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Historic Fact
World renown exhibition
shooter Annie Oakley
was performing in
Buffalo Bill's Wild West
Show in the same period
of time as Jim Mitchell,
a Texas bronco rider and
head of the cowboys in
the Wild West Show.
LOT 1067
Historic Documented Cased Factory Engraved Gold Plated Colt New Line .41
Spur Trigger Revolver with Annieta Mitchel Inscribed Pearl Grips Identified by
Author/Firearms Expert Frank Sellers as Presented by Annie Oakley, Originally
in the William M. Locke Collection, and Attributed as Having Been Part of Colt’s
“Wheel” Display at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition as Well as the
1877 Exposition in St. Louis - Serial no. 5025, 41 RF cal., 2 1/4 inch round bbl., nickel/
gold finish, pearl grips. This fascinating revolver was manufactured in 1876 and features
more than 75% coverage factory floral scroll engraving and a gold plated cylinder. The
top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address, and “41 CAL” is marked
on the butt. The matching serial number is on the left side of the grip frame, bottom of
the barrel, rear face of the cylinder (“025”), and hand marked inside each grip panel. It is
fitted with a pair of smooth pearl grips, and the left grip is inscribed to “Annieta Mitchel.”
It otherwise has standard features. This revolver is pictured on p. 201 of “The William M.
Locke Collection” by Frank Sellers, where the serial number is mistakenly listed as “5026.”
Include with the revolver is a leather wrapped hard case with a cleaning rod and full
cartridge block of .41 RF cartridges.
In the Locke book, this revolver is described as “presented to Annieta Mitchell by Annie
Oakley.” Annie Oakley was arguably the most famous sharpshooter in the world in the
late 19th century and into the 20th century as part of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show
as it toured the U.S. and Europe. She was also one of the most popular women of the
period, and she used her celebrity status to advocate for women’s rights and various
charitable causes. A presentation by Oakley to another woman in this
period is certainly very fitting. Both Oakley and Buffalo Bill are known
to have presented firearms to friends. Precisely who Annieta
Mitchel was is unknown. Jim Mitchell (also spelled Mitchel
in many sources) of Texas was a bronco rider and the head
of the cowboys in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show at the same
time as Annie Oakley which certainly makes you wonder if
the recipient was related to him, perhaps his wife or daughter.
In 1887, Annie Oakley exhibited wing shooting and Mitchell
was part of the “Cowboy’s Fun” segment of Buffalo Bill Cody’s
Wild West Show performed before Queen Victoria as part of
the American Exhibition which was part of the celebrations for
Victoria’s golden jubilee. Oakley and Mitchell were also both part
of the show as it continued to tour Europe, including when Oakley
knocked over Prince Luitpold of Bavaria to protect him from a bronco
named Dynamite that broke loose during a rehearsal. The prince had been
admiring her guns and had asked her to shoot a coin out of the air for a
souvenir. The following day he presented her a diamond bracelet and gave
Mitchell a cigarette case as a thank you.