Buntline Special

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Probably more than you ever wanted to know about it, but some neat photos.

http://home.earthlink.net/~knuthco1/Itemsofinterest3/Buntlinesource.htm

[Griff]

A truly engrossing article.  I seem the remember the salient facts from when it first appeared, but still found myself re-reading here.
Great find.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

I have Vol I of Silva's Wyatt Earp Bio, there's a whole chapter on this in there and he's expanded his info since 1995. Great read, but very heavy. It's definately not for the casual reader either. Can't wait for Vol. II to come out............Buck

[St. George]

This from 'The Bible' of Colt Collecting - "The Book of Colt Firearms" - by Sutherland and Wilson - and found on page 249:

    "Colt records indicate the true 'Buntline Specials' as from the serial number range of 28800 through 28830.  The identifying characteristic shared by all these revolvers was the flat-top style of frame with the folding leaf sight.  Serial records list (#28802 Colt family), #28803, #28805, #28806, #28807, #28809, #28810, #28811, #28812, #28815, #28816, #22818, #28819, #28822, #28823, #28824, #28826, and #28830.  Barrel lengths vary from 10"(3) to 12"(1), to 16"(11);  some specimens may have been produced in the 7 1/2" barrel length.  Dates of shipment from November of 1876 to May of 1884. The major purchaser was B. Kitteredge and Company, of Cincinnatti.  Calibers listed for the above guns are all .45 excepting two 2 in .44-40.
Two specimens were not identified as to caliber and two were not identified in barrel length.  Some few revolvers were shortened in barrel legth by subsequent owners, and the authors consider such pieces as colorful reminders that a novel idea in gunmaking does not often meet with unanimous acclaim.

    The story that Ned Buntline, the dime novel author, personally presented five of the long barrel Colts to Dodge City lawmen Wyatt Earp, Charlie Bassett, Neal Brown, Bat Masterson and Bill Tilghman, is considered by the authors as fiction.  The source of the alleged event can be traced to Stuart N. Lake's fanciful biography, "Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshal".  Research has substantially discredited not only the Buntline presentation but much of the Lake-Earp book.

    About half the total Buntline production is known to collectors, including one exquisite specimen in original condition complete with shoulder stock and custom-made holster (serial #28819).  Serial # 28809 is displayed in the Connecticut State Library collection.  Surprisingly, cylinder serial numbers sometimes are not matching."

The authors - R.Q. Sutherland and R.L. Wilson had full access to the Colt records and were  amazingly thorough in their research and it shows in this publication and in the several that Wilson has produced.

Lake's accuracy has been in question a long time - largely due in part to the fact that much of what was written wasn't from Earp, himself - but from others.

Scouts Out!

[Four-Eyed Buck]

You should check Silva's research out, might surprise you.......Buck

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

More grist for the mill.

http://www.kancoll.org/khq/1976/76_2_shillingberg.htm

[Silver Creek Slim]

This is a very interesting topic. Thanks for posting it, pards.

Slim