Guns International #: 100805243
Seller's Inventory #: 21482

Category - Colt Revolvers - Single Action Army - 1st Gen - Antique Revolvers - Cartridge

Category
Colt Revolvers - Single Action Army - 1st Gen
Antique Revolvers - Cartridge

Battle of Cimarron Veteran Newt Watson Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver

Description:
Antique 1st Gen Colt Single Action Army Revolver Peacemaker

Battle of Cimarron Veteran Newt Watson’s Gun

Here we present an antique 1st Generation Colt Single Action Army Revolver that is initialed and attributed to Indiana Representative Newton F. Watson. The Colt Single Action Army is a worldwide icon of the United States of America and the Western Frontier. Wielded by both the worst of men and the best, the famous Single Action Army is also well-known as the Peacemaker.

This revolver is initialed “NW” on the bottom of the grip, attributed to Newton “Newt” Watson. Watson is one of the Western gunslingers featured in an article published in a 1957 issue of TRUE Magazine. The 29 page, illustrated article was written by James D. Horan and is based on an interview of U.S. Marshal George Bolds from 1953. The portion of the story that includes Newt Watson (pages 20-29) tells about the infamous Battle of Cimarron during the Gray County War (1887-93) in Kansas, a dispute between two towns vying to be the county seat of Gray County. Being the seat of the county many times determined the viability of a town, so competition was stiff.

There were two factions involved in the dispute—the town of Cimarron and the more recently founded town of Ingalls. The decision should have been decided by a vote, but the democratic process deteriorated under accusations of fraud. The Supreme Court of Kansas was going to have to hear the case, but the Ingalls faction took matters into their own hands. Just before the Battle of Cimarron on January 12, 1889, Newt Watson was named County Clerk by the Ingalls faction. In an attempt to gain the upper hand, he tried to obtain the county records and seal from the courthouse in Cimarron. The people of Cimarron refused. He then decided to try to take it by force.

Watson appointed famous Dodge City lawman, Bill Tilghman, County Sheriff. Tilghman went on to deputize other former Dodge City lawmen Jim Masterson (brother of Bat Masterson), Ben Daniels, Neal Brown, and Fred Singer, as well as George Bolds, Ed Brooks and Billy Allensworth. Together, Watson and his raiding party daringly rode into Cimarron. The first-hand account of the Battle of Cimarron, told by U.S. Marshall George Bolds, may be read in the text of this article. Suffice it to say that Cimarron won the county seat several years later and that the only thing that kept some of the Ingalls faction alive was a terse wire from Bat Masterson threatening a train full of his friends. Watson relocated back to his home state of Indiana, where he became a State Representative of Kosciusko County.

This six-shooter is chambered in .45 Colt and features a 5.5 inch barrel. All the serial numbers match. The front sight was intentionally removed, probably according to the gunfighter’s preference. The patina shows no sign that this was recently removed. The color of the metal is dark brown. The grips show some handling and are in very good condition, of course bearing the initials “NW”.

The gun includes the Mexican-style, double loop holster, the complete 1957 article entitled “Ten Guns to Cimarron”, as well as 1905 and 1907 copies of Standing Rules and Orders for the Government of the House of Representatives for the Regular Session of 1905 (and 1907, respectively). Each one of the handbooks has “Newton F. Watson” embossed on the front. The copy of the article also bears the name of one of Watson’s later relatives with an address in neighboring Whitley County.

The story is worth a read and is a fascinating part of Western history. The first two thirds of the story is equally interesting, and is the tale of fellow Indiana native George Bolds’ forays into the West. Come to the to read the full story!

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 5.5 inches in length.

Caliber: .45 Colt

Bore is in fantastic condition and the firearm is in good working order. All numbers match.

Overall condition as seen in photos.

Here is a chance to own the revolver of a Wild West gun-fighter!

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ancestryguns
$12,000
#21482

SOLD

Antique: Yes