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CCA Colt Single Action Army
.45 Buntline Special Colt Auction Firearm
2008 Houston Texas • The Texas Cowboy
The 2008 Colt Collectors Association Colt Auction Firearmfollows a long tradition of exceptional engraving andunique Colt firearms configurations. It is with this richtradition that we created the 2008 "Texas Cowboy" ColtBuntline Special. This presentation, as always, is complementedwith accessories, accoutrement and other specialadditions that make the "Texas Cowboy" Colt .45Buntline a special piece of collectible Colt history. Theentire work represents the talent of a select group of outstandingAmerican craftsmen, artisans and devoted Coltcollectors.
The 2008 Colt Collectors Association Colt Auction Firearm.45 Caliber Colt Buntline Special SAA for this year isengraved as a tribute to "The Texas Cowboy."
Our host city Houston is the fourth-largest city in theUnited States and the largest city in Texas. Houston wasfounded on August 30, 1836 by brothers AugustusChapman Allen and John Kirby Allen on the banks of ofBuffalo Bayou. The city was incorporated on June 5,1837 and named after then-president of the Republic ofTexas, former General Sam Houston, who had commandedat the Battle of San Jacinto.
By the end of the Civil War, the classic "TexasCowboy" had emerged. It all began in Texas with thegreat cattle drives. The cowboy was a man of few wordsand his work was often rough. The Texas cowboy wastypically a bachelor who hired on with different outfitsfrom season to season.
The traditional means of transport for the Texas cowboyis horseback. The working ranch horse can perform awide variety of tasks such as working cattle and instinctivelyknows how to anticipate and react to them. TheAmerican Quarter Horse is the breed that was primarilydeveloped in Texas.
The Texas cowboy tradition arose from a combinationof cultural influences in addition to the need for adaptationto the geography and climate of Texas as well as toconduct long cattle drives to get the cattle to market. Theworking cowboy had very little time for anything otherthan constant hard work.The cowboys were armedagainst both predators and the human thieves, and oftenused guns to run off cattle rustlers. The cowboys wererequired to routinely patrol the rangeland for damagedfences, evidence of predation, water problems and otherissues of concern. The cowboy was able to specialize intasks solely related to cattle and horses.
By 1890, railroads had expanded to cover most of thenation making long cattle drives from Texas to the railheadsin Kansas unnecessary.
Texas cowboys are true American Folk heroes. It hasbeen said that, of all the American heroes, the cowboy isthe only one to endure.
- Kathleen J. Hoyt, Colt Historian
The Artisans
Wm. Gamradt - Master Engraver
Bill is a self-taught engraver and western artist. He hasan art gallery/engraving studio in downtown Missoula,Montana where he creates and exhibits his original oilpaintings, etchings and limited edition prints of landscapesand wildlife. When not engraving firearms andknives in his studio, Bill creates illustrations for theRocky Mountain Elk Foundation magazine along withart for convention brochures and merchandise. He hasreceived numerous awards from collecting organizationsfor his engravings, engraved scenes and inlays. Bill was anatural to engrave "The Texas Cowboy" due to his artisticbackground in wildlife and the life of the AmericanCowboy.
Michael W. Dubber - Master Engraver
Mike's background is that of a fine arts educator, jeweler,and Certified Master Engraver. He has been themagazine editor and is a founding member of FirearmsEngravers Guild of America and has served as the group'svice president and president. He was on the 2006, 2007and 2008 CCA Show Gun committee as coordinatinghistorical artist. Mike is no stranger to the Colt CollectorsAssociation, having engraved the CCA 2003 Tampa andthe CCA 2006 Louisville Kentucky Colt Auction Firearms.He donated the engraving on the nickel Texas star includedwith the Ladies' Raffle firearm and the engraving onthe stag handled knife included with "The TexasCowboy." He teaches one-week courses in hand engravingin the USA, Italy and Belgium.
Ron Nott - Engraver
Ron began his engraving career in 1970 and is mostlyself taught. His specialty is engraving Colt firearms inAmerican scroll. At the January 2008 FEGA annual exhibitionhe was honored by the selection of his Colt SingleAction Army .45 revolver as the winner of the "Award ofMerit."
