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Two Colt Bisleys/Hoot Gibson

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Two Colt Bisleys/Hoot Gibson
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA
Buscadero Rig with Two Colt Bisley Single Action Revolvers, purchased from the Hoot Gibson Estate, #245129 & #245386, both in .38-40 cal., 4-3/4'' barrels, blue and case hardened finish, with factory checkered hard rubber grips. Both mfg'd in 1903. Hoot Gibson was an American rodeo champion and a pioneer cowboy film actor, director, and producer. Born August 6, 1892, and given the nickname ''Hoot Owl'' by his co-workers, which later evolved into just ''Hoot'', working in his first silent film short, ''Pride of the Range'', with Tom Mix in 1910. Acting was more of a second job for Gibson, as he continued competing in rodeos to make a living. In 1912 he won the all-around championship at the Pendleton Round-Up in Oregon. He then won the Steer Roping World Championship at the Calgary Stampede. He entered in the Army during WWI and returned to the rodeo business soon after, doing stunt work and secondary film roles. By the early 1920s, the demand for cowboy pictures!
was so great that Gibson began receiving offers for leading roles, some from the up and coming film director John Ford, who became Gibson's life-long friend. From the 1920's thru the 1940's, Hoot was a major film attraction, second only to Tom Mix, as a western box office draw. He easily made the transition to talkies and became a highly paid performer. He appeared in his own comic books and wildly popular, until being displaced by singing cowboys such as Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Hoot Gibson died in 1962 after a battle with cancer. He has a star on Hollywood Blvd. and was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. This rig and two firearms were obtained by our consignor from Bill Watson, who had purchased them from Hoot Gibson's ranch, along with various other leather items. Condition to both guns is very good showing moderate overall holster wear and flattening to grips. Actions are crisp !
and tight, bores with minor frosting in grooves, one a little !
more tha
n the other. Holster rig with nickel silver details, .38 cal. loops, and approx. size 34'' waist. These revolvers fit studio 5-in-1 blanks perfectly. Est.: $4,000-$5,000/rig.