Manufactured in 1880, this is a standard black powder frame Single Action Army revolver reportedly having once belonged to on of the most ruthless outlaws in Indian Territory history: Crawford "Cherokee Bill" Goldsby. The revolver has the standard blade front sight which has been filed down and "V" notch rear sight. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address, the left barrel side is correctly unmarked, the left side of the frame is marked with the three-line, three patent date marking and the left side front of the trigger guard bow is marked "45 CAL". The frame and trigger guard numbers match, the back strap is numbered "82832" and the cylinder is numbered "0950". It is fitted with black checkered grips with the Rampant Colt in an oval at the tops. Cherokee Bill's given name was Crawford Goldsby and he was born on February 8, 1876, in Texas. His parents were George and Ellen (Beck) Goldsby who were of black, white, Indian and Mexican ancestry. Cherokee Bill's father was one of the famous "Buffalo Soldiers" of the Tenth Cavalry. Cherokees Bill's life of crime began at age 18 when he shot Jake Lewis twice for beating up his younger brother while attending a dance at Fort Gibson, Texas. Shortly after Cherokee met up with Jim and Bill Cook. The famous Cook gang made itself known across the Cherokee and Seminole Nations. Over the course of just 16 months Cherokee Bill robbed stores and trains and murdered a number of men, some for no apparent reason. Judge Parker characterized Bill as a "bloodthirsty mad dog who killed for the love of killing" and as "the most vicious" of all outlaws in the Oklahoma Territory. On March 17,1896, some 4 weeks after his 20th birthday, Cherokee Bill was hung for his crimes. On the way to the gallows Bill was reported to have remarked, "This is about as good a day to die as any". His last reported comment was "I came here to die, not make a speech". The revolver is complete with a leather cartridge belt and Mexican loop holster marked "S.B. SEVERS/MAKER/MUSKOGEE I.T." on the front at the top. The belt, which measures 37 inches, is unmarked and has 35 cartridge loops. There are 8 rounds of U.M.C. and Peters 45 Colt rounds on the belt. Rock Island Auction Company cannot verify the validity of the claim that this revolver and rig once belonged to Cherokee Bill, that information was provided by the consignor. There are also two short biographies about Cherokee Bill, one with excerpts taken from the book "Black, Red, and Deadly" by Art Burton.

Good as mismatched. The metal surfaces have a gray patina with some areas of very minor pitting, mostly on the cylinder and frame ahead of the cylinder. The right grip panel is good with pronounced checkering and what appears to be a small area that came in contact with heat and slightly melted. The left panel is broke in half and about half of it appears melted from heat. The remaining checkering is good, and both pieces remain with the gun. The belt and holster are good with a portion of the fastening strap missing, and the remaining portion is brittle. The stitching has come loose at the buckle; otherwise, the stitching is tight. Overall the belt and holster have moderate age cracking, and there is a small area of heavy wear at the bottom of the holster where the muzzle of the barrel rests. If this gun could talk, it might have some gruesome stories to tell. Further investigation into this piece may prove very interesting and beneficial.