Fall 2025 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
Auction Concluded!
ATTRACTIVE HISTORIC REFINISHED COLT SAA INSCRIBED TO US MARSHALL JO SHELBY, 1893, MISSOURI.
01-27682
Cal. 45 Colt
S# 132407
Jo Shelby is best known as Confederate General Joseph “Jo” O. Shelby who commanded Missouri guerrillas including Jesse & Frank James during the Civil War. After the war Shelby went to Mexico and fought with Maximillian, after the emperor’s fall, he returned to Missouri where he farmed. An incredibly popular figure, his testimony in trial in 1882 for Frank James won him an acquittal. He was appointed a federal marshal by President Grover Cleveland in 1893 and held post till his death in 1897. His revolver is inscribed “Jo Shelby / U. S. M. 1893”. Revolver has been beautifully restored to like new with bright case & blue finish. Standard configuration as stated in factory letter, 4.75” barrel, blue finish, rubber grips.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: large file of research, letters of authenticity from Eric Value, and Ernie Bates, ASAC. Also included are 5 biographies of Shelby including scarce 1st editions: “Shelby & His Men-The War in the West” 1867 by Edwards; “Five Famous Missourians” 1900; “General Jo Shelby” by O’Flaherty, UNC Press, 1986 subpoena signed by Shelby as Marshal, Colt factory letter stating configuration, shipped to Hibbard, Spencer, & Bartlett, Chicago in 1890. Brian Lebel June 2015 catalog.
PROVENANCE: Gen. Joseph O/ Shelby – 1893; Ernest Bates Collection; William Reed Collection; Brian Lebel Auction, Lot 188 – June 16, 2015; The Esteemed Norm Greenberg Collection.
STATUS: ANTIQUE
