Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters A Tombstone Marshal's Engraved Colt SAA - Master Engraver George Spring

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Fortunately, all the original documents that Marshal Max included with the gun when he sent it off for auction, have remained with this Custom SAA. That's indeed very special, since the gun was commissioned over 21 years ago. There are over 36 pages of various documents that include; The original Colt Factory Letter for this Engraved SAA serial no. TMO1, (Tombstone Marshal's Office), Marshal Max Hurlbut's original order for this Custom Colt outlining his wants, several quotations for the job as details were updated and finalized over the many months, the original Colt invoice for the work when the gun was completed, a thank you letter to Colt and to George Spring from Marshal Max complimenting their service, a magazine article about George Spring's engraving - signed by George Spring to: Marshal Max Hurlbut, an autographed copy of the book " Tombstone Lawmen" book no. 7 of 500, signed by the author to: Marshal Max Hurlbut, copies of the "Hole in the Wall Gun Shop FFL, copies of checks sent to Colt for the guns payment, and three 8x10 photos of the completed gun. In addition, there are, several newspaper clippings detailing Marshal Max Hurlbut's clean-up of the corrupt Tombstone Marshal Office, the reason he was hired for the job as Marshal, and many other interesting documents.

Documents show the total time for this Custom build, from the day of the quote request, to the day of receiving the gun, was 1 year, 10 months, and 1 day.

Needless to say, I'm very pleased to have such complete provenance about this gun. There are too many items to picture, but I've shown a few for your interest.






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Here are a couple of photos showing Tombstone Marshal Max Hurlbut, wearing his Custom Colt. The second photo shows his Deputy Marshalls and Dispatcher.

Fine piece.

Kudos, Mr. Stix, for your success in finding fine guns with stories and evidence, thereof.

You come up with the neatest stuff. Congrats.

Seems Max is more than happy for you to be the custodian of this fine piece.

Keep up the good work, love to read your posts. They're always very interesting.

DF

Off the scale KOOL!

Xs 10

w O W


Jerry

This is what I come to the Campfire to see! Congratulations and I hope you enjoy owning this revolver until someone worthy of it will have the same enthusiasm for history as you do to keep this collection together for future generations...

What a beautiful piece with great provenance. Perhaps the prettiest SAA I have ever seen. However, I must admit that I noticed that in both of the last two pictures the image of the holstered revolver looks exactly the same with regard to shadows, lighting, etc. In addition, the gun is not "in", or part of the photograph as one would expect.

Again, no intention to take anything away from a wonderful piece, but I notice what I notice.

+1 to this. Amazing piece of history and friendship. Doesn't get much better than this.

Cole Youngers revolver is for sale on GunBroker

Buy it Now for. 185,000

It would be all rusted up if it were mine, as I keep drooling every time I look at the picture.

Was Max presented this revolver for some reason or did he just order it for himself??Really a standout weapon with badge and all.Thanks for posting,Huntz

PM sent sir.

Hello Ready,
Hello Dirtfarmer,
Hello jorgeI,
Hello jwall,
Hello shrapnel,
Hello shootinurse,
Hello hanco,
Hello travelingman1,
Hello Huntz,
Hello Captain,

Thank you for all the replies,

I've gotta ask: Why did he want "Tombstone AT" instead of "Tombstone AZ"?

Tombstone Arizona Territory

Hello BufordBoone,

Thanks for the reply.

AZ is Arizona ..... AT is Arizona Territory ... Its a tradition thing ....

The shadows go different directions. Not to nit-pick, but -

"Arizona Territory"...a tradition thing. Makes perfect sense.

Thanks for the info, beautiful photos and education about someone that sounds like he's had a very interesting life.

Of course, I did a little more research and discovered he has written a book, Vagabond Policeman. I ordered it thru Amazon (Kindle edition) and look forward to reading it.

Bad photoshop job.

No need for it.

I'm also a little put off by the use of a Texas Ranger badge for a city marshal in another state.

Beautiful Colt and craftsmanship though.

Hello rockinbbar,

Thanks for the reply.

According to Stan Benjamin's book "Tombstone Lawmen" under the chapter "Badges of Tombstone" (pages 40 - 43) there are no less than 18 badges depicting a 5 point star, (with & without a surround circle) dating back as early as 1880, This same motif is in current use today. https://www.cityoftombstoneaz.gov/marshals-office/

Ho Li Wow...............I'm speechless.

yup....couldn't have said it better.....

