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LOT 403
Historic Texas Ranger Captain John Wood’s “Texas Public Safety Dept.” Marked Colt New Service Double Action Revolver with Texas Ranger Badge -
Serial no. 347732, 38 special cal., 4 inch round bbl., chrome finish, walnut grips. This Colt New Service revolver was formerly of Charles Schreiner III’s famed Texas Rangers collection which was originally sold in April 2003 and then-identified by Texas Ranger Senior Captain Clint Peoples as being carried in the line of duty by Texas Ranger Captain John Wood (1913-2013). Capt. John Wood is recognized as a prominent Texas Ranger in “A Pictorial History of the Texas Rangers” on pages
154, 205, 209 and 215 (Schreiner & Berryman, 1969). At an early age Capt. Wood knew he wanted to be a Texas Ranger, and, standing well over 6 feet tall, certainly matched the image of the cowboy hat and boot wearing, gun toting lawman he first saw as a child. His career defining case was the nearly 11-year investigation into the Duval County political machine run by prominent and corrupt political boss, George Parr, the Duke of Duval (1901-1975), that resulted in several hundred cases against two dozen people, including Parr. Through bribery, fraud, and illegal donations Parr and his father before him controlled the powerful Democratic political machine of South Texas for decades. In the early 1970s the law finally caught up to Parr when he was convicted on income tax evasion and sentenced to ten years in prison, but before he was put behind bars, Parr was found dead of an apparent suicide. Unable to continue on without Parr, the political machine soon dissolved. Capt. Wood began his law-enforcement career as a city policeman and joined the Texas DPS as a Highway Patrolman in 1942. Promoted to Ranger on New Year’s Day 1949 and later to Ranger Sergeant, he had almost 30 years of legendary service in the Texas Rangers when he retired in 1978 and, at his death aged 99 years in 2013, was the oldest living Texas Ranger. Manufactured in 1939, this revolver is stamped with standard Colt barrel markings, “TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY DEPT.” on the back strap and “No. 68” on the butt. A tag attached to the trigger guard reads, “Sgt. John Wood/302.” Includes Capt. Wood’s gold Texas Ranger sergeant badge featuring inlaid gem stones (possibly sapphires) on each of the five-star points and marked “HALTOMS/FT WORTH” on the back.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 97% of the old reapplied chrome plating with scattered flaking and some scratches. The grips are good, well worn from being carried by a Texas Ranger for decades. The right panel has a stabilized crack toward the bottom. Mechanically excellent. The Texas Ranger sergeant badge is excellent. A Colt New Service known to have been carried in the line of duty by Texas Ranger Captain John Wood that will be a most welcomed addition to any law enforcement collection.
Provenance: Charles Schreiner III Collection, Robert B. “Bob” Berryman Estate Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
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