Pawnshop Engraved S&W 2nd Model Hand Ejector .44 Special...Texas Ranger?

[Rio Laxas]

Today I picked up this 2nd Model Hand Ejector from my FFL. I bid on it and then immediately regretted it, because I didn't notice that the barrel had been chopped until after I bid. I ended up with it for $604, which I figured was a bit high. Nonetheless, I was born and raised in Texas and have long had an interest in Texas history, so I was hoping that this one would have a some connection, since I have read that pawnshop engraving like this was common to Texas.





The action is tight and it functions fine, so it will make a good shooter. The grip screw didn't fit the grips real well, so I took them off and found this:



I have found a Captain James Carroll Bates of F Company Texas Rangers. He served as Captain from 1917-1918 and was appointed by Governor James E. Ferguson. He had previously been a Sergeant with F Company, Frontier Battalion. It seems he was also the Chief of Police of San Angelo. I don't know if the revolver was also his, but I sure hope so!

reuben

Two of Reuben and Mary's sons, Luther Edwin Bates and James Carroll Bates were Texas Rangers. Carroll Bates was also the police chief of San Angelo, and Luther Bates was a Fort Worth, Texas, policeman, and worked many years for the U.S. Department of Justice as a railroad detective.

Time for a letter and more research.

Edited to add: It appears as though Bates was later convicted in federal court of conspiring to violate prohibition laws in 1929. I found some old news articles of the Corsicana Semi-Weekly that give a bit of info on the accusation, indictment and conviction.

FORMER OFFICER DENIES ACCEPTING RUM RING MONEY DECLARES "UNUSUAL DEPOSITS DUE TO WAGERS AND FARM SALES SAN ANGELO, May 3.— (AP)—A former San Angelo police chief, Carroll Bates, and nineteen other persons today were convicted in federal court here of conspiring to defeat the national prohibition act. The verdict was reached on the second ballot Sentences were to i be pronounced this afternoon. A. W. Brown, a former night police sergeant was among the 19 others convicted. The principal witness for the prosecution was W. H. Hutcheson, who declared that as pay-off man for a rum ring he gave money to Bates regularly. That charge Bates denied, explaining his bank deposits of $54,000 in the last three years were proceeds from the sale of a farm, election and baseball bets, and lucky gambling

.

The revolver dates to 1922, so that seems to hint that either the revolver itself was not owned by Bates or that he had it on another revolver prior to this one, as he was no longer with the Rangers by then.

 

[Monac]

Very nice revolver, and a very good story, almostfree. I think you got a good-looking gun and an interesting piece of history for a decent price.

I don't mean to be critical, but the front sight looks odd to me. Has the barrel been shortened?

 

[Rio Laxas]

It has been. I think it was originally a 6.5" that was cut to 4-3/4". I didn't notice it had been chopped until about 5 minutes after bidding.

 

[Iggy]

There's fellers down there in Texas and elsewhere, that would pay that for a Wolf-Klar gun in a heart beat.

You done good.

 

[John C]

That story is fantastic. And it just goes to show how much money was available for those on the take. A good wage for the time was $0.35 to $0.50 an hour, or $700 to $1000 a year. Bates pocketed $54,000 in 3 years!

 

[joem1945]

I like it. IMHO $600.00 is a OK buy.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Nice looking S&W.

 

[Jim K]

I note that the "CPT" is in a different ink and different color than the rest of the marking, so the grips might be a lot older than the gun, with the rank added when he made captain.

But that doesn't look like engraving; it has more the appearance of laser etching, which definitely was not done in the 1920's.

Any chance of a serial number and some tight closeups of the sides of the gun?

Jim

 

[Jim Watson]

How about real etching, done with acid?

 

[CraigC]

It's an old S&W .44Spl, I automatically like it.

 

[Rio Laxas]

I think the grips are definitely older than the revolver. Bates was a Captain from 1917-1918, but the revolver was probably shipped in 1922 (SN 195xx). It is one of the government inspected 1917 frames that S&W bought back. It is my hope that he moved the grips from an older S&W (probably a triple lock I would guess) to this one when he went back to the San Angelo PD.

I doubt I will be able to prove that Bates owned this revolver, unless it letters to the San Angelo PD. I think it's more likely that it will letter to Wolf & Klar. If it does, I will consider it enough circumstantial evidence to say that there is a good probability that Bates owned it at some point. Whatever the case may be, it won't be leaving my collection and it will be up to my children to decide what to do with it.