Ron donated the 1800 antique style lettering engravingon the holster silver buckle and the Argentium silvercase description plate for the 2008 CCA Colt Auction Firearmexhibition display case.
Les Yoder - Custom Furniture Maker
The auction package includes a Les Yoder custom-builtmuseum quality glass display case of Texas mesquite,barbed wire etched glass end panels, a carved ivory TexasLonghorn steer on a mahogany panel and two drawers tohold an extra set of stag grips donated by Raj Singh ofEagle Grips, a five-piece "ebony" handle 1830 periodaccessory tool set including two turn screws, one cleaningrod, dust mop and oil bottle and several books. A LesYoder case has been part of the CCA Show Guns for thelast 12 years. The case interior is in burgundy velvetcloth. Les Yoder presentation cases have become animportant part of the CCA Colt Auction Firearms and addconsiderably to the overall presentation. Also included isa Colt "stag handle" knife donated by Earl L. Whitneyand engraver Michael W. Dubber.
Jose Valencia - Master Wood Carver
Jose Valencia of Valencia Studio in Phoenix, Arizonadonated the carved ivory Texas Longhorn steer on themahogany inlaid back panel of the mesquite display case.Jose specializes in gunstock and grip carvings to createpersonalized firearms carvings as treasured heirlooms inwood and ivory.
John Bianchi - Leather Craftsman
The Texas Cowboy Colt Buntline leather holster rig isstyled after the Mexican loop holsters found in the 1880sin the American West. Made with the finest grade oftanned leather available with a special, pebble grainedliner, the lined belt and holster are finished with a handrubbed chestnut finish unique to Frontier Gun leather.Ron Nott engraved the sterling buckle in the Americanengraving pattern.
Handcrafted the old-fashioned way, one-at-a-time byJohn Bianchi, Frontier Gun leather brings back turn-ofthe-century styles and craftsmanship. These collectorquality holster outfits represent the best examples of thecowboy-gunfighter culture for collectors, decorators andshooters alike.
A team effort between John Bianchi and master craftsmanMatt Whitaker, shop manager, the donated rig is theperfect complement to the fine Colt Single ActionBuntline offered. Dr. Tom Covault donated the .45 cal.dummy shells for the holster rig and a leather copy ofBlue Steel and Gun Leather written and autographed byJohn Bianchi.
Don Wilkerson - Author and Historian
The XIT Ranch of Texas and the Early Days of the LlanoEstacado, by J. Evetts Haley and The 101 Ranch, byEllsworth Collings and Alma M. England, from the personallibrary collection of Don Wilkerson. Donated bythe Wilkerson Family.
Kurt House - Author and Historian
Hand Forged For Texas Cowboys is the most recent bookby author Kurt House, avid collector and student of cowboymemorabilia and Texas history. House's latest work isa look at some important cowboy equipment and also atthe cowboy, who had little gear that survived. Kurtdonated two books: a limited edition autographed copy#67 of 108 bound in Texas Longhorn hide and a secondtrade version for reading. In his spare time Kurt is on theCCA board and the editor of The Rampant Colt. Kurtresearched the cattle-brands engraved on the "The TexasCowboy" Buntline for authenticity and historical background.
Other Artisans
The Texas Cowboy Colt is equipped with African ivoryhigh relief, one-piece grips fitted by Dan Chesiak andcarved by K. Dennis Holland. On the left panel Denniscarved a scene of a Texas cattle drive and on the right sidea "remuda'' of horses from which the cowboys draw theirmounts. Specializing in the accurate re-creation of historicalmetal finishes on period firearms, Doug TurnbullRestorations donated the Carbonia Charcoal Blue finishto the Colt Buntline. Rodney D. Smith donated threebronze long horn steer firearm holders.
The 2008 Houston Texas Show gun would not becomplete without the photo artistry of Paul Goodwin. Awonderful collection of 1891 Texas Ranger cabinet photographsare courtesy Little John's Auction Service. ATexas Longhorn steer hide on loan from Earl L. Whitneyhelped complete the presentation of the 2008 showgunphotography. The creative endeavors of Colt collectorCarol Wilkerson brought together the Texas Cowboy historyto create a "One of a Kind" Show Gun photo shoot.Carol was also responsible for the shipment of the showgun between each of the artisans. The showgun committeewould also like to extend a special thanks to BobJames and Joe Lozito for their contribution to the project.This project comes down to all the final magazineprep work and layout presentation by our publisher K.T.Roes. We owe her a great deal of gratitude and thanks.
