FRONTIER DAYS COLT 1878 DA .45 & PITEADO HOLSTER, TAKEN FROM OUTLAW AND PLACED IN A COLLECTION WITH HOLBROOK SHERIFF

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE PIECE OF THE FRONTIER DAYS OF ARIZONA, TERRITORIAL DAYS, AND EARLY STATEHOOD, WHERE IT WAS KEPT IN COLLECTION AS A REMINDER OF THE WILD DAYS, OUTLAWS ARRESTED AND REVOLVERS TAKEN ! ATTESTING TO ALL OF THIS IS A LETTER WRITTEN BY A DIRECT FAMILY MEMBER OF O.C. WILLIAMS, SHERIFF OF HOLBROOK ARIZONA. PRECEEDING HIM WAS A FAMOUS INDIVIDUAL, COMMODORE PERRY OWENS. AS AHERIFF WHO WORE HIS HAIR LIKE THE “OLD DAYS” LONG LIKE BILL HICKOK, AND DRESSED THE PART. HE REMAINED IN OFFICE FOR A LONG TIME, RETIRING IN 1915. THEN O.C. WILLIAMS TOOK THE JOB AS SHERIFF. OVER 800 OTLAWS HAD BEEN ARRESTED, THEIR WEAPONS SEIZED, WINDING UP IN COLLECTION LOOKED AFTER BY WILLIAMS. THIS COLT 1878 IN A PITEADO MEXICAN HOLSTER IS ONE OF THE OUTLAWS FIREARMS IT IS A COLT MODEL 1878 DOUBLE ACTION .45 , WITH A 4-3/4 INCH BARREL. FACTORY BLUE FINISH STRONGLY WORN. THE COLT SHOWS CONTINUED USE, THE PITEADO HOLSTER SHOWS JUST HOW MUCH USE, WEAR AND TEAR THE OUT FIT SUSTAINED IN THE OLD WILDS OF ARIZONA NOW ONLY ABOUT  30% OF THE ORIGINAL BLUE REMAINS, WITH WEAR LINE ON THE EDGES FROM HOLSTER WEAR ALL FACTORY APPLIED MARKINGS ARE PRESENT: TWO LINE BARREL ADDRESS, CALIBER ON TRIGGER GUARD SHOULDER ALL PARTS ARE THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PARTS, MOSTLY A DARK BLUE WITH PLUM PATINA WHATS NOT IS AN UNTOUCHED GRAY PATINA THE COLT EXHIBITS HOLSTER WEAR, LIKE THE SIDE OF THE EJECTOR HOUSING. THE ORIGINAL HARD RUBBER GRIPS SHOW A UNIQUE FEATURE, THESE WERE GUTTA PERCHA  COLT MATERIAL GRIPS, THEREFORE THERE IS A BROWN TONE IN PLACES CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO STRONG SUN LIGHT.WHY NOT IT WAS IN ARIZONA!!! THE MECHANICAL ACTION OPERATES PERFECTLY ON THE DOUBLE ACTION M ODE, IT WILL NOT HOLD COCK FOR SINGLE ACTION. i DON’T BELIEVE THE OWNER CARED AS HE WANTED A DOUBLE ACTION COLT AND IT DID THAT WELL ! THE HOLSTER, A PITEADO DECORATED WITH CACTUS THREAD ETC.. LINED WITH SOFTER LEATHER, CHAMOIS LIKE, IS WORN, AND SHOWS IT’S LIFE IN THE WILD BUT ! DID IT’S JOB. THIS 1878 DA, LEFT THE COLT FCATORY IN 1888, SERIAL No.2111x. THIS RIG WAS TAKEN FROM AN OLD FRONTIER ARIZONA OUTLAW. THE REALITY OF IT ALL, TO A COLLECTOR THIS WAS A REAL OLD WEST VETERAN, NOT A NEVER USED BEAUTIFUL SPECIMEN. IT SHOWS JUST HOW TOUGH THE OLD WEST REALLY WAS, AND A SHERIFF TOUGH ENOUGH TO TAKE IT AWAY !!!! INTERESTING TO KNOW THE ORIGINAL NAME OF HOLBROOK WAS HORSESHOE BEND. RE NAMED HOLBROOK AFTER A RAILROAD ENGINEER  FINISHED THE RAIL LINE.