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Historic Factory Soft Shipped New York Engraved Black Powder Colt Single Action Army Revolver Inscribed “T.C. Nunn” and “Bryan Tex.” with Pearl Grips and Factory Letter - Serial no. 174545, 45 Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., silver finish, pearl grips. The factory letter indicates this historic Colt Single Action Army revolver was in .45 caliber with a 4 3/4 inch barrel, “Soft” finish, rubber grips, and no engraving when it was the sole gun of this type shipped to Hartley & Graham in New York City on December 21, 1897. The remarks state: “The word ‘soft’ which appears with the finish indicates subject revolver was shipped with out final finishing for engraving outside of our factory. In addition it is noted that the revolver was furnished with a light pull.” The revolver features essentially full coverage scroll engraving with wavy line accents and beaded backgrounds. The barrel has a blade front sight, the two-line address on top, and “45 COLT” in an oval panel on the left. The frame similarly has the two-line patent marking in an oval panel on the left side. The revolver is finished with silver plating and fitted with attractive pearl grips. The back strap is inscribed “T.C. NUNN” along the back and “BRYAN TEX.” on the butt. The serial numbers are matching (the first “4”s are remarked over a “3”, presumable a factory correction). Famed Master Engraved Louis D. Nimschke’s primary client during his career from c. 1850 until his death in 1904 was Hartley & Graham in New York City, the larges firearms dealer in the country for much of the 19th century.
The revolver is accompanied by a silver “SHERIFF/BRAZOS COUNTY” badge with “TEXAS” marked on the points of the central star and a “C. STUBENRAUCH/MANUE’R/SAN ANTONIO TEX” maker’s mark dating to c. 1890s (noted as purchased from Paul Sorrell), a copy of “Brazos County History: Rich Past-Bright Future, Honoring the Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986” by the Brazos County Heritage and History Council and Family History Foundation, and a binder of information and research compiled by Greg Lampe. Within the binder is a September 16, 1993, dated notarized letter from Mary K. Fox indicating she inherited this revolver from Thomas M. O’Connor who she worked for. O’Connor’s wife Mary Nall was from Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, and was the daughter of M.G. Nall and Mary Pelham Nall. “I believe that M.G. Nall was a brother or very closely related to R.M. Nall who became sheriff of Brazos County, Bryan, Texas in 1904 directly following Sheriff T.C. Nunn, who was the original owner of the Colt 45 and was the Sheriff of Brazos County for two terms, a total of (19) years.” Mary Pelham Nall’s (1889-1965) husband was Milton Guy Nall (1878-1953), son of Richard Milton Nall (1853-1924) who served as City Marshall of Bryan and Brazos County Sheriff.
Sheriff Thomas Claude Nunn (1854-1927) was born in Lexington, Washington County, Texas, and lived in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas. He lived during a rough period in Texas, born into a slave-owning family prior to the Civil War and coming of age during the Reconstruction Era and the period of lawlessness and extra-judicial justice that followed. Prior to being elected sheriff, he worked as a cattle driver and a saloon owner. Nunn had run for sheriff prior to his first successful election on November 4, 1890, and then was re-elected multiple times
up and served until November 8, 1904, when R.M. Nall was elected. Nall served until 1908 and was followed by John D. Conlee who served in 1908-1914. In 1914, Nunn was again elected to the office and served until November 5, 1918. “Brazos County History,” states “Of the 15 continuous years Sheriff Nunn held office, the last few years of the 19th century proved to be the most trying. However, Sheriff Nunn was to demonstrate to the subjects of Brazos County the reason he was able to maintain his office so long. He was a responsible man. This sheriff obviously cared for all the people of Brazos County and through innovative law enforcement methods sought to carry out the application of the law to the best of his ability.” The “to the best of his ability” comment may be a reference to the fact that during his time in office, there were multiple racially charged lynchings in Brazos County. Nunn himself made public statements on the situation at times decrying the lawlessness and at others making supportive statements such as, “I further believe that when the people undertake the law in their own hands, it should be a general uprising by the best citizens of the county, and what they do should be done after great caution and due deliberation in broad open day.” In once case in early 1897, he and his deputies attempted to hold the prisoner in face of the mob in an attempt to maintain his authority and ensure proper legal proceedings. He reportedly fired his guns out of the jail and called for military assistance from the governor, but ultimately the lawmen gave over their prisoner to the mob after they were informed the jail would be dynamited if they did not. CONDITION: Fine with traces of original silver and mostly a dark gray patina with some light pitting and moderate overall wear appropriate for a Colt Six Shooter worn by a Texas lawman. The grips are also fine and have attractive natural variation in color, small flakes at the edges, and mild handling wear. Mechanically fine. The badge is very fine with attractive aged patina. Overall, a very fascinating New York engraved antique Colt Single Action Army revolver with Texas history. Provenance: The Greg Lampe Collection. Estimate: 30,000 - 45,000
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