Battle of San Jacinto Pistol, Officer's Trunk from Battle of Little Big Horn, & Temple Houston's Colt 45 in Historic Auction

New Braunfels, TX (PRWEB) October 1, 2008

A Colt .45 single action once belonging to Temple Houston, son of revolutionary hero General Sam Houston, a trunk with ties to the Battle of Little Big Horn and a pistol used in the Battle of San Jacinto are up for auction in Texas. The items, from a San Antonio estate plus select consignments, are included in one of the largest groups of significant historically-related artifacts ever sold at public auction in the state.

According to documents accompanying the black powder, Model 1873 Colt Single action revolver, it is the gun used by Temple Houston to kill Ed Jennings during a saloon fight at Woodward, Oklahoma. Ed was a brother to Al and Frank Jennings who later became outlaws. Houston was considered to be one of the country's most brilliant trial lawyers and was noted for his flamboyant dress and unorthodox behavior, carrying his guns even during trial.

"We are expecting this auction to top all our previous records," said auctioneer Robb Burley of Burley Auction Gallery in New Braunfels. "The number and historical significance of the items in this auction is unprecedented." The extremely important pistol used at the Battle of San Jacinto by Michael Peveto, Jr., is accompanied by provenance including affidavits from two generations of family members and a family tree showing the relation to him. Peveto is also known for building the first house where the town of Orange now stands. He served in the 2nd Regiment Texas Volunteers 3rd Infantry Company and died in 1838 just weeks after the battle of San Jacinto. He was buried in an unmarked grave near Nome, Texas.

Other major artifacts in the sale are an officer's trunk belonging to 7th Cavalry Lt. E. G. Mathey who was in command of the supply train for Custer during the Battle of the Little Big Horn, a documented Confederate 5th Texas Calvary Sgt. Albert Wilkinson's Colt 1851 Navy, a member of Quantrill's Raiders, a knife attributed to Lakota warrior Crow Dog and the badge and Colt pistol belonging to Deputy U.S. Marshal Tom Smith, who captured one of Oklahoma's most notorious outlaws, Zip Wyatt, aka Dick Yeager, one of the last known members of the Doolin Gang. Wyatt was carrying a Winchester 1886, which was taken and kept by Marshal Smith at the time of his capture.

Both guns are well documented with sworn letters of affidavit from Marshal Smith's son, a documented chain of custody, a well as numerous supporting documents and newspaper articles dating back to the time of his capture. "This is by far some of the best documentation on any historic firearm we have seen. It is rare that you find something so well documented by the family, historians and the press," said Burley. The story is also recounted in a book "The Cherokee Strip" by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Marquis James. The documented collection in Smith's handwriting includes Wyatt's 1886 Winchester taken by him at the time of the outlaw's death in Enid, Oklahoma.

The auction features western artifacts, art, collectibles and d