Welcome to in the present day’s Photo of the Day! Right here we have now an 1884 Colt Single Motion Military attributed to Bob Dalton of the Dalton Gang, allegedly recovered from his physique after the disastrous Coffeyville, Kansas financial institution theft on October 5, 1892. This comes with intensive documentation together with notarized affidavits and a manufacturing unit letter confirming authorities supply.
The Coffeyville raid was a catastrophe for the Dalton Gang. They tried to rob two banks concurrently in Coffeyville – the First Nationwide Financial institution and Condon Financial institution. Residents acknowledged them instantly, armed themselves, and a large gunfight erupted. Bob Dalton, Grat Dalton, Invoice Energy, and Dick Broadwell have been all killed. Emmett Dalton survived with 23 gunshot wounds. In response to a December 26, 1957 notarized affidavit from Ollie Reed, this revolver was taken from Bob Dalton’s physique by her husband W.D. Reed, who was 12 years outdated on the time. The affidavit states Reed stored the gun till his dying in November 1957, when it was bought by Loy Grimes.
The provenance chain is documented by means of a number of affidavits. Clell Furnell bought the revolver from the Carl Rogers property in 1989. Rogers had purchased it from Loy Grimes in 1958. Grimes bought it from Ollie Reed in 1957. Nonetheless, conflicting accounts exist – a Watonga newspaper article quotes W.D. Reed saying he bought the gun from Jess Marlow relatively than taking it from Dalton’s physique.
An interview with Evelyn Ruth Pethroud carried out February 17, 1991 makes an attempt to reconcile this discrepancy. She said that Jess Marlow was suspected of stealing Reed’s gun, and Reed later noticed it in a trunk at Marlow’s home and took it again, saying “THAT’S MY GUN.” The manufacturing unit letter confirms this revolver was offered to the U.S. authorities and delivered in a 150-gun cargo on November 19, 1884 in .45 caliber with blue end. It carries “D.F.C” (David F. Clark) inspection initials on barrel, body, and cylinder, confirming army difficulty. The revolver has matching serial numbers apart from a substitute set off guard. Three pearl inlays seem in the fitting grip panel, and “MC” is inscribed on the butt.
Bob Dalton served as a deputy U.S. marshal earlier than turning to outlawry. Whether or not he obtained this cavalry Colt throughout his lawman days or acquired it later is unknown. The gun’s documented authorities difficulty makes it believable as a lawman’s working revolver that stayed with Dalton when he joined his brothers in crime.
Most of our POTDs make the most of photographs from our pals at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms public sale in the US. Take a while to browse their current auctions – who is aware of, perhaps you’ll discover a piece of historical past to take residence!
“Historic U.S. Cavalry Mannequin Colt Single Motion Military Revolver Attributed to Bob Dalton of The Dalton Gang with Manufacturing facility Letter and Intensive Analysis Documentation.” Rock Island Public sale, www.rockislandauction.com/element/1049/3015/historic-bob-dalton-attributed-colt-single-action-army-revolver. Accessed 29 Dec. 2025.
Trending Merchandise
