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LOT 1062
Historic Parker Bros. Double Barrel
Hammer Shotgun with J.D. Estep Scabbard
and Badges of Sheriffs Valerius P. Sanders and Tom
York of Bandera County, Texas - Serial no. 37287, 12 gauge, 20
1/8 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/
blue finish, walnut stock. This shotgun was
manufactured in 1883 and features shortened
20 1/8 Damascus barrels, a bead sight on the
concave solid rib which is marked “PARKER
BROS MAKERS. MERIDEN CONN. TWIST”, light
engraving at the breech of the barrels and on
the lock plates and furniture, “PARKER BROS”
marked locks, patent markings, matching
serial numbers, and pistol grip stock with a
blank escutcheon on the wrist and a smooth
steel buttplate. The shotgun
is accompanied by a “J.D.
ESTEP/SAN SABA, TEX.”
marked brown leather
scabbard, a “V.P. SANDERS/
SHERIFF/BANDERA COUNTY/
TEX.” badge, and a “TOM
YORK/SHERIFF/BANDERA
COUNTY/TEXAS” marked
badge. Both badges feature
a spread wing eagle at the
top and a five-pointed star at
the center.
The set is accompanied by
information about Valerius
P. Sanders and Tom York,
including provenance
documentation. In a March 7, 2001, letter from Jim Youlgaris, he indicates he came into possession of the
Sanders badge and documentation and came into possession of the shotgun and scabbard later which
states “was made obviously for Valerius Sanders...” and noted claims “Sanders was the only one armed
Texas Ranger in the 19th century...” From his wording elsewhere in the letter, it would appear he got the
items from the family in Texas and later sold them to Tom Power. A newspaper clipping states: “He served
[i]n the Confederate army, and lost an arm in the service. After the Civil War he joined the Texas Rangers,
and rendered good service on the frontier. Later he came to Bandera and held various positions here, as
sheriff, county treasurer, and post master. He passed away at Uvalde, Texas, December 31, 1908, at the
age of seventy-five years.” The included Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and Museum letter indicates that
they could not find information on Valerius P. Sanders in their records after the Civil War, but additional
included documents indicate he had served prior to the Civil War as a private in the 2nd Company of
Texas Rangers from November 10, 1858, to May 10, 1859, under John S. Ford. Major Valerius P. Sander’s
grave indicates he was born in 1833 and died in 1908 and was a major in the 15th Texas Cavalry during
the Civil War.
The Texas State Historical Association’s biography of Sanders written by David Park provides additional
information. Sanders was born in Tennessee and enlisted in Company A of the 15th Texas Cavalry on
January 1, 1862, at San Antonio, Texas, and was promoted to captain on March 10, 1862, when they
mustered in. “At the unit’s first engagement on July 8, 1862, near Batesville, Arkansas, Sanders was singled
out for ‘signal coolness and bravery’ by the Fifteenth’s commanding officer Col. George H. Sweet.” The
unit was dismounted on July 24, 1862, and served as infantry for the remainder of the war. Sanders was
promoted to major on October 21, 1862.