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LOT 3075
Scarce and Highly Desirable C.E.
Coggshall, Miles City, Montana
“Mexican Loop” Holster and Cartridge
Belt for a Single Action Army Revolver
- Manufactured c. 1895-1897, this is a
very scarce example of a C.E. Coggshall
marked holster rig from Miles City, Montana. Miles City was known
for having a plethora of saddlers in operation during the late 19th
century, with nearly all of them also making holsters and gunbelts
on the side, though none in large numbers, leaving any Miles City
marked holster very desirable to this day. Coggshall himself is
not believed to have actually been a saddler, but rather a rancher
who spent a lot of time in a saddle, as well as a financial investor.
Coggshall is known to have purchased the famous Moran Brothers
Saddlery in 1895, operating it for two years under his own name
before briefly going into business with Al Furstnow from 1897 until
about 1900. Coggshall again operated the shop on his own for
a time before incorporating with a group of employees in 1909,
forming the legendary Miles City Saddlery firm. This is a solid
example of one of those rare Coggshall holsters with the oval maker’s mark near the top of the body. This “Mexican loop” holster is configured
for a right handed shooter and will accommodate a Single Action Army revolver with a 4 3/4 inch barrel. It has a lightly tooled border, hand-
carved initials or cattle brand below the maker’s mark, and two thin retention loops. It is paired with a fairly utilitarian cartridge belt with a
single row of .44/.45 caliber sized cartridge loops and a nickeled, rectangular buckle with clipped corners. The belt measures 2 inches wide and
approximately 38 inches long including the buckle.
CONDITION: The holster and belt are both very good with a period darkened appearance, mild wear throughout, some light age-cracking, and
most of the stitching remaining tight. A solid example of a Miles City, Montana holster rig!
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,500
LOT 3076
Historic Virginia City, Montana Deputy
Marshal Badge - Manufactured c. 1889 to
the early 1900s, this is an attractive lawmen
badge from one of Montana’s earliest
mining boomtowns. In May of 1863, gold was
discovered along Alder Creek, leading to the
area being flooded with prospectors. It is
estimated that by 1865, 10,000 people had
flooded into Alder Gulch with dreams of
striking it rich, and the population of Virginia
City, the largest settlement in the gulch, had
swelled to 5,000. Along with the explosion in
population and influx of gold came widespread
banditry, with “road agents” or highwaymen being
responsible for around 100 deaths in 1863 and 1864.
This eventually lead to the formation of a local “Vigilance Committee”, which is
believed responsible for the hanging of at least 15 “road agents” during the same
period. From the late 1860s onward, the population of Virginia City decreased
but never totally went away. This badge is believed to have been made sometime
after Montana gained statehood in 1889. The badge itself is in the shape of a
shield with a five-pointed star at the center. Above and below the star is stamped
“DEPUTY MARSHALL” and “VIRGINIA CITY, MONT.” There is a collection marking on
the back side, and the pin appears to have been replaced.
CONDITION: Fine, the metal remains mostly bright with an attractive lightly aged
patina overall, giving it a real feel of the American West!
Provenance: The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection.
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
LOT 3074
Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Attractive Relief Carved Steer Head Pearl Grip - Serial no. 170127, 45 Long Colt cal., 4 3/4
inch round bbl., nickel finish, carved pearl grips. Manufactured in 1897. The Colt Single Action Army was one of the most popular handguns in the
late 19th century, and is easily the most iconic and most thoroughly associated with the American West. In the words of Colt author and expert
David Brown, “The Colt Single Action Army .45 was ‘the soldier’s friend’ throughout the remaining years of the Indian Wars in the West. Adopted also
with equal enthusiasm by civilians, it was the pet and the ‘good right arm’ of lawman and outlaw alike on every American frontier of its era” (page
70 of “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army”). Includes an accompanying Colt archive letter that indicates factory
shipment records were unable to be located on this revolver. The top of the barrel has the two-line Hartford address, with “45
COLT” caliber marking on the left. The left side of the frame is marked with the two-line patent dates and Rampant Colt logo.
Matching serial number “170127” marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with what appears to be
“717N” marked on the front face of the cylinder, and assembly number “451” on the loading gate. The revolver wears a set of
highly attractive period pearl grips featuring a detailed raised relief carved steer head on the right panel.
CONDITION: Fine as period replated, retains 60% nickel finish with some flaking to smooth gray and brown patina on the balance,
reshaped lower front edges of the frame, and some characteristic light frontier pitting. Grips are very fine, with attractive fiery colors, a
few minor age lines, and a crisp carved steer head. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: Doug Carlson; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3073
Antique Winchester Model
1886 Lever Action Saddle Ring
Carbine in .38-56 W.C.F. with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 95182, 38-56 WCF cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. Manufactured in 1894, this is a solid representative example of the Winchester Model 1886 saddle ring carbine chambered in .38-56
W.C.F. According to research conducted by John T. Madl on the existing records of Model 1886 carbines, only 652 were chambered in this caliber, making
them quite scarce. These carbines were highly valued in the American West for their compact firepower and often saw hard frontier use for many years,
leaving surviving examples rare in any condition. The included factory letter lists the carbine in .38-56 caliber and “Sale”, the meaning of which is unknown,
when received at the warehouse on 24 January 1894 (a factory notation error as the serial number applied date is listed as 1 December 1894), and shipment on
1 August 1895. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address and the caliber marking at the breech. The two-line patent dates and serial
number are marked on the lower tang. It is fitted with a pinned beaded blade front sight, folding ladder rear sight, a period modified peep sight on the upper
tang, and a saddle ring on the left of the receiver. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a carbine buttplate.
CONDITION: Very good, retains traces of the original blue finish and strong traces of the original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth
grey patina and some scattered light surface pitting, typical of a gun that saw use in the American West. The magazine tube shows antiqued finished. The lightly
sanded and reoiled wood is good with some scattered minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
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