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Cherokee Bill's Winchester Model 1886

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana / Collectibles - Old West Start Price:65,000.00 USD Estimated At:85,000.00 - 100,000.00 USD
Cherokee Bill's Winchester Model 1886
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Winchester Model 1886 owned by infamous outlaw, Cherokee Bill (Crawford Goldsby). S/N 15416 circa 1888, is a .38-56 with a 26” octagon barrel. Complete with a large file of provenance showing that the gun was in the possession of Will Wirsing, a gunsmith for many years in Fort Smith, Arkansas and that he had obtained the rifle from a jailer after Cherokee Bill’s execution in 1896. He had “Cherokee Bill Rifle” painted in white on the stock, and displayed it in his front window for years. The rifle stayed in the Wirsing family until 1971. CONDITION: bore is very good, barrel is mottled brown with scattered light oxidation, receiver has silvered case colors, wood is in very good condition with use dings, “Cherokee Bill R..” in white paint decorates the right side of the stock.

Included in the file: a) Period cabinet cards showing the interior and exterior of the Wirsing Gun Shop. b) A lithographed advertisement for Mr. Wirsing. c) Copy of a black and white photo showing Mr. Wirsing holding the Cherokee Bill gun and the Bob Dalton revolver. d) A booklet containing a time line history of the rifle and photocopies of various articles published about the gun, Mr. Wirsing and/or Cherokee Bill. e) A tin tube with Mr. Wirsing’s label. f) A notarized letter from Preston Rose, who purchased the gun from Will Wirsing’s son. g) Copy of the Nov. 1937 “The Sporting Goods Dealer” with an article on Mr. Wirsing in which he recounts how, in 1895 when Cherokee Bill was in custody he was summoned to the jail to repair a damaged cell door.


Cherokee Bill (1876-1896)
Crawford “Cherokee Bill” Goldsby was born at Fort Concho, Texas, in 1876. He is widely regarded as one of the meanest, nastiest outlaws of the Old West. Among his nicknames was, “Terror of the Indian Territories.” His career started at age 12 when he shot his first man. At 18 he joined the Cook Gang in Indian Territory. In 1894, he killed Sequoyah Houston, part of a posse that was trailing him. Shortly after he killed his sister’s abusive husband, George Brown. During a hold-up in Lenopah, Oklahoma, he allegedly killed Earnest Melton, an innocent passerby. He was captured and brought before “Hanging Judge” Isaac Parker in January of 1896. Having been sentenced to death by Judge Parker, Cherokee Bill attempted an escape with a revolver smuggled into his cell. During his unsuccessful attempt he shot and killed jailer Lawrence Keating. Despite appeals by his attorney, Cherokee Bill was hanged on March 17, 1896. Asked if he had anything to say he reportedly proclaimed “I came here to die, not to make a speech”.