3290 HISTORIC INSCRIBED COLT SAA, EVERETT TOWNSEND,

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 Nov 01 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 4,000.00 USD
Estimated at 8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
TEXAS RANGER, MOUNTED CUSTOMS INSPECTOR, SHERIFF, & FATHER OF BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK. Cal. 45. S# 87731. Standard configuration 4.75" barrel, nickel, 2-line Hartford address, factory ivory grips. Folky original punch-dot inscription wrapped around grip strap: "Aug 1895, WW TOWNSEND to EE TOWNSEND MTD INSPT". Grips have well patinaed worn same style punch-dot decoration with star, initials, and floral frames on either side. 1.5" German silver T-bar badge "US INSPECTOR OF CUSTOMS". Everett Ewing Townsend (1871-1948) Everett Ewing Townsend, called the "father of the Big Bend National Park," was born on October 20, 1871, in Colorado County, the son of William Wallace Townsend. At the age of 19 he joined the Texas Rangers and was appointed deputy United States Marshal at 22. In May 1894 he was appointed a United States customs mounted inspector. While in the ranger service in 1900, he assumed charge of a 200,000-acre unimproved and unstocked ranch in Pecos County. After 16 years it was fully improved, with 14,000 cattle. In 1918 he was elected sheriff of Brewster County, the largest county in the nation. He served 3 terms, but refused a 4th. In 1932 he was elected representative to the 43rd Texas Legislature and, co-authored the first bill to make the Big Bend area a state park. Townsend interested the National Park Service in the idea of a national park there, the establishment of the Big Bend Park Association, and the purchase of the land. On September 5, 1943, he witnessed a ceremony at Sul Ross State College at Alpine, where Governor Coke R. Stevenson of Texas signed the deed to the United States government, transferring 750,000 acres of the Big Bend country to the National Park Service. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: file of research, biography and copy photos of EE Townsend, biography of WW Townsend (father) who presented revolver, copy of auction receipt. CONDITION: good to very good overall, appears original and matching, retains about 30% nickel overall, markings including inscription all discernible. Ivory grips well worn with hand worn patina, shrunk away from back edge. Mechanics fine, good rifled bore. Badge is very good, T-bar loose, missing soldered catch. PROVENANCE: The Esteemed Norm Greenberg Collection. (01-27664/JS). ANTIQUE. $8,000-12,000.