Colt Lawman's Revolver Group, ca. 1920
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GUEST:
It belonged to my great-grandfather, Joe Clyde Musgrave. He was a sheriff in Bexar County, Texas. And that was willed to his son, R.F. Musgrave, and then it was willed to my dad and ultimately willed to me. So it's been through four generations of the Musgrave family. He was, as I mentioned, a sheriff with Bexar County in Texas. And unfortunately, he was killed in the line of duty.
APPRAISER:
Do you know any of the circumstances of why he received this pistol, or did he buy it or...?
GUEST:
No, I really don't. I know that my dad took the information of the revolver and had that mailed away to the Colt factory, I guess, and they said it was authentic. It was manufactured in the '20s, it came with a full engraving. And then the engraving on the actual handle came from a trip that he took to Mexico.
APPRAISER:
Okay, so when was he shot?
GUEST:
He was shot in 1934. It was actually in Bexar County and I believe it was in January.
APPRAISER:
So he carried this revolver probably with him for quite a period of time.
GUEST:
He did, absolutely.
APPRAISER:
Because you have his personal details here and then you have an end date of 1934, which is the year that he died.
GUEST:
Yes, sir.
APPRAISER:
So it's a Colt police positive revolver, and the target market for the revolver was law enforcement.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
So your great-grandfather would have been exactly who they were trying to sell this to. It is complete factory engraved and nickel plated. But again, what normally would be a detraction for this piece is also the positive to the piece.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
Because the grip here is obviously not factory original.
GUEST:
Yes, sir.
APPRAISER:
So you said you thought that was made where... when for the piece?
GUEST:
Well, I'm not sure. My understanding is that it was engraved in Mexico, that that was done to commemorate his time.
APPRAISER:
So probably your grandfather had that work done?
GUEST:
Probably, yeah, that sounds about right.
APPRAISER:
Because one of the most desirable things for collectors is factory original. They love the fact that this is a factory-engraved piece, that it has almost all of its original nickel finish, but in many cases they would sit back and say, "Well, wait a minute, it doesn't have the same grips that came from the factory."
GUEST:
Sure.
APPRAISER:
But it appears to me that it has a period, at some point or other-- 1930s, 1940s-- Mexican silver grip with a commemorative inscription. And with your family's story, all the things come together. Have you given any thought to value?
GUEST:
I have no idea what that might be worth.
APPRAISER:
You want to take a guess?
GUEST:
I...
APPRAISER:
Because it's a pretty thing, you would think it's probably worth something, right?
GUEST:
Yeah, I do. I would say maybe $2,500?
APPRAISER:
This revolver and holster and the badge at auction I would think would bring somewhere around $10,000 to $12,000.
GUEST:
Wow. Fantastic.
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