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LOT 136
Exceptionally Rare
and Highly Desirable
Historic S.B. Severs,
Muskogee Indian
Territory Tooled Leather
“Mexican Loop” Colt
Single Action Army
Revolver Holster
with Matching Severs
Cartridge/Money
Belt - Manufactured
c. 1880s-1890s by
Samuel B. Severs of
Muskogee, Indian
Territory. Information
surrounding the firm is
somewhat shrouded in
mystery, though their
advertisements appearing
in Muskogee local
newspapers in both 1895
and 1896 indicate at least
two years in operation. It
is believed that Samuel’s father was Frederick Ballard Severs, who was an early settler of Indian Territory,
working in a general store at Fort Gibson and teaching at a school in Concharty Town of the Creek
Nation. Throughout his life, it appears that Frederick was married to or had relations with multiple Native
American women. Newspaper evidence claims that Samuel’s mother was a Cherokee woman by the
name of Elizabeth Fallingwater or McIntosh, and Samuel was born around 1854. In the early 1860s, Frederick joined the Confederacy and served as a lieutenant and then captain in Samuel Checote’s First Regiment of Creek Mounted Volunteers. After the war, Frederick became very wealthy as an entrepreneur and cattle rancher, being heavily involved with the development of the towns of Okmulgee and Muskogee. Around this time another marriage is mentioned, this one to
a Muskogee woman, who was alive at his death. He funded the construction of many of the first brick buildings in the two, including the First National Bank of Muskogee and the Severs Hotel, which was completed a few months after his death in 1912 and still stands today. Frederick’s death kicked off some controversy in Muskogee, with the local newspapers writing all about the drama, which is where much of the information about Samuel is found. It appears that three of Frederick’s daughters who had survived to adulthood were well known as his children, however Samuel and another potential son named John were not. These two claimant heirs filed lawsuit in 1912 after having not been named in Frederick’s will, which may have not even existed judging from a few unconfirmed quotes from him basically indicating that his children could fight over his fortune for all he cared. Many of the newspaper articles indicate that Samuel had been in the army for a time, and a Samuel B. Severs who was born in 1854 is listed as a private in Company H of Custer’s 7th Cavalry Regiment. Sever’s is listed as having enlisted on 16 February 1875, and as having been wounded during “the hilltop fight” with Reno’s command during the Battle of Little Bighorn in June of 1876. The newspapers indicate that, after his time in the army, Samuel arrived in Muskogee, was recognized by Frederick as his son, and was provided with funds to start a saddle as harness business and well as purchase a home. It is unknown how long Samuel’s business was in operation in Muskogee, as he is listed as
a resident of Colorado when the court filings were made in 1912. Sources indicate that the three daughters of Frederick Severs may have paid off both Samuel and John to drop their claims, as a newspaper from 1917 indicates that the former lawyers of Samuel Severs were pursuing compensation from the estate and that Samuel had received a payment of $20,000 from the estate and then disappeared without a trace. Records indicate that Samuel B. Severs died in 1919 and is buried in El Dorado, Arkansas.
The holster itself is in the classic “Mexican loop” configuration with dual retention loops capturing the body and nice border tooling on both the body and
loops. The circular marker’s mark is near the top of the body and is marked “S.B.SEVERS/MAKER/MUSKOGEE I.T.” The body has a recurved throne and a teardrop shaped plug sewn into the toe. The holster will accommodate a Colt Single Action Army pattern revolver with a 4 3/4 inch barrel. The cartridge belt is stamped with the same maker’s mark on the billet and has a single row of cartridge loops that appear to be for .44 or .45 caliber cartridges. It is fitted with a large rectangular buckle that appears to have been nickeled, and there is a “money pocket” opening in the belt near the buckle. The billet appears to have been reattached sometime during the period of use, possibly even at the time of purchase, having the appearance of a fitment adjustment. The belt is 2 3/4 inches wide, approximately 46 inches long including the billet, and is in cross-draw configuration for a right handed shooter. This is the only known matching holster and belt set by S.B. Severs, and there is only one other Severs holster and a saddle known to the writer. These Severs holsters are incredibly scarce and immensely desirable with their connections to Indian Territory and the Western Frontier, as well as Samuel Severs’ connections to the 7th Cavalry
and the Battle of Little Bighorn.
CONDITION: Very good, with mild wear typical of a holster rig used on the Western Frontier and in Indian Territory. There is some scattered light age-related cracking, minor scuffs, and a stretch of separated stitching along the top edge of the belt. The buckle retains traces of the original nickel finish. Overall this is
an exceedingly scarce holster filled with character and deep roots tying it to the American West and Indian Territory. Do not miss this opportunity to add this incredible holster by 7th Cavalry and Battle of Little Bighorn veteran Samuel B. Severs to your collection!
Provenance: The Greg Lampe Collection.
Estimate: 20,000 - 40,000
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