Judge Roy Bean's Gun

[Shotgun Franklin]

I have read, several sources, that Bean's revolver was given to Lillie Langtry when she visited Langtry Texas after the Judge's death. Apparently there was some question about what happened to the gun and if she actually had it. The reported inscriptions on the gun don't match. I was wondering if the gun is now accounted for or what might have happened to it? I'd kinda like to see it come home.

[dusty texian]

Hey Shotgun,just saw this. I am not sure if the revolver you are talking about is different from the one on display at the Roy Bean Museum,there in Langtry.I stop in there often on my way out to the Muleshoe ranch.Inside there ,they have a Schofield pistol they say was Roy Bean's gun,along with his cane and his Law book.If I remember right the old pistol is a little rough with cracked ivory grips ,and some old black cloth tape wraped around the handel.Next time I am in there I'll ask the lady that run's the place if I can take a pic. for Ya. If you can stop in there one day,a very nice group of folk run the place.You can go into the original Jersy Lilly saloon and belly up to the bar. It is all the real deal down to the furnishing's,including the dry rot wall paper .You can also go into the Judges old house up the hill,and go through it . A very cool breeze is always comming up from the Rio Grande Rio through the house. He picked that place for a reason.Sorry to get off topic, but if Ya go there take a look at the photograph of the old Judge on his porch,with the bullet holes in his smoke stack of the saloon,then step outside and look at the same bullet holes ,still there. Like stepping back in time . Here a photo of one of my Pard's in the original Jersy Lilly @Langtry Texas,,,,,,,Dusty

[dusty texian]

Hey Shotgun ,did some looking about the pistol you mentioned. Found a pic. in the book titled (Judge Roy Bean Country) by Jack Stiles. a very good read. There is a pic. of a fancy revolver engraved and supposed to be given to Lillie Langtry by the citizen's of Langtry,the note say's it was removed from display because ,recent question's of its authenticty. It look's like a # 3 Russian to me but I am no expert on S&W revolvers. The one on display is said to be Roy Bean's pistol,and it is an old Schofield I think,and look's like it has seen the elephant,,,,,,Dusty

[Blair]

Shotgun and Dusty,

I tried doing a Google search to see if I could find photos of the two revolvers... with no luck.
If you can get and/or post photos, I'll see if I can identify which Model #3 S&W revolvers they are.
My best,
Blair

[dusty texian]

Thank's Blair, here is a pic. from the book ,Judge Roy Bean Country. I think it is the pistol that Shotgun is asking about. The Judges pistola that is on display in Langtry now ,I do not have a pic. of, or I cant find it . But am almost sure it is a Schofield .I will be in that area in a month or so ,I'll stop in and get a pic. then if I dont find one around here. ,,,,,,Dusty

[dusty texian]

Hey Shotgun,and Blair. Here is a bad pic. but what I have of the Roy Bean pistol that is on display in the museum now. It is the one with the tape on the handel. If I remember right ,it say's he took it from one of the misfortunates that came across his path,or made the mistake of stoping over to long in Langtry,,,,,,Dusty

[Blair]

Dusty,

This revolver in the book, looks to be a #3 Model 3, most likely in .44 S&W Russian caliber.
The barrel seems somewhat longer than the normal 7 ". (perhaps 8"?)
The latch on the bottom of the frame forward of the trigger guard is also different from the normal. This latch releases the cartridge extraction "star" during any part of the opening of the top brake action, or automatically when full opened.

Uberti/Navy Arms have based their "New Model Russian, Model#3" on this revolver.
I hope this helps.
My best,
Blair

[Shotgun Franklin]

I appreciate ya'll looking into this. Roy Bean deserves a bit more exposure. He was a man of and for his time.

[Blair]

Dusty and Shotgun,

The revolver in the show case is hard to see, however, it looks like it could be either a #3 Model 1 American or #3 Model 1 Russian (some times called the Old Old Model Russian.
These revolvers do have a square butt grip very much like what S&W used on the Schofield Model (s).
Again, I hope this helps.
Blair

[dusty texian]

Thank's Blair. Next time I'm in there I'll take a pic. close-up of the revolver in the case.,,,,,Dusty

[St. George]

He was the Texas version of P.T. Barnum.

For more reading:

Davis, Joe Tom (1985), Legendary Texians, Volume II, Austin, Texas: Eakin Press, ISBN 0-89015-473-2.

Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Association: Bean, Roy

Further reading:

C.L. Sonninchsen. Roy Bean: The Law West of Pecos. 1943. ISBN 0-8263-0846-5.

Jack Skiles. Judge Roy Bean Country. Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 0-89672-369-0.

As to the S&W revolver - there's no indication that 'he' ever gave one to Lily Langtry, but 'some' indication that 'she' sent him a pair.

They never met, though she did visit the town a year after his death.

Scouts Out!

[Shotgun Franklin]

Many years ago I read a biography about her. (It's been so long ago I don't even remember the title). Anyway, the writer claimed she got Roy's gun, whatever gun that was. There was a photo and it gave a serial number. She visited Langtry, after Bean's death so the writer claimed.

[Blair]

The only thing that is important to me is that the guns seem to be S&W revolvers. And they need or should be properly identified.
My best,
Blair

[Jack Wagon]

Here is a picture of the Judge's gun in the Jersey Lilly. The label states the stocks are broken because he used it as a gavel. The photo's not the best quality, I took it many years ago when I was passing through Texas.   JW

[Tsalagidave]

Interesting foot note on Bean is that in his early years, he was a prominent citizen of 1850's Los Angeles. He ran his uncle's bar "The Headquarters" which was located on what is now the green belt in front of the San Gabriel Mission. He was then described as wearing the fancy styles of the Californios in addition to a pair of Navy-sixes and a silver handled bowie knife.

-Dave

[dusty texian]

I have read that about him also Dave.I guess it is proof that (we are a product of our enviroment.)That hard country he ended up spending most of his life in is hard, and leaves many scares on Ya. It is still Wild and Wolly today,,,,,,,Dusty

[Skeeter Lewis]

The Jersey in question is the island in the English Channel where she was born. She was  was almost certainly a mistress of King Edward VII's and was quite a gal.