Special Recognition
The production of a CCA Colt Auction Firearm is a majorundertaking, an example of the generosity and cooperatonof many people. The committee sincerely appreciatesthe assistance and generous support of Lt. General Wm.M. Keys, USMC (Ret.) President and CEO of ColtManufacturing Co. LLC; Mike Reissig, ExecutiveDirector, Sales and Marketing - Colt Defense/ColtManufacturing Co. LLC; Joe Canali, Colt Custom ShopSales; and Kathleen J.Hoyt, Colt Historical Department.The process starts and ends with the folks at ColtFirearms. A special thanks to the Colt Firearms family fortheir participation in the creation and historical documentationof the 2008 "The Texas Cowboy" Houston,Texas .45 Caliber Colt Buntline Special Single ActionArmy. The Colt factory also donated a "Colt" brandingiron.
Kathleen Hoyt - Colt Firearms Historian
Kathy is a 45-year Colt factory employee, from a longline of Colt family dedication. Together with her grandfather,father and brothers, Kathy has enjoyed over 136years of service to Colt Firearms. She began her career atColt in the Product Service Department under AlDeJohn, worked in the Custom Shop and in theCustomer Service Department, and with Colt HistorianMarty Huber, until his retirement in 1994. She succeededhim and has held that position for the past 20 years.Kathy is known in the Colt firearms collecting fraternityas the lady with the dedication to research the historicalinformation on all Colt firearms.
The Texas Cowboy" CCA 2008 Houston Show Colt Auction Firearm Specifications
The 2008 Houston CCA Colt Auction Firearm is a .45 caliberColt 12-inch Buntline Special Single Action Army.
The Colt Buntline is finished in "Carbonia CharcoalBlue'' and is Master "Exhibition" engraved and goldinlaid by Wm. Gamradt.
"The Texas Cowboy" appears in gold raised script onthe back strap, a Texas Cowboy on his horse in raised goldis on the recoil shield. In high relief gold, a Bronco Rideris roping a steer on left side of frame. There is a Longhornsteer in high relief gold on frame, a raised gold BroncoRider on the right side of the frame and a raised goldCowboy spur on the loading gate.
A raised gold Longhorn steer band is engraved aroundthe back of the cylinder with fancy scrolls and Texasbrands. The firearm is decorated with 18 authentic Texashistorical brands in raised gold. There are fancy scrollgold lines on the frame and back strap and a Texas raisedgold star appears above Serial Number CCA2008 at thetraditional frame location.
A cattle drive scene is engraved on the left side of thebarrel and a chuck wagon scene is engraved on the rightside of the barrel. The front sight and hammer areengraved with gold lines and the firearm has engravedqualified screws.
The one-piece grips are carved African Ivory in highrelief. On the left side is a scene depicting a cattle driveand on the right is a "remuda," a herd of horses fromwhich cowboys selected their mounts. An extra pair ofstag grips is french-fitted in the case drawer.
Museum Grade Mesquite Exhibition Case: withcarved ivory Longhorn Steer on mahogany panel andbarbed wire etched accents on glass end panels. Frenchfitted in a burgundy cloth drawer are a pair of stag handlegrips, accessories, a Colt stag handle knife with master-engraved bolsters and three books. The case is labeledwith a master-engraved Argentium Silver nameplate.Accessories: Five-piece accessory set of two turn screws,cleaning rod, dust mop and oil bottle.
Leather Holster Rig: 1800s-style hand-tooled holsterand belt with master-engraved buckle, bullet loops anddummy .45 shells.
Also included are a first edition leather book, Blue Steeland Gunleather, written and autographed by JohnBianchi and Hand Forged for Texas Cowboys, a limited editionbook bound with Texas Longhorn hair, written andautographed by Kurt House.
Artisan contact information
Bill Gamradt Michael W. Dubber Ron Nott Les Yoder - Brookfield Inc. Jose Valencia - Jose Valencia Studio |
John Bianchi - Frontier Leather Kurt House Paul Goodwin Doug Turnbull Restorations |
