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Texas Ranger Frank Hamer Gunfight .41 Derringer

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
Texas Ranger Frank Hamer Gunfight .41 Derringer
All items sold as is where is. See photos for condition, email info@burleyauction.com or call 830-629-9280 (Prior to sale day) if you have specific condition questions.

Winning bidders will receive an invoice on or before end-of-day Tuesday following the auction.
Notarized letter from Frank Hamer Jr. reads: "This item is a .41 caliber Remington Derringer which was discarded in great hast by a man by the name of Phillips in Sweetwater, Texas as he ran from the scene of the gunfight between my father (Frank Hamer) and Gee McMeans. Some witnesses saw him throw an object as he fled and this derringer was picked up at the spot." After testifying in court in Baird on October 1, 1917, while making preparations to return to Snyder, Texas, Frank Hamer was approached by a bunch of men who advised him not to go through Sweetwater Texas (which was on the road to Snyder), as Gee McMeans (a Former Texas Ranger and Sheriff) and others were in Sweetwater for the purpose of murdering Hamer. Hamer stated: "Immediately after entering the city limits of Sweetwater which was about 1:30 PM October 1, 1917, I had a puncture and drove into a garage which was located on the South-East corner of the square of Sweetwater, Texas. I walked from my car to the office of the garage to get someone to fix my tire." Harrison and Emmett Johnson went across an alley to use the toilet. Gladys Hamer remained in the car. Everyone seemed to sense that trouble was in the air. As Frank stepped out of the office, McMeans jumped out from behind a door and shot Hamer point blank, yelling: "I've got you now, God damn you!" The bullet drove Hamer's watch chain deep into his left shoulder, incapacitating his normal gun hand. He grappled with his other hand for McMeans' gun, knocking it down as it fired again, the shot tearing into Hamer's leg. While Hamer and McMeans struggled, H.E. Phillips creeping up behind Hamer, was shot at and held off by Gladys Hamer from inside the car. Phillip eventually got a shot off at Hamer with an automatic shotgun, cutting the brim off his hat. Both men retreating back to their car, Hamer shot McMeans in the heart with his Smith & Wesson pistol. S/N 253. With broken hinge & latch lever from being discarded. Air-tight provenance, with signed letters of affidavit from Frank Hamer Jr., and Robert D. Moser.