The THR Walker Club

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The Walker looks like someone drove nails with it. I guess I like stuff pretty much pristine. I had a 1918 Colt 1911 refinished that had a pretty bad refinish job done to it before I got it. I had it bead blasted and re-blacked and put new walnut grips on it. Its a solid old gun that shoots great.
I bought it from a woman friend in Texas who's late husband brought it back from WW2. I tried to buy it from her for 3-4 years hearing responses like "it is the only thing I have of his to remember him by" and an emphatic ''I DONT WANT TO SELL IT''. I gave her probably more than its actually worth but the satisfaction of talking her out of it is reward enough. She's an interesting woman having been a life flight pilot and a police officer in her life. We're somewhat close, I call her every year on her birthday which makes her giggle when I sing "happy birthday" to her.
 
Not sure about burnt doubt there would be any wood left or at the minimum the wood would show some sign, looks more like it wasn't used much and put away in some steamer trunk or attic for the last 150 years to oxidize into that deep dark unpolished blue we see here
 
DDDwho metioned the TX Ranger Museum in Waco. i went there once and it is worth visiting. It's not the BBQ guns but the historical ones I enjoyed. They even had a 1860 Henry that was carried by a member of the 66th Illionis (14th Missouri/Birge's Western Sharp Shooters).
 
There is a decent Walker in the Metzger-Sanders Gun Collection at Texas A&M University. The collection is located in the Sanders Corps of Cadets Center.

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Hombre,
You are correct that some B Co. Walkers were issued to the Rangers. Hays first signed for 214 C Co. pistols and then later signed for 180 A and B Co. pistols. We know that A-210 was issued to a Ranger, Wilson, who scratched his name on the brass trigger guard. That is the pistol that sold for $920,000 several years ago. Wilson died in the hospital in Mexico and the US Army Major in charge took the almost pristine pistol home.... I got to hold that jewel in my trembling hands! Can anybody tell me how I can post pictures here that I have in my drafts folder in Microsoft outlook express? I am pretty dumb when it comes to computers.
 
58limited,
Nice pic of a fine Walker AND , a Whitneyville Dragoon! (That'd be a two-fer!!)

Mike
 
Ranger 1836: "Can anybody tell me how I can post pictures here that I have in my drafts folder in Microsoft outlook express?"
Click Post Reply. Click on the Upload a File button at the bottom of the page. Find your photo on the hard drive of your computer and double-click it, then press Open. The photo should upload into your reply. You can choose the full image, as I did, or a thumbnail.
THR photo upload.jpg
 

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How many of us followed the link, went to the bottom below the pictures and
Added that to our "wish list"?
 
Hombre,
You are correct that some B Co. Walkers were issued to the Rangers. Hays first signed for 214 C Co. pistols and then later signed for 180 A and B Co. pistols. We know that A-210 was issued to a Ranger, Wilson, who scratched his name on the brass trigger guard. That is the pistol that sold for $920,000 several years ago. Wilson died in the hospital in Mexico and the US Army Major in charge took the almost pristine pistol home.... I got to hold that jewel in my trembling hands! Can anybody tell me how I can post pictures here that I have in my drafts folder in Microsoft outlook express? I am pretty dumb when it comes to computers.
 
Ranger 1836: "Can anybody tell me how I can post pictures here that I have in my drafts folder in Microsoft outlook express?"
Click Post Reply. Click on the Upload a File button at the bottom of the page. Find your photo on the hard drive of your computer and double-click it, then press Open. The photo should upload into your reply. You can choose the full image, as I did, or a thumbnail.
View attachment 226808
 
Ranger 1836: "Can anybody tell me how I can post pictures here that I have in my drafts folder in Microsoft outlook express?"
Click Post Reply. Click on the Upload a File button at the bottom of the page. Find your photo on the hard drive of your computer and double-click it, then press Open. The photo should upload into your reply. You can choose the full image, as I did, or a thumbnail.
View attachment 226808
 
Berkley, Thanks for helping me post a picture. Now I am almost ashamed to admit that I own B-188. I am a little old man that worked hard my whole life. I got lucky in my investments. I have always been a big Texas history buff. My brother-in-law gave me his Italian Walker about 40 years ago. I have always loved the Walker. I held a real Walker about 15 years ago. It really blew my skirt up.....So I started collecting. I tried to be an official member of THR Walker Club but did not know how to post a photo. Hopefully I can now be accepted.
 
Welcome Ranger 1836. Congratulations on owning B Co. No. 188 and thank you for sharing it here! Is there anything you can tell us about the history of this gun or how you came to possess it?
 
LonesomePigeon,
I have a folder of notes on B-188 somewhere. I moved a year ago and still haven't gotten my stuff in order... I don't remember names, dates, etc. A jeweler/watchmaker in Nashville had an old railroader as a regular customer. The watchmaker worked on the railroaders watch to keep it up to snuff. The watchmaker had some old guns on display in the shop. The railroader commented that he had an old pistol (B-188). The watchmaker got the pistol. I don't remember if he bought it or not. They were friends. The old man may have given the pistol to him. I think the time was in the 1930's. I have read that a well known collector traded his car for the pistol at a later
gun show.
I didn't get into collecting until 2005. B-188 was in the Texas Gun Collectors Association 2003 Parade of Walkers. It was owned by a well know collector/dealer who sold it to another collector friend. I knew both men and bought pistols from the first man. Both of these men were honest and helpful. Almost all of the TGCA old timers are very good men.
The pistol was traded back to the well known collector by his friend about 2010. I was offered the pistol via telephone. I told the man that I would think about it and call back. I hung up the phone and within 30 seconds called back and bought it. It is a well known walker. The silver shield walker. I do remember that there is no mention about when or where the old railroader obtained the pistol. A very common but sad statement.
I have said that I am almost ashamed to admit that I own B-188. I don't want to be seen as a rich braggart. I love my Texas history. I grew up in the oil patch. God blessed me with a good mind and healthy body. I rough necked and made the money myself to attend college. I learned as a teenager that honesty and my word is the only way to go. I served in the Navy in the 1960's and lost good friends.
I am proud to own B-188. I love sharing the history. B-188 spent 71/2 months on display in the Alamo in 2014-15.. There. I said it.....
Ranger 1836
 
Ranger1836

Thanks for sharing your history and involvement with Walker B-188. I truly enjoy reading the back story of famous guns like this one and I'm grateful that recollections such as yours can be saved and passed on to future gun collectors and history aficionados.
 
Great account Ranger1836 and thanks for sharing it. I can picture it hanging on the watchmakers wall, such stories are always so interesting.
 
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