Great find and information. I find this especially interesting as I’m from tombstone. Both my parents and both my grandmothers were born there. My grandfather Fred Bennett was a City Marshall in Tombstone and I have his badge. It is a 5 pointed star.
Very good read, thanks for posting.

Fred

Awesome layout on the engraving.

All due respect, but it sure looks like the same image in both photos to me. In addition, based on the image of the gun compared to the good Marshall's body angle/attitude, he sure wore his gun with the butt sticking out from his body. Wanna sse some pics of Nancy Pelosi when she was a porn star?

And again, this may be the prettiest SAA I have ever seen, and the paper work provenance is pretty darn solid.

Hello BufordBoone,

Thanks for the reply.

You will enjoy the book. I've read it several times. It follows Max's most interesting career. I've shown below an article that appeared in 2017 telling of Max Hurlbut's history.
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Hello azrancher,

Thanks for the reply.

Do you know what years he was a Marshal? Do you have a picture of his badge you could post?
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Buck,
thanks for posting this. I always enjoy driving around the block in Hartford when I am passing through to see the old Factory on the edge of the river. Very interesting to read the details of the order. But even more interesting to see your work keeping the Story together along with the paperwork.
Its a Beautiful engraving job.
I hope you shoot at least 12 rounds through it to ensurefunction and its ability to maintain Order in your neck of the Woods.
As always thank you for your work to curate interesting examples of the gunmakers art and the history of the individuals that enjoyed using it.
Bob

Buckstix, I'm sure not trying to short your Colt. As I said, I think it's a beautiful weapon that's a real work of art and craftsmanship.

That said... The badge inletted on both grips is the personal preference and taste of the man that had it made. And the badge design, and even make by the jeweler in Houston is the current Texas Ranger design badge adopted by the real Texas Rangers in 1962. There is absolutely no mistaking that design.

Several Texas Sheriff Depts. also adopted the badge design and have used it for themselves and the deputies in their departments. I assume there may have been other law enforcement in other states, such as AZ, that have adopted the badge design and pattern, but I have not seen that outside of Texas. 5 pt. circle star badges, yes, but not the exact design and pattern used in the 1962 Ranger badge.

I only know these bits of trivia because I wore the authentic design badge while serving in law enforcement here in Texas, and got it directly from the jeweler in Houston with an authorized dept. letterhead at the time. The jeweler still makes the badges of antique Mexican silver coins.

There's lots written on the history of the Texas Ranger badges. Probably the most complete and historic is from the Ranger's themselves. https://www.texasranger.org/texas-ranger-museum/popular-pages/beware-fake-badges/

Again, I complement the design and taste of the handgun, but that inletted badge on the grips is indeed a Texas badge design. Right down to the engraving.

I can take a picture of the badge I still carry for comparison if you'd like. It predates the ones in your pictures by many years. I carry mine on my key fob now, because I'm no longer with the department.

Respectfully, RBB

I don’t really know the years for shure but he left the Boquillas ( where he was cow boss for colonel Greene) in about 1918 or 1920. I guess I t was after that. Send me a phone # or your email and I will send you a picture of the badge.

Fred

Hello azrancher,

Thansk for the reply.

Yes, please sned a picture. send to [email protected]




Hello rockinbbar,

Thanks for your reply.

The document sent to Colt that is labeled "Request for Quote" (see picture - No. 6) shows a "xerox copy" of the "actual badge" carried by Marshal Max Hurlbut. He didn't design it, it was the badge that was assigned to him when he took office. The book "Tombstone Lawmen" shows that exact same badge as being carried by Marshal Max from July 1997 to November 1998. The center of the star is bare. The badges in the grip are the same, except smaller and they have "TMO" added in the center of the star. (Tombstone Marshal's Office) This corresponds to Colt's serial number; TMO-1.



That No. 6 paragraph also mentions that the Marshal's badge was made from a silver Mexican cinco peso piece. How and When and Why that badge was made for the Tombstone Marshal is not known.

Great Pistol. Congratulations and thanks for sharing it with us.

how'd you get rid of the photoshopped pictures without showing an edit mark?

Hello Sycamore

Thanks for the reply.

If that one comes up for sale someday, I intend to try to buy it.