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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 110

Rare S. L. Hart Winchester Model 1873 .44-40 Rifle

Estimate: $25,000 - $35,000
Starting Bid
$7,500

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
Featured in this lot is an Extremely Rare S. L. Hart Tombstone Winchester Model 1873 Rifle with S. L. Hart stamped logo. Provenance: Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, Tombstone, Arizona. Samuel Lombard Hart (1830-1893) prior to becoming a very highly regarded and skilled gunsmith over his ten years in Tombstone, had two separate tours of duty with Union forces in the Civil War. As a Lieutenant, he served with the Wisconsin 10th Infantry and as an Assistant Signal Officer for the 4th Division of the Army of the Tennessee seeing action in several battles including Pittsburgh Landing. After the war as a gunsmith in Tombstone Arizona Territory, if gun repairs were needed, Hart's on Freemont Street was the place to go, located just a short distance from the famous Fly Photography studio and right next door to the O.K. Corral. On Oct. 26th of 1881 Hart, while working in his store, would be one of the relatively few witnesses to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral that made Tombstone and the Earp's famous. Guns that were re-worked or repaired by Hart were often stamped with his logo, which was the letters S and L over a "heart," an artistic yet compact and simple way of saying "S.L. Hart." S.L. was entrusted with both basic repairs as well as also sought out for his special Colt pistols. Some of Hart's more notable clients were US Marshal Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday, outlaw Ike Clanton and Buckskin Frank Leslie. It has been said that the legacy of S.L. Hart as gunsmith to the cowboys, gamblers, lawmen, and gunfighters of Tombstone cannot be over estimated. Today a firearm with the "S.L. Hart" stamp is almost priceless. Developed from the 1860 Henry rifle, the Winchester Model 1873 repeating rifle was particularly successful in its day, being marketed by the manufacturer as "The Gun That Won the West". The rifle came to symbolize the American Old West frontier because of its reliabilty and firepower. Along with the Colt 1873 Peacemaker revolver, the Winchesster 1873 repeater was on the map of the Wild West alongside the frontiersmen. The octagon rifle barrel is stamped on the left side of the receiver with Hart's "S and L over a heart" logo, stamped on the top, "WINCHESTER-REPEATING-ARMS NEW HAVEN CT. KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-March 29, 1866 October 16, 1860." Top of the receiver is stamped, "MODEL 1873", bottom of receiver is stamped with a serial number that is illegible. Front sight is stamped, "MARBLE No. 5". Sling hooks attached. The stock and forearm show light handling only along with tight wood to metal fit and display the classic reddish/brown Winchester walnut finish. As is typical on Winchesters, the stock appears to be walnut, a good cleaning of the wood would no doubt bring out the grain structure even more than it is currently. The action functions fine with strong springs and safety notch on the hammer. The bore is surprisingly fine with strong rifling all the way through.

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