I generally don't care much for engraving, and thus don't really know enough to tell whether this is engraving or some kind of etching. It appears to me that it is of a similar style to other "pawnshop engraved" revolvers that I have seen. From what I can tell, this looks to be similar to Wolf & Klar engraving.

Here are some other threads with pictures showing Wolf & Klar engraving:

Wolf & Klar S&W 1926 given to a police officer who later became the Kerrville police chief by a Texas Ranger. http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...old-pawn-shop-engraved-w-k-comes-surface.html

Another 1926: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...44-wolf-klars-engraved-nickel-5-blue-4-a.html

M&P that letters to Wolf & Klar: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...5-another-new-w-k-pawn-shop-engraved-gun.html

W&K advertisement for an engraved M&P and further down shows another W&K engraved M&P: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/110218-wolf-klar-engraving-grips.html

I took a quick look at pictures of laser etched revolvers, and I don't think that is what this is. It isn't especially regular, and it looks to me like it was done free hand with some kind of tool. All of the lines are zig-zags. Would that be an indication of etching or engraving?

Most of the photos I can find of acid etching seems to consist of regular linework and not zig zags.

I find it interesting that Bates or someone else had it cut to 4-3/4" instead of 5". Maybe that was the barrel length that the owner was comfortable with after transitioning from a SAA.

Here are more pictures of the engraving or etching:

 

[Jim K]

I didn't think of Wolf & Klar because the pictures looked like the lines were solid, not the characteristic zig-zag pattern. Yes, I think W&K "engraving" was done by impressing with a tool and not "engraved" in the usual meaning of the term. W&K was a jewelry store in Ft. Worth, and they did a lot of gun work, including engraving and special ivory grips. Their guns turn up mainly in Texas and the Southwest, and S&W shipped many guns directly to them.

Apparently W&K had some connection with Kornbrath, but his work was way beyond that work. I honestly can't say I like it, but I guess to some folks it was a way (and probably a relatively inexpensive way) to put some decoration on a revolver.

Jim

 

[Rio Laxas]

I agree with you there. I'm not particularly fond of Wolf & Klar engraving from an aesthetic point of view, but to me it is a signal that the revolver stands a good chance of coinciding with my collecting interests.

For whatever reason, it seem as though it was something of a status symbol among Texas lawmen of that time period to have a nickel plated revolver with bone, stag, ivory or pearl grips. In the picture that I've seen of Jelly Bryce's S&W 3rd HE of 1926, it appears as though he also may have had W&K engraving.

 

[Jim K]

I think ivory grips with a steer's head was another of W&K's offerings, though others did it as well.

Jim

 

[Jim Watson]

Closeup says not etching.
Maybe what I've seen called "chicken track" engraving.
Certainly fast and inexpensive to the dealer.

 

[dfariswheel]

This was commonly known as "punch engraving" also called "Mexican punch engraving", and as "Campfire engraving".

It was done with a hammer and a center punch or other type of sharp pointed punch.
It's often found on old Mexican guns and is sometimes called "Campfire" engraving because it could be done while sitting around a camp fire.
You still occasionally see it even on newer guns, done by people who think they're really doing nice work on a good pistol.
On another forum recently was a Colt Python that had this kind of botch work done to it.

To be fair, back in the old days real engravers were very hard to find and horribly expensive, especially on a cowboy or deputies pay. While crude, it was a way to decorate a gun and personalize it.

I strongly doubt any Texas Ranger would have owned such "engraving". They had more taste and paid for real engraving when they had it at all..

 

[joem1945]

If you don't want it let me know and I'll buy it for that price.

 

[Rio Laxas]

I strongly doubt any Texas Ranger would have owned such "engraving". They had more taste and paid for real engraving when they had it at all..

I disagree. The S&W 1926 mentioned in this thread has the same type of engraving and is documented as having come from a Texas Ranger. http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...old-pawn-shop-engraved-w-k-comes-surface.html

It is important to remember that Texas Rangers early 20th century weren't really paid all that well. In the 19th century, they were lucky if they got paid at all. They were completely reorganized in 1919 over the incidents mentioned below and then briefly disbanded in 1933. I think a lot of the fancy BBQ guns we typically associate with the Texas Rangers came later.

