There are many unsung heroes of the American West, but perhaps none more important than Alexander Majors, who was one of the most significant and well-known figures during the early period of the western frontier. Virtually every western man, woman and child who could read and write (and most who couldn’t) were familiar with the name “Alexander Majors”. His likeness is on historical plaques, markers and statues throughout the West to this very day, with perhaps the best being his monument in Pioneer Square in Kansas City that features Majors, early Kansas City Planner John C. McCoy and famed Mountain Man Jim Bridger. Having some experience as a teamster, Majors had a vision like many others of becoming a successful businessman using his practical experiences. On the 10th of August, 1848 and at the age of 34, he put that determination to good use by forming a small outfit of 6 oxen wagons that he planned to build into a freight business. Build he did, with his venture eventually becoming one of the most wildly successful businesses in the West. His lines ran on the Santa Fe Trail between Independence, Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory and then beyond. By most every account, Majors was famous throughout the west with two characteristics standing out; 1. He always rode in, or by the side of the lead wagon in the early years of his routes, making certain that he was the first to respond to any curious Indian parties or renegade gangs that happened upon his trains, and these reports point out that he was always armed with a trusted shotgun. 2. All employees were issued a bible and required to sign an oath of good behavior upon employment. This practice of issuing bibles continued throughout his career, with even his Pony Express Riders being issued Bibles that today sell for $10,000 - $30,000, with one identified example selling for a reported $75,000 in a recent on-line auction. His most notable employee was a twelve-year-old messenger boy named William F. Cody, aka, Buffalo Bill. In 6 years, Majors became a multi-millionaire through private and Military contracts supplying the West. In 1854, he teamed up with William Waddell and William Russell to form Russell, Majors and Waddell, with Wild Bill Hickok being one of their employees and Kit Carson, Bill Comstock and California Joe among their scouts at different times. For years before railroads on the plains, the firm did enormous business freighting for the Government from Fort Leavenworth, having transported Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston's army across the country to Utah in 1857-1858. For the year 1858, the freight contracted by the Government aggregated 16,000,000 pounds, requiring from 3,500 to 4,000 wagons, near 40,000 oxen, 1,000 mules, and between 4,000 and 5,000 men. Besides the Government freight, they transported a great deal of materials for post traders and mercantile firms in Salt Lake City and, later on, in Denver. In October 1857, Russell, Majors and Waddell faced financial ruin when Lot Smith and his Nauvoo Mormon Legion destroyed 54 of their wagons during the Utah War. The Army did not reimburse the firm, and the company began looking for other avenues for funds. The most famous of these ventures was historically the most romantic of Western undertakings, The Pony Express, a fast mail service crossing the North American continent from the Missouri River to the Pacific coast, and still familiar today to virtually every citizen in the United States. Messages were carried on a horseback relay across the prairies, plains, deserts, and mountains of the western United States. It briefly reduced the time for mail to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to around ten days. By traveling a slightly shorter route and using mounted riders rather than stagecoaches, the founders of the Pony Express hoped to establish their service as a faster and more reliable conduit for the mail and win away the exclusive government mail contract. Majors was instrumental in directing the assembly of 190 relay stations over 1,966 miles from St. Joseph to Sacramento, along with 50 riders and 500 horses. They completed the task in time for the April 3, 1860, opening. The Pony Express officially opened on April 3, 1860, the first trip, westbound, was made in 9 days and 23 hours. The eastbound trip was made in 11 days and 12 hours. Every 24 hours they covered 250 miles. Dime store novels, magazines, books and movies have featured the fascinating story of the Pony Express for well over 100 years, and statues and historical markers appear in virtually every state in which it operated to this very day. Ultimately, the transcontinental telegraph lines made the Pony Express obsolete, and the partners’ freight business too, was soon severely hampered by the advancement of railroads. Majors businesses eventually failed but he led a peaceful life thereafter, becoming part of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows and writing a book prefaced by and dedicated to Buffalo Bill Cody. In his latest years, Majors lived at Cody's Scouts' Rest Ranch in North Platte, Nebraska for a time. He died in Chicago, Illinois, on January 13, 1900, aged 85. He is buried in Union Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri. The significance of "Peralto" in the inscription is not clear. However, it is recorded that the farthest point from Independence that Major’s initial freight route ran was to Peralto, New Mexico. This could have been one of two places, the town of Peralto north of Albuquerque on the Rio Grande, or Peralto Station, a civilian fort on the Rio Grande South of Albuquerque listed in an 1850 census. Majors also may have named his headquarters “Peralto” in Missouri. There is no actual presentation directed in the inscription, indicating that Majors likely purchased and identified this gun as belonging to him personally upon purchase. Perhaps time or future research will clarify its story. During this period and into the early 20th century, it became common for a guard to ride in front next to the driver of a stagecoach or lead wagon and being armed with a double barreled shotgun. These men were dubbed "shotgun messengers" and riding next to the driver ultimately became known as "riding shotgun" by the early 1900s. Majors was known for being armed with one in his lead wagon. There’s a very good chance that the phrase “Riding Shotgun” originated with Majors’ practice, as anyone asking for him en route during a haul would be directed to him using such a phrase by his teamsters. The absolutely authentic and period German silver plaque on the right side of the butt of this shotgun is inscribed "Alexander Majors/Peralto/Mo." and has scroll engraving. The locks are signed "VAN WART SON & Co." The flat rib has a small front sight. The breech end of the rib and barrels have double German silver bands, and the breech plugs have German silver plugs. The breech, locks, and furniture have primarily scroll engraving. The stock has a checkered wrist and 14 1/4 inch length of pull. Van Wart, Son & Co. were merchants in Birmingham founded by American born Henry van Wart who also founded the Birmingham Stock Exchange. They focused on exporting various Birmingham made goods to America including firearms and this shotgun dates from 1840 – 1860, right in the heart of Major's period of work.

Very good, with dark brown patina, mild oxidation, missing left hammer screw, replacement cross screw for the locks, nipples show use, mild scattered roughness, and moderate overall wear. The stock is also very good and has some minor chips and slivers absent from the edges, distinct but mildly worn checkering, and general dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. A gun that was obviously used but well taken care of and not abused. This is an interesting Old West shotgun inscribed for one of the co-founders of the famous Pony Express and an icon of the period. Double barrel shotguns were especially popular for defense among those involved in shipping on the western frontier and famously carried by those "riding shotgun" and certainly would have been an excellent piece to present to one of the most influential men in the business.