A National Arms Co. Single Shot No. 2 Derringer belonging to Pat Garrett, Sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico.
This derringer, serial number 10772, has a 2 ½ inch barrel and is in caliber .41 rimfire. It has an iron frame with broad scroll engraving and smooth walnut grips. These derringers were made from 1865 until 1870 and this is the variation with the thin “knife blade” extractor. The barrel has a dark bore, most of the metal has a steel gray patina with some scattered fine pitting. The engraving is clear and the barrel address is partially illegible. The left grip has a grain crack through the screw escutcheon.
A handwritten letter from a James Warshal offering this derringer for sale for $72.60 is included. This states that it belonged to Pat Garett [sic], the famous sheriff who killed Billy the Kid. In part: “The 2nd Model National Derringer U. S. Marshall Badge &…Indian coin case…belong to the late Pat Garett [sic]…This material came from the estate of James Madison Hervey famous Roswell attorney who died in 1953. Who was attorney general of New Mexico 1907 to 1909. He investigated the murder of Pat Garett [sic] in Feb. 1908. He found out Pat was killed by Jim Miller a paid killer was paid $1500.00.” This letter is written on the back of a mimeographed list of guns for sale that appears to date from the 1930s. Accompanied by a Deputy US Marshal badge made of nickel silver with a pin back having a safety catch. The back of the badge is marked in tiny letters “LAS & SCO” (Los Angeles Stamp and Stationary Co.) this badge is in fine condition and appears to be an original. Also part of the lot is a hand-sewn leather coin purse originally belonging to Pat Garrett with Indian beadwork on the front. This multi-colored design has hand-sewn tiny beads that are not uniform in size.
This is an antique pistol and transfers with no federal restrictions.
Provenance:
Pat Garrett
James Madison Hervey
James Warshal
R.B. Wolfe
Caren Archive Collection
