Sheriff 'Smoot' Schmid’s Colt New Service revolver, serial #322816 (produced in 1925), .45 caliber, 2″ barrel with a fine, bright bore that has some mild freckling towards the breech. This revolver was manufactured in 1925 and is fitted with a Colt replacement 2″ barrel, popular with plainclothes police and detectives. The revolver retains 80-85% of the original blue finish which has faded to gray and silver along the high edges, projections, and bearing surfaces. Spots of brown surface freckling are present throughout along with some mild pinprick pitting at the rear and top of the frame, as well as around the cylinder flutes. Further dark freckling is present on the sides of the hammer and trigger. The front sight blade, originally semi-circular, has been regulated for distance and cut along the back for greater visibility. The gun is fitted with an excellent pair of 1930s era, orange-colored Catalin resin grips which have the characteristic finger grooves along the left panel. The lock-up and timing of the action are still good. The revolver is housed in Schmid’s hand-tooled leather belt slide holster with reinforcing back loop. The dark brown leather is in good condition, but does have some flaking and crazing at the flex points, particularly at the forward pass-through. Also includes Schmid’s personally-owned pair of later (likely 1950s or 60s) handcuffs marked “TWC/Japan.” Accompanied by a vintage original matte-finish 10 x 8 photo of Schmid wearing a hand-tooled leather belt in matching style to this holster, with the forward belt loop of the holster visible behind his arm. From the collection of Dallas County Sheriff 'Smoot' Schmid. Schmid famously used a Thompson submachine gun to shoot up Bonnie and Clyde’s Ford during the 1933 Sowers raid. This handgun, however, dates perfectly to the gangster era and may have been Schimd’s favored sidearm during his outlaw-hunting days.
This transfers as a modern firearm.
