Robert A. Sadowski - Gun Traders Guide - Forty-Fourth Edition: A Comprehensive, Fully Illustrated Guide to Modern Collectible Firearms with Market Values

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Well start with the gun held in Johnny Ringos hand when he was found dead at Turkey Creek. You remember the scene in the movie Tombstone when Val Kilmer playing Doc Holliday gets into a standoff with Michael Biehn as Johnny Ringo. Was Ringo killed by Doc? Was it Wyatt Earp? Maybe Ringo pulled his own plug? As the story goes, Ringo arrived in Tombstone in 1879 and reportedly shot a man who refused to drink whiskey with him, expressing a preference for beer. Ringo was that type of fellow and not a pal of the Earp brothers. He missed the incident at the OK Corral only because he was out of town. In July of 1882, Ringo was found near Turkey Creek with a hole from his temple through the back of his head.

The Colt was in his hand. The coroners report called it suicide, listing this Colt as the culprit, with five rounds still in the chamber. However, stories persist that Ringo was killed by Wyatt Earp, who had been in the vicinity, or by Doc Holliday, who hadnt been close, or someone else. Who did in Ringo? Only that Colt knows the answer. Johnny Ringos Colt, serial # 222, .45 caliber, 7 1/4 inch barrel sold for $362,812. (Courtesy Bonhams) Of all the old west gunfighters, John Wesley Hardin may have been the most dangerous.

One story has it that Hardin shot a man just for snoring. However, as is often the case, the truth is much more complicated. Born in Texas in 1856, Hardin killed his first man at the age of 15. Most likely it was self-defense, but Hardin did not believe he could get a fair trial. Hardin ran from the authorities and began a near-20-year flight and fight with the law, becoming either a villain or a folk hero depending on whose side you were on. On August 19, 1895 it all came to an end.

Hardin threatened El Paso, Texas, Constable John Selman. That evening, as Hardin was drinking and playing dice, Selman shot him, most likely from behind, although that is a matter of some dispute. Either way, Hardins life ended and a nickel-plated S&W revolver was found on the body. The Reverend E.W. Higgins was called to attend to the body and was asked how Hardin looked: Better than I ever saw him, replied Higgins, who added that if Hardin was shot through the eye from the front, It would be remarkably good marksmanship, and if he was shot behind the right ear and not from the front, it was probably remarkably good judgment. Smith & Wesson Double Action Frontier Revolver, serial # 352, .44-40 caliber with 6 inch barrel was carried by John Wesley Hardin when he was killed.

Sold for $625,312. (Courtesy Bonhams) You know who Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett were, right? They are the stuff of legends. Both of these figures are woven into the tapestry of our American history. Garrett and the Kid had been pals ever since Garrett arrived in Fort Sumner, Texas, in 1878. Both worked at Pete Maxwells ranch where they became friends. In the fall of 1880, Garrett was recruited by cattlemen John Chisum and J.C.

Lea to run for sheriff, and was ordered to subdue Billy the Kid. By December, Garrett had apprehended the Kid and his outlaw pals. The Kid was to be hung but escaped and was on the run with Garrett again tasked to arrest the Kid. It was coincidence that Garrett arrived at the Maxwell ranch the night of July 14, 1881. This is the same place where Garrett and the Kid had worked together. Garrett was looking for information, and sat in the dark talking with Maxwell.

The Kid entered the room to see what was going on, and no doubt could see someone in the dark. The Kid inquired who was there. Garrett fired his Colt revolver, killing the Kid and thus ending the life of the Old Wests most notorious outlaw. W.B. Bat Masterson was one of the most heralded of gunfighters of the Old West. Not so much of a killer but more of a good-guy enforcer.

Masterson was fearless with a resolute character and was a respected shootist. Unlike many of the legends that were made up in dime store novels, the Masterson legend is based on fact. He was involved in multiple shootouts in the 1870s and 1880s and they are fully documented, some in sworn court testimony. Masterson was a lawman, a professional hunter, a gambler, and even a frontier businessman. Masterson didnt reveal the actual number of men he killed, but it is speculated it was about 38, not including Native Americans nor Mexicans killed. In 1877, Masterson was elected sheriff of Dodge City, Kansas.

You know the expression: Get outta Dodge. Dodge City was a lawless, bustling cattle town on the edge of the frontier. It was here that Masterson was involved in several notable shootouts. He survived the Wild West and moved east to New York City, where he was a sportswriter for The Morning Telegraph newspaper. Masterson ordered nine Colt Single Actions between 1879 and 1888, but this is the most famous one due to the letter Masterson wrote ordering this revolver from Colt. Pat Garrett killed his pal, Billy the Kid, with this Colt Single Action Army revolver, serial # 55093, .44-40 caliber with 7 1/2 inch barrel.

Sold for $6,030,312. (Courtesy Bonhams) Gents, Please send Me one of your nickel-plated short .45 calibre revolvers. It is for my own use and for that reason I would like to have a little Extra pains taken with it. I am willing to pay Extra for Extra work. Make it very Easy on the trigger and have the front Sight a little higher and thicker than the ordinary pistol of this Kind. Put on a gutta percha handle and send it as soon as possible, have the barrel about the same length that the ejector rod is.

Truly Yours, W B Masterson The letter shows the type of detail one would expect from a man who expected and knew how to use the weapon.