wells Fargo. In short, this revolver is the very pistol carried by Buffalo Bill while he rode for the Pony Express. One other revolver, a M1849 Colt pocket pistol, has surfaced which is attributed to Bill's Pony Express service. As previously noted however, the Navy Colt was the premier pistol of the Express rider, and if Bill did in fact carry a '49 pocket pistol it would have been only as a back up to his primary revolver, presumably this gun. The revolver shows matching serial numbers on the barrel, frame, triggerguard, backstrap, cylinder, and loading lever. The metal has a dark gray/plum patina throughout showing moderate wear and use. A small semi-buckhorn type rear sight and German Silver blade front sight have been expertly fitted during the period. The original wood grips show heavy wear with slight shrinkage and a replaced sliver of wood on the front left toe. Additionally there is an old tightly repaired crack through the left handle. The brass backstrap and triggegruard show a dark, mellowed patina. The backstrap is period inscribed "Wells Fargo & Co. Express". The wedge is an old frontier replacement, and the loading lever screw also appears to be replaced. The very tip of the loading lever above the latch has broken away, though it does not effect the lever's function. Clear markings throughout including serial numbers, patent marking, and barrel address. The cylinder scene is worn yet faintly visible. The action operates properly and has a strong spring to it, though the cylinder does not stay locked into place once cocked. The nipples are all clean originals. The bore shows strong rifling front to back with lightly scattered blackpowder frosting. A quick cleaning would likely improve it much. There is a slight bit of wobble between the barrel and frame which is typical of a well used '51 Navy. The brass tacked slim jim holster is original to the gun and fits like a glove. The leather is supple and shows heavy wear with extensive age cracking and damage to the toe. This is a 100% authentic Wells Fargo issued Colt that, as belonging to Buffalo Bill, would have been his personal sidearm used throughout all his tales and adventures with the Pony Express. A true piece of American West history and the absolute focal point of any collection. No FFL required on pre-1899 firearms or contemporary muzzleloaders. No sales of modern firearms or antique arms that may potentially fire modern ammunition to the state of California, Washington D. C. or any of the five counties of New York City. Any handgun, including antiques, that are shipped to the state of New Jersey must be shipped to an FFL holder. No sales of Ivory to the states of New York, New Jersey or California. No sales of Bear parts to the states of Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia, or West Virginia. No international sales of Ivory or animal parts whatsoever. Payment can be made by way of money order, banker's check, or personal check (Please allow 7-10 days for clearance on personal checks). Credit cards accepted for antique arms (no additional fees). Non-firing items may be purchased through PayPal. If not satisfied with an item within 3 days of receiving it, simply return the item in the same condition as shipped for a full refund, minus return shipping costs. Cleaning, disassembly, or altering of a firearm in any way will void inspection privileges. Layaway may be allowed upon negotiation, but will void inspection privileges. Buyer pays actual shipping & insurance costs. We primarily ship USPS unless restrictions deem UPS necessary. FFL is required on all firearms manufactured after 1898 (mfg. 1899-present). C&R is acceptable for any firearm manufactured over 50 years ago from the current date. Jeremiah Johnson Trading sells antiques only. Any firearms occasionally sold through Gun from our personal collection that do require an FFL or C&R are shipped through a licensed FFL dealer. All firearms are sold as collector's items and are not warranted safe for shooting. Please consult a competent gunsmith prior to shooting any firearm. International orders are allowed for antique muzzleloaders and arms that fire obsolete ammunition only, no modern firearms or antique firearms that can potentially fire modern ammunition will be shipped outside of the United States. All prices are in American U.S. dollars. Message or call with any questions about this firearm, or any of our other items at 860-873-1092 (office) or 860-345-2100 (shop). SOLD Antique: Yes Manufacturer: Colt Model: Navy Serial Number: 36464 Caliber Info: .36 Manufacture Date: 1854 Extras: Inscribed