Collectors (many of them, anyway) are very keen on an antique which comes with "provenance". If you can demonstrate that your piece was owned by a particular person, or it is tied to a particular event, it can drastically increase the value of the piece, especially if the event or individual was well known. A gun previously owned by Pat Garrett or Billy the Kid would fetch thousands more than if it was just another antique gun.
I don't very often come across pieces with significant provenance. I have had a few where the original owner could be documented, but usually that was an unknown private individual, and although interesting, the provenance does not add much value to the gun. This one is a bit different, though. It's not as special as the one owned by Pat Garrett, but it does have some interesting facts connected to it:
It's a S&W New Model No. 3 originally given to Dan Wesson's second son Frank, back in 1880. Originally made with a 6 1/2 inch barrel with fixed sights, and chambered in .44 Russian, Frank had it modified with adjustable target sights. He kept it for a short while and then sold (or gave) it to Frederick E. Bennett, the famous American pistol shot who beat Ira Paine's record in the 100-shot pistol discipline in 1887. At the time, pistol shots like Paine, Bennett and Walter Winans were superstars, as famous then as Lionel Messi or Michael Jordan are today.
Sixty years later, the gun was returned to the factory for repairs and further modifications. I don't know who owned it at that time, but the owner had the barrel replaced with a four-inch piece, and switched the sights back to the regular half-moon front and fixed rear. The case hardening was refreshed and the gun re-nickel plated. It was duly stamped with the factory re-work star, and a date of 4/47, with the new barrel and latch numbered to the frame. It is in near-mint condition.
The story of Frank L. Wesson is a tragic one. He lost his life in a horrific train wreck on 5 February, 1887, at age 34...
W.W. Bennett and his brother Frederick (right) were famous American marksmen in the 1880's
Newspaper account of the train wreck which claimed the lives of 29 crew and passengers, including Dan Wesson's son Frank
Frank Wesson's New Model No. 3, .44 Russian
I don't very often come across pieces with significant provenance. I have had a few where the original owner could be documented, but usually that was an unknown private individual, and although interesting, the provenance does not add much value to the gun. This one is a bit different, though. It's not as special as the one owned by Pat Garrett, but it does have some interesting facts connected to it:
It's a S&W New Model No. 3 originally given to Dan Wesson's second son Frank, back in 1880. Originally made with a 6 1/2 inch barrel with fixed sights, and chambered in .44 Russian, Frank had it modified with adjustable target sights. He kept it for a short while and then sold (or gave) it to Frederick E. Bennett, the famous American pistol shot who beat Ira Paine's record in the 100-shot pistol discipline in 1887. At the time, pistol shots like Paine, Bennett and Walter Winans were superstars, as famous then as Lionel Messi or Michael Jordan are today.
Sixty years later, the gun was returned to the factory for repairs and further modifications. I don't know who owned it at that time, but the owner had the barrel replaced with a four-inch piece, and switched the sights back to the regular half-moon front and fixed rear. The case hardening was refreshed and the gun re-nickel plated. It was duly stamped with the factory re-work star, and a date of 4/47, with the new barrel and latch numbered to the frame. It is in near-mint condition.
The story of Frank L. Wesson is a tragic one. He lost his life in a horrific train wreck on 5 February, 1887, at age 34...
W.W. Bennett and his brother Frederick (right) were famous American marksmen in the 1880's
Newspaper account of the train wreck which claimed the lives of 29 crew and passengers, including Dan Wesson's son Frank
Frank Wesson's New Model No. 3, .44 Russian
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