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Zerelda Samuel at Jesse James' Grave
the infamous outlaw Jesse James.”The article references the revolver being displayed in the National Firearms Museum’s “Guns West!” exhibit. The revolver is featured on pages 6 and 7 of the included copy of the exhibition catalog “Guns West!: A Retrospective of the Old West” where it is listed as “Smith & Wesson New Model #3, sn 1984, .44 caliber This ivory-gripped, re-nickeled revolver is one of many known to have been sold by Jesse James’s mother, Zerelda Samuel, in the 30 years between her son’s death and her own in 1911. Accompanied by the original sales receipt. Collection of Jim Supica.” The original handwritten receipt from “Mrs. Zerelda Samuel/JAMES FARM/KEARNY, MISSOURI” states: “Received $39.00 from Mr. C.B. Parsons of Lexington, Kentucky, for my son Jesse’s pistol, Smith & West [sic] #1984 size 44 [signed] Zerelda Samuel.” Mr. Parsons must have been delighted to receive his new treasure. The receipt is not dated but would
Smith & Wesson Schofield attributed to Jesse James sold by Rock Island Auction in December 2022 (Catalog 87 Lot 1075) for $152,750. That marking may have been for James gang associate Andy Ryan. The current revolver comes in a fitted oak case.
CONDITION: Good with much of the heavily buffed refinished nickel plating remaining, moderate pitting and wear, and partially obliterated markings. The grips are also good and are loose fitting (the grips fall off, stripped screw threads and have age cracks and chips. Mechanically functions but does not lock up. The case is very good with minor storage wear. The receipt has minor wear from age and distinct writing. Overall, a very interesting revolver attributed to Jesse James by his mother: Zerelda Samuel.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 267
“J. JAMES” Marked Smith & Wesson New Model No.
3 Revolver Attributed by Zerelda Samuel as “My son Jesse’s Pistol” with Receipt and Case - Serial no. 1984, 44 S&W Russian cal., 6 inch solid rib bbl., nickel finish, smooth grips. This revolver was featured in the included July 2008 issue of “America’s 1st Freedom” by the NRA on pages 46-47 in “My Son Jesse’s Pistol” which states “In the world of firearms collecting, few guns have associated excellent provenance= provenance being a clear and provable chain of custody
from the original owner to the present. Jesse’s mother; ‘Zee’ Samuel, lived another 30 years after Jesse’s death, selling his guns, and even pebbles from his grave, almost until the day she died. But having this receipt and the gun together brings on that much closer to the widow Samuel’s pistol - a Smith
& Wesson .44 revolver she asserted belonged to her son,
have been prior to Zerelda Samuel’s (1825-1911) death. Following Jesse’s death, she hosted paid tours of the James farmhouse where she lost her arm and one of her sons from the bombing during the Pinkertons’ raid in 1875. She would also offer to sell antique guns that she said belonged to Jesse. Prior to its relocation, she would allow tourists to visit Jesse’s grave and purchase pebbles from the site which she regularly replaced from the stream.
The revolver may have been manufactured in 1879-1880 given its fairly low serial number. The revolver has a pinned halfmoon blade front sight, the two-line patent marking on the rib, a notch rear sight, faint S&W trademark on the right side of the frame and “J. JAMES” stamped on the grip frame under the grips which appear to be polished bone. The name “A.H. RYAN” was similarly stamped on the grip frame of the