Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentBlogFAQNewsAbout Us
Create Account
Login
AuctionsConsignmentBlogFAQNews & EventsAbout Us
Login
Create Account

History Lives Here

Rock Island Auction Company
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
RIAC Rock Island
7819 42nd Street West
Rock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
8:00am - 5:00pm, Mon - Fri
RIAC Bedford
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, Texas 76021, USA
8:00am - 5:00pm, Mon - Fri
Navigation
  • Auctions
  • Consignment
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • News
  • About Us
More Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Job Postings & Careers
  • Contact
  • Order a Catalog
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
  • Auction Catalog #4090
  • Lot #149
Lot #148
Lot #150

Lot 149: Brack Cornett Attributed Engraved Colt Single Action Army

Documented Hartley & Graham Soft Shipped Engraved Antique Black Powder Colt Single Action Army Revolver Attributed to Texas Desperado Brack Cornett of the Cornett-Whitley Gang with Factory Letter

Auction Location: Bedford, TX

Auction Date: December 8, 2023

Lot 149: Brack Cornett Attributed Engraved Colt Single Action Army

Documented Hartley & Graham Soft Shipped Engraved Antique Black Powder Colt Single Action Army Revolver Attributed to Texas Desperado Brack Cornett of the Cornett-Whitley Gang with Factory Letter

Auction Location: Bedford, TX

Auction Date: December 8, 2023

Estimated Price: $5,000 - $7,500
Price Realized:
Login to view
Login to view

Documented Hartley & Graham Soft Shipped Engraved Antique Black Powder Colt Single Action Army Revolver Attributed to Texas Desperado Brack Cornett of the Cornett-Whitley Gang with Factory Letter

Manufacturer: Colt
Model: Single Action Army
Type: Revolver
Gauge: 45 Long Colt
Barrel: 4 5/8 inch round
Finish: blue
Grip: antique ivory
Stock:
Item Views: 3024
Item Interest: Very Active
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 127
Class: Antique
Description:

This revolver comes with a copy of a notarized statement from Edward F. Cornett stating: "Regarding Colt Single Action Army Model revolver, serial number 87925, blue finish, engraved with ivory stocks, which belonged to Braxton 'Brack' Cornett, Texas outlaw and gunfighter and leader of the Cornett-Whitley gang of train and bank robbers, circa 1800s in Texas. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, as part of my research of our family's history and ancestry, I contacted various relatives in Texas, primarily in the Goliad area and obtained information regarding Brack Cornett. It’s now over 50 years ago since that time, however, among those I was able to contact, I recall talking with Mr. Lynn Cornett, Mr. Roger Cornett and Pearl Sherrill. All were direct descendants of Brack Cornett’s and his immediate family. In the course of making these contacts, I learned that Brack Cornett’s Colt revolver was available for sale, so I purchased the gun and have owned it ever since. In 1981 I obtained a Colt historical letter indicating the revolver was shipped “in the soft" on Feb. 17, 1883, to Hartley & Graham, New York, NY. I was told by several Colt collectors that it was probably engraved by one of their contract engravers. Also included with the gun is a copy of the book, 'The Cornett-Whitley Gang', by David Johnson." As noted above, the revolver is accompanied by a factory letter listing it in .45 caliber with "Soft" finish and the barrel length and grips not listed when it was part of a shipment of 25 revolvers on February 17, 1883, to Hartley & Graham in New York City. They were major dealers and distributors and often had revolvers engraved by talented artists such as L.D. Nimschke in New York City. The revolver features extensive scroll engraving with beaded backgrounds and wavy line and dot accents. It also has a blade front sight, the one-line barrel address, smaller ejector rod button, "black powder" frame with screw that secures the arbor pin, the three-line patent marking on the left side of the frame, "45 CAL" on the left side of the trigger guard at the front, assembly number "6458" on the loading gate, and matching serial numbers. Braxton "Brack" Cornett (1841-1888) was an infamous Texas outlaw in the late 19th century and was the co-leader of the Bill Whitley Gang also known as the Brack Cornett Gang or the Cornett-Whitley Gang. In a classic western photograph of Cornett, he can be seen carrying a pair of Colts in his holsters. The gang formed in early 1887 and five robbed trains and a bank in Texas starting in May of that year. Cornett led the gang in what the New York Times called "the most daring train robbery that ever occurred in Texas." Though they had early success, soon the law was on top them, and their days were numbered. They stopped them from robbing another train that year on September 22nd and shot it out before fleeing and robbing a different train a few days later. On the 25th, they engaged in another shootout and Whitley was killed and another was captured. Cornett was on the run in Arizona, but he was soon killed by Texas Ranger Alfred Alee in Frio. His death was widely reported in the newspapers in February 1888. For example, the Weekly Monitor in Fort Scott, Kansas, reported the story of Cornett coming to Alee's place and taking dinner, but Alee didn't recognize him immediately. Once he realized who it was, he manuevered to take him prisoner, calling to him "Consider yourself my prisoner." Alee reported that "He was the quickest man I ever saw. Even with the advantage I held, he drew and fired before I could press the trigger. At the report of his pistol my hat spun around and fell to my side. There was a hole through the brim and a lock of my hair fell to my left shoulder. I fired and he sprang to his feet. I fired twice more and he returned again. Then I pulled on him for the last time, and he fell foward on his face." The two men had been childhood friends, and there has long been speculation that Cornett tried to go to Alee for help. Alee himself was knifed and killed in 1896 by Laredo City Marshall Joseph Barthelow. Provenance: Texas Outlaw Brack Cornett; Edward F. Cornett

Rating Definition:

Good with a mix of refinished blue and plum brown finish, moderate pitting concentrated on the cylinder, shortened barrel, renumbered trigger guard, partially obliterated barrel address, and general moderate wear. The poorly fitting, undersized grips are also good and have attractive aged patina, moderate handling wear, age lines/cracks, and attractive grain. The hammer doesn't have all three clicks, but the revolver otherwise functions fine.



Customer Product Questions

There are currently no customer product questions on this lot

    Related Items

    Lot #60: Colt First Generation Single Action Army with Factory Letter

    Lot #915: Colt First Generation Single Action Army with Factory Letter

    Lot #64: Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver

    Lot #1051: Uberti/Cimarron Single Action Army Revolver

    Lot #491: Colt First Generation Single Action Army with Factory Letter

    Lot #487: Antique U.S. Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver