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Documented Exhibition Engraved and Factory Presented to Army Scout and Western Showman, "The Poet Scout", Captain Jack Crawford
factory converted into a rifle, embellished by Winchester in 1897 and used as a deluxe factory display piece.
It was displayed at both the New York Exhibition of Industry and Science in 1898 and at the Pan-American International Exposition in Buffalo in 1901 and would have been seen by millions of visitors. In 1902, it
was presented by Winchester (a monumentally rare occurrence at the time) to one of the true heroes of the American West: John Crawford, better known as Captain Jack or “The Poet Scout.” Crawford had the rifle fitted with a second presentation plaque by the factory in 1903 and gave it as a Christmas present to his close friend James Barton Adams. Recent research has revealed that this specific rifle was featured in
a nearly full-page newspaper article (copy included
in accompanying provenance file) in The Atlanta Constitution on January 3, 1904, regarding the reason for its presentation. Adams’ cherished collection of western memorabilia and artifacts had been destroyed when his new home in Denver had burned to the
to the U.S. in search of better opportunities. He served in the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War and was wounded at both Spotsylvania and Petersburg. He headed to the West during the Black Hills Gold
Rush and joined the Black Hills Rangers protecting the local populace from Indian attacks as their chief scout. He also worked as a journalist in the Gold Camps and then as a war correspondent during the Bighorn and Yellowstone Expeditions as a scout under Brigadier General George Crook. Crawford became friends with William “Buffalo Bill” Cody while serving under Crook and replaced Cody as head of scouts when Cody returned to the East. As a scout, he undertook many dangerous journeys to deliver dispatches and also took part in multiple battles. He rose to national fame after riding 350 miles in just six days in order to deliver news of Crook’s triumph over Chief American Horse after participating in the Battle of Slim Buttes in September 1876 during the Great Sioux War. News of the victory was much needed after Custer’s infamous defeat earlier that June. He then joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in the East until he was shot in the groin during a reenactment of a running horse battle. He later claimed Cody accidentally shot him because he was drunk. He moved his family to New Mexico in 1879 and resumed work as a scout during the Apache War and Victorio’s War and participated in raids against the Apache and into Mexican territory. Crawford also served as a trader at Fort Craig and went into the ranching and mining business. His ranch in New Mexico was established in 1886.
James Adams, the final recipient of this outstanding rifle, grew up in Iowa and Ohio, fought in the Civil War for the Union and was also a former scout and one of the few western poets. He lived and worked at Crawford’s ranch in New Mexico from 1890 to 1892 before moving to Colorado where he continued to write poetry, worked in publishing, and remained in close correspondence with Crawford. After the Apache conflict, Crawford resumed his position as a cultural icon in the 1890s and early
20th century by speaking and performing throughout the U.S. and was known to have continued his crusade against the use of alcohol.
LOT 3023
Well-Documented, Historic, Factory Exhibition Engraved Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Dual Presentation Plaques Presented by The Winchester Repeating Arms Company to Captain Jack Crawford and then Gifted to Fellow Western Scout, Friend, and Poet James Barton Adams - Serial no. 495093B, 44-40 WCF cal.,
24 inch octagon bbl., gold/nickel finish, checkered walnut stock. This rifle started life as a carbine, was
ground. The rifle presentation was Crawford’s attempt to help ease the pain of his friends’ loss, and help him start a new collection. This very rifle, in its original casing, is actually pictured in the newspaper! Crawford’s life was truly full of adventure, violence, daring feats and intrigue, and he was among the most famous frontier scouts. He later became one of the most popular western performers of the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was born John Wallace Crawford in Ireland
to Scottish parents in 1847 and his family emigrated
18
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