1882 KANSAS , BANK HISTORY, DEFENSE AGAINST THE DALTONS and OTHER ROBBER GANGS

This pair of S&W 1st Model, DA .44 Russian revolvers has an overwhelming historical significance on the Kansas Frontier , starting in 1882. Both revolvers have identical S&W Factory Letters .During this period Bank Robbing was a regular occurrence, with the Dalton Gang, the Doolin-Dalton Gang and other Kansas and Oklahoma Gangs preying on Banks. Most if not all times, the tellers offered “no fight” and were unarmed. If there was a fight it was in the street after the fact ! Junction City Kansas in Central Kansas, is south of Manhattan, and slightly north of Fort Riley Kansas.  The owner of the Bank W,B. Clarke was spurred into action when a Bank a mere 25 miles away was a victim to the Daltons. He ordered modern up to date fire power for his two Bank Clerks. He ordered TWO, S&W Double Action, 1st Model revolvers in the standard caliber of .44 Russian. These revolvers were ordered and Delivered to M.W. Robinson, on the SAME shipment. Serial Numbers 6083 and 6086. This comes with Factory Letters ( several thru various past owners, all the same info) Shipped on May 29th, 1882 to M.W. Robinson. BOTH having 6 inch barrels, and Factory Nickel Finish. M.W. Robinson, furnished the revolvers WITH ENGRAVED back straps, reading: “Banking House of W.B. Clarke”, which was 1st National Bank. This was a Davis County major institution, and Banking Center.  By God, it wasn’t going to be robbed without resistance, S&W resistance.!!  Along with the Pair of Revolvers comes, literally VOLUMES of documentation, going back all the way to 1882, and all the owners to this date. MANY, MANY pages of information from Newspapers and County Historical Societies. plus individuals who once owned them, telling a great story of the pair starting in 1882 to the present. Once separated, and then re-united, the efforts of caring collectors. I found it very interesting, that one S&W was carried by the Building Janitor, and no so cared for. It came to him after the Bank became modern and the outlaws also were gone ! One laid on top a filing cabinet in the basement for decades, un-attended. They were separated thru friends and sold, being later re-united by caring collectors. They have appeared in the Junction City newspapers, many articles honoring Frontier Days in Kansas , PLUS in National Arms related Magazine: Man At Arms , and Gun Journal. You might say they are famous! REGARDING THE REVOLVERS: You will see that the condition of the revolvers are different. The lower Serial No. 6803 has a smooth metal, untouched, original medium gray patina. There are some traces of the original nickel, mostly in protected areas. Amazingly, there is quite a bit of case color on the hammer and trigger. There is also faded blue on the trigger guard. The Checkered Hard rubber logo grips are in excellent condition, exhibiting little to no hand wear. MECHANICALLY: the top break and ALL it’s working actions are in 100% perfect condition and function like the day they were made, NO mechanical issues.  The higher Serial Number 6806 has a different appearance.  Like it’s brother it has the 6 inch barrel and original Factory Nickel plate finish. However, maybe 15-20% of the original nickel is present. The balance is a plum patina, original and untouched. Most nickel is on the cylinder and touching frame area. Once again, there is a STRONG amount of case color s on the hammer and trigger. Even recognizable blue on the trigger guard. The checkered hard rubber grips are in excellent condition, with no hand wear. MECHANICALLY: the revolver operates 100% on ALL working actions, as it did when new. NO mechanical issues. The pair are different in existing finishes, but alike in 100% working order ! To the purchaser, I also have a wooden frame and two brass tags identifying the revolvers. This was a display from long ago when in collection and photographed for the magazines. I assure you you can spend several days reading all the material and the history of these two S&W DA revolvers. This is Frontier Kansas History at it’s best, bought to stop robbery in the Bank from all the wild gangs of the era, laying within grasp , out of sight for the tellers. Bought by a Bank Owner determined to defend what was his and his Banks responsibility to it’s customers. Here we are in 2025 143 years later, but you can hold the same pair of S&W DA 1st Model Russians, imagine that !!