FAMOUS & HISTORIC COLT NAVY REVOLVER PRESENTED BY TEXAS RANGER SUL ROSS AFTER “BATTLE OF PEASE RIVER” DECEMBER 19, 1860, WHERE REUNIFICATION OF CYNTHIA PARKER WHO WAS TAKEN BY COMANCHES IN 1836

Spring 2025 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction

May 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th, 2025
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!

FAMOUS & HISTORIC COLT NAVY REVOLVER PRESENTED BY TEXAS RANGER SUL ROSS AFTER “BATTLE OF PEASE RIVER” DECEMBER 19, 1860, WHERE REUNIFICATION OF CYNTHIA PARKER WHO WAS TAKEN BY COMANCHES IN 1836

01-26165
S# 89149
Cal. 36.

Possibly the most famous & historic of any Colt percussion pistol with fantastic pedigree is this 1859 manufactured navy revolver inscribed on grip strap: “Presented by Capt. L. S. Ross to C. R. Gray”. It was given by Texas Ranger commander Captain “Sul” Ross, later Confederate general, governor of Texas, and president of Texas A&M after the Battle of Pease River, where Cynthia Ann Parker (1828-1871) was found after 24 years living as a Comanche. She was captured as an 8 year child during Comanche raid at Parker’s Fort in 1836. Searches for Cynthia were extensive for many years; her uncle James W. Parker spent much of his life and fortune in what became an obsessive odyssey based on rumors of captured white children amongst the Comanche’s. National publications headlines told the remarkable story of blued-eyed Cynthia’s “recovery” from the Indians.

There have been numerous accounts of Cynthia Ann Parker’s capture, assimilation into the tribe, birth of her famous son Quanah Parker (~1850-1911). Quanah would be the last Comanche chief to fight in the Indian Wars. The classic 1956 John Ford/John Wayne movie “The Searchers” is loosely based on her story.

Charlie Goodnight famous Texas scout/cowboy/rancher stated he was the Texas Ranger who recognized Cynthia in the Indian camp. Many accounts were embellished over the years with different soldiers killing the 13 Indians killed and as many identifying Cynthia Ann Parker.

UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: large file of copied receipts, correspondence, best 20 page factual account of Pease River fight, and participants in 2009 article from Southern Western Historical Quarterly. Copied Christies 2001 catalog description and price realized of $99,500, a record price at the time against a $20,000 estimate showing the desirability of historic Texas arms.

PROVENANCE: Lawrence Sullivan “Sul” Ross (1838-1898) was 22 year old seasoned ranger commanding the Texas rangers promising a reward of this pistol and mentioned the recipient in Jan. 4, 1861 report to Governor Sam Houston. Clarendon R. Gray would receive this pistol from Sul Ross nicely field inscribed in a folky script. Gray’s discharge card from the rangers show a pistol valued at $30 February 4, 1861. Gray may have carried this revolver in Civil War as part of 1st Texas cavalry till discharge in 1865 in San Antonio. Gray died in 1877. Revolver was purchased by John Knox (1881-1964) from teenager Herbert Hester (1906-1984) in 1913 who obtained it from John C. Parker (1862-1952), Giddings, TX. Knox traded it to renowned TX collector/historian Gaines de Graffenried in 1955. De Graffenreid displayed revolver as part of his Texas arms at Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Museum in Waco and it was published “TEXAS COLLECTOR, GAINES DE GRAFFENRIED, 1987 detailing its impeccable provenance. After Gaines death, his collection was sold at Christies June 19, 2001.

STATUS: ANTIQUE

Cynthia Ann Parker

Clarendon Ross Gray

Lawrence Sullivan “Sul” Ross