The time period in which Bates served was turbulent and he is specifically mentioned in few books as having been involved in the numerous hostilities that were taking place on the border in the western part of the state.

BANDIT RAIDS

Panic spread in 1915 when authorities in McAllen, Texas, arrest Basilio Ramos, Jr. Ramos was carrying a copy of the Plan of San Diego, a revolutionary manifesto supposedly written and signed at the South Texas town of San Diego. It called for the formation of a "Liberating Army of Races and Peoples," of Mexican Americans, African Americans, and Japanese, to "free" the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Colorado from United States. Versions of the plan call for the murder of all white citizens over 16 years of age. The goal was an independent republic, which might later seek annexation to Mexico.

Raids from both side the the border quickly escalated into guerilla warfare. Francisco (Pancho) Villa's raid on Columbus, New Mexico, in March 1916, causes more panic and the United States responds by sending a large military force under Gen. John J. Pershing in pursuit of Villa.

Texas responded, as it had so many times in its history, by raising Ranger companies. At the time the Texas Ranger Force was very small, and incapable of maintaining law and order along the border. The Texas Legislature by authorizing mass inductions and the "overnight" creation of new Ranger companies.

Hispanic, as well as Anglo, Texans served in these units. The Ranger force grew to its largest level, but the lack of training and controls were evident. Some of the new companies upheld the law while others functioned as vigilante groups incensed by raids from Mexico.

These Rangers were were given orders and wide powers to keep the hostilities in Mexico from washing across the river into Texas. Gov. O.B. Colquitt wrote Ranger Capt. John R. Hughes: " I instruct you and your men to keep them (Mexican raiders) off of Texas territory if possible, and if they invade the State let them understand they do so at the risk of their lives."

The vigilante nature, and poor command structure on the new Ranger units led to incidents unacceptable to "regular" Rangers. Serious crimes were committed that led to the 1919 Canales Investigation. After one retaliatory Ranger raid into Mexico, an entire company was dismissed. In one battle in 1917, as many as 20 Mexicans may have been killed by Rangers who crossed into Mexico.

The 35th legislature also created a "Loyalty Ranger Force" under the "Hobby Loyalty Act" to serve as a secret service for the State. Loyalty Rangers were to brief the Adjutant General on Mexican revolutionary activities outside of San Antonio and in the border counties in Mexico and Texas.

In response to Pershing's US troops on Mexican soil, President Carranza demanded the withdrawal of US forces, which was summarily rejected. As a result, Mexican raiding intensified and an attack against Laredo was considered with a combined force of "San Diego raiders" and regular Mexican Army soldiers. A state of war was narrowly averted when US and Mexican officials agreed to a peaceful settlement.

The fragile peace was again threatened again in 1917 when a World War I telegram sent to Mexico by the German Secretary of State Zimmerman became public ". . . we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement...." Nothing materialized, but it served to further alarm the public.

Mexican raids into Texas in 1915-16 caused an estimated 21 American deaths; an estimated 300 Mexicans or Tejanos may have been killed in South Texas by the actions of Rangers, vigilantes and citizens. Some sources place the death toll as high as 300 and 3,000.

In January of 1919 Representative José T. Canales of Brownsville demanded a legislative investigation of the conduct of the various Ranger forces during the period 1915-1917 and the reorganization of the force. The Texas Legislature investigated nineteen charges made against the Texas Ranger forces in the aftermath of the Plan of San Diego and the War.

The investigation resulted in the reduction of the Ranger force to four companies of 17 men each. A tightening of qualifications for the Texas Ranger service led to its initial professionalization.

http://www.texasranger.org/history/BriefHistory1.htm

 

[StrawHat]

Whoever engraved it has more talent than I do. It may not be as fancy as Tiffany style engraving but it certainly fits well with the revolver and is part of it's history.

Kevin

 

[Jim K]

The "Zimmerman telegram", mentioned in #18, was from the foreign ministry in Berlin to the German ambassador in Mexico City. It was intercepted and decoded by the famous British "Room 40", the codebreaking section of the Royal Navy. Passed to the U.S. and published in the American press, it was one of the causes (along with unrestricted submarine warfare) of U.S. entry into World War I. Whether the proposal was ever passed to the Mexican government is not clear, but Mexico denied any knowledge of the whole affair.

Jim