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LOT 200
Historical Documented Texas Shipped Antique Colt Sheriff’s
Model Single Action Army Revolver with Relief Carved Steer Head
Pearl Grip, Holster, Factory Letter, and Provenance, Reportedly
Carried by Former Rough Rider Lon Muxlow, an Oklahoma Police
Officer Killed in the Line of Duty - Serial no. 172725, 45 Long Colt
cal., 4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, carved pearl grips. The
accompanying factory letter states this revolver was shipped on January
17, 1898, to J.S. Dunlay Hardware Company of Houston, Texas, in .45
caliber, with a 4 inch barrel, blue finish, and hard rubber grips. This was
a 4 gun shipment. Offered here is a very scarce example of a Colt Single
Action Army revolver in highly sought after “Sheriff’s Model” configuration,
with accompanying provenance linking it and its holster to having been
carried on the hip of Lon Muxlow, a police officer of Guthrie, Oklahoma,
who was killed in the line of duty on September 7, 1913. In “The Official
Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver, 1873-1895” by Wilkerson
and Hoyt, the authors stressed the rarity of the ejectorless Sheriff’s Model
Single Action Army as a whole (barrel lengths ranged from 2 1/2 to 7 1/2
inches in the study) and state that “just under 600 ejectorless Single Action
Army revolvers were produced in all calibers from 1882 to the 1930s.” The
ejectorless Colt “Sheriff’s Model” Single Action Army revolver is one of
the rarest and most sought after variations of the legendary Peacemaker.
Whether on the hip of a lawman, carried by an outlaw or under the counter
of a storekeeper’s shop, the “Sheriff’s Model” Colt Single Action Army was at
the front lines of the American frontier.
An included notarized letter of provenance dated July 14, 1994, addressed
to a Mr. Donald B. Small from Goerge Stover, Chief of Police of the Enid,
Oklahoma, Police Department, lists this revolver by serial number and
further states, “The revolver was given to me by Mrs. Helen Driskell, who
was a very good friend of my parents. At the time she gave it to me she
stated that it was the gun her father (Lon Muxlow) was carrying the day he
was killed by Lou Green on 7 September 1913, in Guthrie, Oklahoma. After
Green’s trial was completed the gun was returned to the Muxlow family.
Mrs. Driskell had no living children and wanted me to have the gun and
gave it to me about 15 years ago.” An included binder contains numerous
scanned copies of newspapers telling different versions of the story related
to the death of Lon Muxlow, with one copy of The Guthrie Daily newspaper
dated Monday, September 8, 1913, that reports the incident in detail with
the leading story headlined “TWO POLICE OFFICERS SLAIN” and the article
states, “Policemen Lon D. Muxlow and Isaac B. Caldwell, day patrolmen,
were shot and instantly killed at 2:15 o’clock Sunday afternoon by Lou
Green, a notorious negro bootlegger.” The article further indicates that
Muxlow and Caldwell originally showed up to Green’s place of business to
arrest him for bootlegging, to which he resisted and a fight ensued, with
Muxlow breaking a club over Green’s head prior to Green drawing “a 38
calibre automatic gun from his hip pocket and began firing on Muxlow.
Two balls struck Muxlow’s head killing him instantly. A third shot struck him
in the shoulder as he was falling.” The article further indicates that Green
also killed the partner Caldwell and states, “Green coolly viewed the bodies,
and after placing a new magazine in his automatic gun, he grabbed up the
guns of Muxlow [believed to be this revolver] and Caldwell and paraded
about his space, defying arrest.” When the sheriff showed up on the scene,
Green surrendered and was quickly taken to the county jail. Another
included scanned copy of an article from an unknown period newspaper
source indicates that a bystander
named Chas. Wachob reported
the incident and stated, “I was the
first white man to enter the Green
place after the killing. Lou Green
was standing in the center of the
room with two guns. The guns
were large 45 calibre guns owned by
Muxlow and Caldwell- Green had taken
them from the dead officers.” Wachob attempted to talk with Green until
the sheriff showed up. The included binder also contains relevant research
indicating Lon Muxlow (full name Lorrin D. Muxlow) was part of Teddy
Roosevelt’s 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Rough Riders during the Spanish-
American War era, as part of Troop D, listed as a “Wagoner.”
This example correctly lacks an ejector rod. The barrel has the two-line
Hartford address on top, with “45 COLT” marked on the left of the barrel.
The left side of the frame has the two-line, three-date marking. Matching
serial numbers visible on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with
assembly number “248” on the loading gate. The revolver wears a set of
highly attractive pearl grips featuring a relief carved steer head on the
right side. These period grips only add to its appeal. Also includes a
silver Teddy Roosevelt Rough Rider themed spoon inscribed “Mamie”,
and a period double loop brown leather holster stamped “V.L.&A./
CHICAGO” on the front with a hanging tag indicating it belonged with
the revolver.
CONDITION: Very good plus with a genuine original appearance,
retains 20% original blue finish concentrated in protected areas of the
cylinder and trigger guard, strong patterns of case colors in protected
areas of the frame and on the hammer, with authentic smooth brown
patina on the balance, a few patches of minor surface pitting, and
distinct markings and edges in the metal overall. Grips are very fine,
with highly attractive fiery colors, a few small age lines, defined edges,
and a crisp carved steer head. Mechanically excellent. Holster is very fine.
This historical Sheriff’s Model Single Action Army revolver would make a
fine addition to any Colt or American firearms collection!
Provenance: Lon Muxlow and Family; Enid, Oklahoma, Police Chief
George Stover; The Donald B. Small Collection; Doug Carlson;
The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000
The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army
Revolver, 1873-1895" by Wilkerson and Hoyt
stressed the rarity of the ejectorless Sheriff's Model
Single Action Army as a whole and states "just under
600 ejectorless Single Action Army revolvers were
produced in all calibers from 1882 to the 1930s."