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Governor Clayton authorized the formation of state and local militias to end the insurgency. What came next was a state wide conflict known as the Militia War. The Governor suspended all
local and state elections, declared martial law, split the state into
four military districts, and assigned Upham command of the Northeastern district, which saw the heaviest of the Klan’s activities. Upham commanded 1,000 white and black troops, used violent tactics against the Klan and their supporters, often joined his men
in the bloody fights, including a battle on his own plantation, and successfully prevented the occupation of Augusta by defeating Klansmen under the command of Confederate veteran Colonel
A.C. Pickett. The extreme violence against the Klan was deemed necessary by the state, and with people like Upham, Governor
Clayton was able to deliver a crushing defeat to the sponsors of
white supremacy terror, making Arkansas the only Reconstruction state to have any meaningful success against the Klan. As Upham
put it, “We will wail Hell out of the last one of them. Never allow one of them to return and live here. There is no other way. Nothing but good, healthy, square, honest killing will ever do them any good.” In the aftermath of the Militia War, Upham’s tactics proved politically divisive. He was voted out of office and later charged and acquitted for murder of four suspected Klansmen during the Militia War. In
1876, President Ulysses S. Granted appointed Upham U.S. Marshal
for the Western District Court of Arkansas presided over by the infamous “Hanging Judge” Isaac C. Parker. Upham served with honor and distinction until 1880 when a Republican senator plotted for
his removal. It would seem Upham had lost favor within his own political party. Even his once friend and ally Powell Clayton thwarted Upham’s attempts to remain U.S. Marshal. The letter offered here was written when Upham was U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas and stands as a historical document capturing Colt’s legacy associated with law enforcement West of the Mississippi and America’s political unrest following the aftermath of the Civil War.
CONDITION: Very fine, remaining well preserved as professionally displayed in a matted frame. The ink is clearly legible. A very interesting document that works well in a Colt or late 19th century Americana collection.
Provenance: The Don and Carol Wilkerson Collection.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 1132
Documented Colt Sheriff’s Model 1878 Double Action Ejectorless Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 51184, 45 LC cal., 4
inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. The accompanying factory letter confirms the highly desirable 4 inch barrel in .45 caliber
and blue finish with type of stocks not listed. The letter also states the revolver was shipped on August 19, 1905 to Charles J. Godfrey Co.
of New York City. This was shipment for 39 units. According to research presented by Don Wilkerson in his book “Colt’s Double-Action
Revolver, Model of 1878,” Colt manufactured only 290 of these revolvers with the desirable 4 inch ejectorless barrel in .45 caliber and
finished blue (page 213). This example is pictured and identified in the aforementioned book on page 146. As explained by Wilkerson,
“Sales [of the Model 1878] did not continue until the end of the year, but ceased in August. The last order was shipped on August 19
to Charles J. Godfrey, New York City.” This revolver was part of that last order in 1905, and in this order there were a total of 38 blued
Model 1878s with a 4 inch barrel in .45 caliber. According to Wilkerson, there are no known shipments of Model 1878s in 1906 and the
final orders occurred in 1907. However, the final Model 1878 was not shipped until 1996 as it (no. 39303) was part of the Colt’s Archive collection which was later sold at auction by RIAC (Premier Firearms Auction No. 39, 2006). The barrel has the two-line Hartford address
on top and “45 COLT” on the left side. The left side of the frame has an encircled Rampant Colt. The right side of the frame is stamped with
a small number “4” stamped upside-down just under the hammer screw. The left side of the trigger guard has the Colt factory triangle
proof and the number “5.” The revolver features a U.S. military “RAC” inspected (rear face) surplus cylinder. The matching assembly number
“14” appears on the left side of the grip frame and loading gate. Whether on the hip of a lawman or under the counter of a storekeeper’s
shop, the Sheriff’s model Colt SAA was at the forefront of taming the wilds in growing cities or the western frontier, as well as all manner
of ruffians and outlaws. Today these Sheriff’s Model 1878s hold a special place in the hearts of collectors, and offered here is a very fine example.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 85% original blue finish on the frame, cylinder, and trigger guard with thinning to brown on the balance
and a mix of brown and gray patina on the back strap. The barrel retains 95% of the professionally refinished blue. The grips are very fine
with limited handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically fine. An attractive and desirable Colt Sheriff’s Model 1878 Double
Action Ejectorless Revolver that will make a fine addition to any Colt DA collection.
Provenance: The Don and Carol Wilkerson Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500 123
Important Historic Note
In 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Daniel P. Upham as U.S. Marshal for the Western District Court of Arkansas, which was presided over by "The Hanging Judge" Isaac C. Parker.