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Documented Austin, Texas Lawman Owned Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 219915, 41 Long Colt cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. This early 20th century Colt Single Action Army revolver is forever linked to
tragedy as it was carried by an Austin, Texas chief of police killed in the line of duty while in pursuit of a murderer. It is a reminder of an ultimate sacrifice and the motto to “protect and serve.” The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped on Christmas Eve 1901 to Walter Tips of Austin, Texas with a 5 1⁄2 inch barrel in .41 caliber, blue finish, and type of stocks not listed. This was a five gun shipment. Walter Tips (1841- 1911) was a prominent Austin merchant, Civil War veteran of the Confederacy, and a Texas State Senator. The revolver made it into the hands of Austin, Texas, lawman J.N. Littlepage as confirmed by a 1993 dated notarized letter written by Littlepage’s Great granddaughter, Ardelis Morley: “This letter is to certify that Colt Single Action Army serial number 219915 and accompanying ‘iron knuckles’ were the property of my great grandfather, J.N. Littlepage...The Colt revolver and knucks, along with some photographs, miscellaneous papers and newspaper articles pertaining to Mr. Littlepage have been in my family for many years.” Littlepage served on the City of Austin Police Department circa 1914 to 1928. In 1924, he was appointed Chief of Police of Austin. He was killed in the line of duty on October 9, 1928 while attempting to apprehend Arman Alexander who had gone on a shooting rampage that had left two people killed that same morning. Littlepage was shot three times and became Alexander’s third victim. During the ill-fated chase, Littlepage never fired his gun. Alexander killed this fourth victim soon after. It was during a shootout with police officers when Alexander committed suicide while barricaded in a home in south Austin. The murderous rampage shocked the City of Austin, and local newspapers were quick to print all the ugly details. Several copies of these period articles are included. As told by period printed news, after Littlepage was slayed, Alexander “took the chief’s pearl-handled pistol” before fleeing the scene and the pistol was recovered from Alexander’s dead body. In 2001 this revolver along with the accompanying iron knucks was photo’d with a set of pearl grips for the article “The Bloody Murder of Chief Littlepage and Others at South Austin” published in the fall issue of The Texas Gun Collector. The photo caption read, “Chief Littlepage’s Colt Single Action with its pearl grips (removed for protection) and his ‘knucks.’” As in the 2001 photo the revolver wears a set of hard rubber stocks. While these pearl grips displayed in the magazine photo are no longer with the gun, this sidepiece is certainly the pistol carried by Littlepage when he was tragically gunned down in the line of duty on October 9, 1924 as mentioned in the period sources. The barrel has the one-line Hartford address on top and “41 COLT” on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking followed by an encircled Rampant Colt. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. First generation Colt SAAs are relatively rare in .41 Colt. Only 16,402 were manufactured in this caliber compared to 150,683 in .45 Colt and 64,389 in .44-40 Winchester. The chambering was introduced to the SAA line in 1885 and was discounted in 1912 (see David Brown’s “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army). The accompanying leather flap holster is marked “45” and is decorated with a tooled border. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine as documented to Texas lawman hero who gave his life protecting the City of Austin. The revolver retains 85% plus original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance, edge wear, and cylinder drag lines. The hammer and frame retain 90% original case colors. The grips are excellent with overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster is fair with a detached flap. A somber piece of Texas history well deserving of the finest public or private collection. Provenance: The TTT Collection. Estimate: 25,000 - 40,000
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