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LOT 1085
Smith & Wesson Model No. 3 Third Model Russian Revolver with Holster Rig, Ammunition, Factory Letter, and Documentation Attributing It as the Gun that Killed Legendary Native American Chief Sitting Bull - Serial no. 4490, 44 S&W Russian cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. A notarized statement from James T. Tevlin in 2022 states that this revolver was passed down through his family. He states: “The revolver was obtained by an infantry Captain of the
US Army and given to Mr Peter Brady of the US Army. Mr Brady willed the gun to his daughter Mrs. J J Tevlin in 1915 upon his death. After the death of Mrs. JJ Tevlin in 1951 the gun was willed to her son
Thomas C. Tevlin. Upon his death in 1989 the gun was willed to his son James T. Tevlin. The items consisting of the Smith & Wesson Model 3 Revolver with serial number 4490, the leather belt with holster, cartridges and
two newspaper articles are solely owned by myself: James T. Tevlin.” The two newspaper articles from 1936 are included and state much of the same origin information as Tevlin’s letter and note that the gun was passed down by Peter Brady to Mrs. J.J. Tevlin. A factory letter from Smith & Wesson historian Roy Jinks to James T. Tevlin is also included. It largely provides the basic information on this model and does not provide additional information
on the current revolver but notes, “It is impossible to provide a value on this revolver without an idea of the type of documentation which can substantiate that it came from Sitting Bull’s house. I can also provide the names of individuals, including myself, who would be interested in this gun once the value is established.” A letter from Jinks to Tevlin instructing him on what he would need to know in order to provide him information on the revolver itself is also included.
In addition to the two article clippings included with the revolver, other newspaper articles from 1936 also discussed this revolver, and their story and wording are largely the same as the included articles as well as Tevlin’s statement. For example, the La Cross Tribune on September 29, 1936, ran an article titled “Gun Which Ended Life Of Sitting Bull Collector’s Prize” which stated “A .44 caliber six-shooter, credited with being the weapon that ended the life of the recalcitrant Sitting Bull, last of the great Indian chieftains of the northwest, is among the treasured possessions of Mrs. John J. Tevlin” of Staples, Minnesota. “The heavy revolver was the pride of Mrs. Tevlin’s father, the late Peter Brady, who died in 1915. It was given him by a captain of the United States army before Brady’s discharge from service...The revolver was obtained by an infantry captain who turned the weapon over to Brady. The gun measured a foot in length, holds six cartridges and is carried in a heavy leather holster. The gun carries the manufacturer’s number 4490 and was made in Springfield, Mass. Other relics kept by the family include a cane with a concealed sword and the parchment promotion and discharger papers for Mr. Brady. The papers show that he served from 1871 to 1884.”The latter detail, if accurate, contradicts the earlier claim that the revolver was given to Brady before he discharged from the service given that Sitting Bull was killed in 1890.
The revolver is a classic commercial Smith & Wesson Model No. 3 Third Model Russian revolver with a nickel plated finish. It has an integral rounded blade front sight on the barrel rib. The latter is marked with the one-line address and patent marking ending in “REISSUE JULY 25, 1871” rather than the “RUSSIAN MODEL” marking. The barrel latch has the notch rear sight. The latch, barrel, cylinder, butt, and right grip are all marked with the matching serial number “4490.” The butt also features a lanyard loop, “1874,” and a small “P.” The belt is approximately 41 inches and has 21 large cartridge loops. The “US” flap holster has a Watervliet Arsenal stamp on the back. Twenty-five U.M.C. .44 Smith & Wesson Russian cartridges are also included.
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