The accompanying factory letter addressed to noted Texas ranching legend (YO Ranch) and gun collecting icon Charles Schreiner III (1927-2001) lists this revolver with a 7 ½ inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, steer head carved pearl stocks, engraved, and presentation inscriptions on the back strap and butt sold to Captain R.C. Nichols and shipped to Captain J.R. Heckman (address unknown) on December 19, 1921. The ultra deluxe engraving and presentation are done by the hand of factory Master Engraver William Gough. The decorative work on the revolver bears Gough’s signature profuse foliate scroll pattern with shading background lines. This type of extensive engraving was usually reserved for the very rich or elite among the top shots in the shooting fraternity. As noted in the factory letter, the inscription on the back strap reads, “GENERAL THOS. D. BARTON” and the inscription on the butt reads, “Presented by/State Ranger Force.” The inscription on the back strap is inside a banner. Matching serial numbers are on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. While the grips do feature a steer head carving on the left panel, they are non factory, period replacements. Based on research presented in “The Texas Rangers in Transition: From Gunfighters to Criminal Investigators, 1921–1935” by Harris and Sadler, Barton was so well liked by the Rangers that they presented this revolver to Barton as a Christmas present (see Chapter 2). This is confirmed in an accompanying July 15, 1952 dated notarized affidavit (copy) on Texas Gun Collector letterhead from famed Texas Ranger Frank Hamer (1884-1955), who is best remembered for leading the posse that tracked down and killed notorious public enemy era outlaw couple Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. According to Hamer, “This revolver was given to General Barton as a Christmas present in 1922 when he was Adjutant General of the State of Texas and as such was in command of the Texas Rangers. Some time later he gave it to me as he did not care for single actions. This gun was used by me quite frequently while in the service of the State of Texas as a Ranger.” The fact that Hamer carried the gun while a Texas Ranger gives the SAA an additional level of historical significance. In 1952, Hamer sold the revolver to noted firearms collector Victor E. Friedrichs who in turn eventually sold it to fellow noted collector Charles Schreiner III in 1968. Provenance is retold in an included January 15, 1968 dated letter signed by Friedrichs. An account of Hamer’s firearms, including this SAA, as retold by Friedrichs accompanies the lot. Schreiner’s collection card for the revolver is also included. The revolver was pictured in the May 1954 edition of the Texas Gun Collector’s Association magazine (copy of article included), is pictured in “A Pictorial History of the Texas Rangers” by Schreiner and Berryman on page 63, and was displayed at the 108th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in San Antonio, Texas, from May 18 to 22, 1979 (exhibits brochure included). Texas native Thomas Dickson Barton (1875-1944) had a long successful career in the service of his country and state. In 1892, he enlisted in the 6th Texas Infantry Regiment and was commissioned a first lieutenant in 1895. During the Spanish-American War, he served with the 1st Montana Infantry stationed in the Philippines. Eventually, he was commissioned a captain and later a major in the 4th Texas Infantry and commanded his company through its training and in battle in France during World War I. He was wounded numerous times and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Croix de Guerre, and the Italian Croce al Merite de Guerra. The citation for his Distinguished Service Cross reads, “Captain Barton advanced his company against a strongly fortified enemy position, and succeeded in capturing the enemy works, together with twenty machine guns and ninety prisoners. After he had lost all his company officers and sustained many casualties in his command, Captain Barton again moved forward through an intense barrage, and established the most advanced position of the first day of the battle.” By the end of WWI, he was commanding a military police detachment of the 36th Division and served on the military mission for repatriation of Russian prisoners in Berlin. He remained active in military affairs until July 1938 when he retired as a brigadier general. In 1921, he was appointed Adjutant General of Texas, a position he held from January 20, 1921 until January 23, 1925. As adjutant general, Barton took an active role as the commander of the Texas Rangers, often joining Rangers in raids. Political corruption, labor unrest, gambling and the unintended consequences of prohibition all converged to create the perfect storm for a rise in violent crime in Texas at the dawning of the 1920s, and Barton was right in the middle of it. Texas Governor Pat Neff, who appointed Barton as adjutant general two days after his inauguration, recalled, “Texas was being swept by the greatest crime wave in her history. Cold, cruel, calculating crime was organized…one of the established industries of the State.” In 1920, for instance, Texas reported more lynchings than any other state (see Mike Cox’s “Time of the Rangers: Texas Rangers From 1900 to the Present,” page 106.) As retold in the included “Report of State Ranger and Martial Law Activities of the National Guard of Texas, 1921 and 1922,” Barton was actively involved in efforts to clean up political corruption and gambling in Eastland and Stephens Counties and oversaw law enforcement activities in Limestone and Freestone Counties in 1922 when martial law was declared due to corruption, gambling and bootlegging. Barton oversaw a raid on Mexia that involved approximately 20 Texas Rangers and several prohibition enforcement officers. Two of the primary targets of this effort were the famous gambling, drinking and prostitution establishments of Winter Garden and the Chicken Farm. During this campaign, over 600 arrests were made, 27 stills were put out of business, 2,270 gallons of liquor were destroyed, 53 stolen vehicles were recovered, and approximately $4,000 worth of narcotics and $5,000 worth of gambling paraphernalia were confiscated. Texas Ranger Frank Hamer was one of the primary architects of this law enforcement campaign that Barton initiated. Barton also participated in law enforcement actions taken in Texas to counter the Great Railroad Strike of 1922, a nationwide strike of railroad workers. Marital law was declared from July 1 to July 26, 1922, and almost 300 of the most active offenders in Grayson County were arrested. General Barton passed away on November 28, 1944 at the age of 69 and was buried with honors at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas. The Texas Rangers occupy a special position of respect within law enforcement circles throughout the U.S. and the world and are known by the general population as having historically stood for law and order and bravery. Adjutant General Barton led the Rangers during a most difficult time in Texas history when corruption and criminal behavior had cowered many in local law enforcement. Having served with distinction, bravery and honor in the U.S. Army in the Spanish-American War and World War I, it was only natural that Thomas Barton would rise to the occasion of this period of lawlessness. This special gift from his men no doubt was highly prized by Barton, and was certainly given with respect to Texas Ranger Frank Hamer. The fact that the revolver was carried by Hamer and later resided in famed private collections gives it an additional level of unmatched historic provenance.

Exceptionally fine plus. The revolver retains 75% factory blue finish and mostly showing some holster type wear on the barrel and ejector rod housing and smooth gray patina on the back strap. 90% case colors remain on the frame and hammer. The engraving is crisp. The period grips are fine with some chipping near the top (right panel) and crisp carving. Mechanically excellent. A true piece of Texas Ranger and Colt history with unparalleled provenance most certainly suitable for the finest private or public collections! Provenance: Texas Ranger Commander Thomas Barton, Texas Ranger Captain Frank Hamer, Charles Schreiner III, The Gateway Collection.