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LOT 1092
Smith & Wesson .44 Double Action First Model Revolver Inscribed to Frontiersman Billy Dixon - Serial no. 34031, 44 S&W Russian cal., 5 inch sold rib bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. This floral scroll engraved S&W .44 Double Action First Model revolver features the name Billy Dixon engraved on the back strap. William “Billy” Dixon (1850-1913) was a scout and bison hunter active in the Texas Panhandle and one of only eight civilians to receive the U.S. Medal of Honor. Born in West Virginia, Dixon was an orphan by age 12 and raised by his uncle in Missouri for about a year before venturing on his own. At age 14 he worked as an ox driver and a muleskinner in Kansas. As he grew into adulthood he became a skilled marksman, scouted for the railroads and later scouted for bison hunters who had moved into the Texas Panhandle following the depletion of the bison population. In June 1874, Dixon found himself in a sticky situation. He was among a group of 28 men which included Old West legend Bat Masterson defending the settlement of Adobe Walls against an estimated force of 700 Native Americans who saw the bison hunters as a threat against their existence. The siege lasted four days, became known as the Second Battle of Adobe Walls, and ended with the deaths of four hunters and at most 70 Native Americans. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the hunters were able to repel the assault due to their superior long range rifles. Dixon became a hero on the second day of fighting when he was credited for killing a Native American at a distance of
over 1,500 yards with a Sharps rifle. A few months later in September 1874, Dixon would again be thrown into a life or death situation. While carrying dispatches for the U.S. 6th Cavalry from McClellan Creek to Fort, Dixon along with fellow civilian scout Amos Chapman and four enlisted men were encircled by over 100 Native Americans. The six men decided to take a stand. An enlisted man was quickly wounded and died of his wounds before nightfall. Dixon and the others were also wounded, but managed to stay alive and keep there assailants at bay as they made their way to a buffalo wallow. The shallow depression was the only sign of protection on the flat plains. Through a hail of gunfire Dixon carried one of the wounded men to the safety of the wallow. Throughout the day the men continued to push back their adversaries. Their expert marksmanship and a late afternoon thunderstorm were key to their success. At nightfall the sounds of gunfire had disappeared, and in the morning Dixon volunteered to run for help, which he found in a column a U.S. Cavalry troopers. Known as the Battle of Buffalo Wallow, Dixon and his comrades were awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery, including a posthumous one to the enlisted man who had died. Eventually, Dixon built a home near Adobe Walls, the same site where he battled 700 Native Americans. By the early 20th century he was living in Oklahoma where he would die in 1913. His body is buried at the Adobe Walls battle site.
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The accompanying
factory letter states
the revolver was
shipped on April 21,
1897 and delivered to D.
Gama Co. of New York City as
part of an 85 gun shipment. It
ends with the statement, “There is
nothing to indicate that this handgun
was anything special.” No other details are
provided. The revolver is decorated with a
rather crude non-factory floral scroll engraving
and is inscribed with the name “BILLY DIXON” on
the back strap. Initially S&W historian and author Jim
Supica questioned the authenticity of the engraving
in a Blue Book article published years ago; however, as
time passed and other experts examined the gun, Supica
became convinced that the engraving may indeed have
been from the period of use. The 1 7/16 inch cylinder lacks
a visible serial number. Matching serial numbers appear on the
butt, right grip panel, barrel, and barrel latch. The revolver was
pictured in Jim Supica and Richard Nahas’“Standard Catalog of Smith
& Wesson” (1st Edition) on page 23 and discussed in the Blue Book article “Pieces of History.”
CONDITION: Very good, displaying the appearance of a well traveled sidearm with 40% period nickel finish remaining on the frame and barrel and the cylinder having been polished. The worn grips show working gun character from spending time in the hand. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500