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Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Auction: The Earp Brothers & Cowboys

Sat, Jul 26, 2025 11:00AM EDT
  2025-07-26 11:00:00 2025-07-26 11:00:00 America/New_York North American Auction Company North American Auction Company : Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Auction: The Earp Brothers & Cowboys https://live.naabid.com/auctions/north-american-auction/tombstone-western-heritage-museum-auction-the-earp-brothers-cowboys-20021
Join North American Auction Company on July 26th for a once-in-a-lifetime auction of the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Collection. This extraordinary sale features the largest private collection of Tombstone history, including rare and historic pieces tied to Wyatt Earp, the Earp Brothers, and the infamous Cochise Cowboys. From original artifacts, outlaw relics, and the largest collection of C.S. Fly photographs, this is a can’t-miss event for collectors of the Old West’s most legendary chapter.
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Lot 165

Old Man Clanton's Winchester Model 1866 Carbine

Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000
Current Bid
$7,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
This is a Winchester Model 1866 owned by Old Man Clanton (Newman Haynes Clanton) a Cochise Cowboy and father of four sons, one of which was killed during the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral by the Earps from the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum collection where it has been on display for many years. The carbine was recovered in Guadalupe Canyon at the site where Old Man Clanton and a group of cattle rustlers were ambushed and killed. It was recovered cocked and empty with a large quantity of .44 Henry spent cartridges found in the same area. The gun was refurbished for display at the museum and has been in the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum collection since, recovered without the forestock, stock, lever and lower tang, a picture of the gun when in original recovered condition is included. Newman Haynes Clanton (1816-1881), also known as “Old Man” Clanton was father of four sons, including Billy Clanton who was killed during the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral by the Earps. His sons were known Cochise Cowboy’s involved in many conflicts such as cattle rustling and stagecoach robbery. Old Man Clanton himself is counted by many as a Cochise Cowboy and was involved in stealing cattle from Mexican ranchers and reselling them in the U.S. as well as being involved in the Skeleton Canyon Massacre of Mexican smugglers. In retaliation, Mexican Rurales are documented as ambushing and killing Old Man Clanton and his crew of Cowboys in the Guadalupe Canyon Massacre, this carbine rifle is from that fight. Newman Clanton was a plantation owner and enslaver in the Old South of Tennessee before moving to the west. He tried his hand at gold mining in California before relocating to Texas in 1853 where they had a ranch and more children. He enlisted in the Confederate Home Guard with his son John Wesley Clanton at the outbreak of the American Civil War and was later released due to his age. After the Civil War he moved is family to Arizona Territory and settled near Fort Bowie near Wilcox, Arizona. At his ranch his sons Billy Clanton first met Frank and Tom McLaury. Newman eventually bought land on the San Pedro River in Lewis Springs which became the headquarters of the Clanton Ranch. At the same time Ed Schieffelin discovered silver in the hills east of San Pedro River on a plateau known as Goose Flats, less than 15 miles from the Clanton Ranch. The family met the needs of beef for the booming town of Tombstone from cattle rustling; Tombstone grew from 100 residents to upwards of 15,000 in less than a decade. The Clanton ranch was the most profitable cattle ranches in that part of the country, yet the Clanton’s never registered even one brand in either Cochise County or Pima County, a legal requirement. The ranch was the known hangout spot of the notorious Cochise Cowboy’s. In July 1879 Johnny Ringo, the posse leader, along with Old Man Clanton, his sones Ike and Billy Clanton, “Curly Bill” Brocius, Indian Charlie, brothers Frank and Tom McLaury, Jim Hughes, Rattlesnake Bill, Joe Hill, Charlies Snow, Jake Guage and Charlie Thomas participated in the Skeleton Canyon Massacre. Again in July 1881 Old Man Clanton was involved in the second Skeleton Canyon Massacre. On August 12, 1881, Old Man Clanton and six other men were herding stolen cattle sold by Curly Bill through the Guadalupe Canyon near the Mexican border. They were ambushed by Mexicans dispatched by Commandant Felipe Neri. Five men were killed including Clanton who was cooking breakfast at the time and was shot and fell dead into the cook fire. This Winchester Model 1866 was recovered at this spot and was owned by Old Man Clanton. The carbine was recovered without the wood, a damaged lever and lower tang broken off, it was professionally restored by the Elliott’s for display in their museum. The carbine is chambered in .44 Henry and has a barrel length of 20-inches, overall length of 39 3/8-inches. This is quite possibly one of, if not the most historic Cochise Cowboy firearms ever brought to the public market. Provenance: From the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona where the carbine has been on display in their collection for multiple decades, Marge and Stephen Elliott collection with many items associated with John D. Gilchriese. G-1

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