The gun was a .44 Russian caliber New Model SA No. 3 serial number 3766. The Coroner's report called in a Colt revolver, but the serial number listed for the gun in the evidence locker was the serial number for a S&W New Model. For years some researchers and writers called it a Colt, in various articles, probably based on the picture of Bob Ford with a Colt SA. According to a newspaper article in the Baltimore Morning Herald,Jan 2, 1904, The gun was Jesses's originally and he had given it to Bob Ford. Bob Ford presented the gun to a Col. Corydon F. Craig, at the time of the shooting. Later the S&W factory engraved the side plate "BOB FORD KILLED JESSE JAMES WITH THIS REVOLVER AT ST. JOSEPH. MP. 1882" Ford tried to collect the $10,000 reward for James from the Gov. of Missouri, but it was never paid, however he was pardoned by the Gov. Col Craig was the young son of the sheriff of St. Joseph, Mo. at the time of the shooting, and was given the gun in gratitude for the nice treatment Ford received during his stay in the St. Joseph jail. Craig lated sold the gun to a friend, James Gary Jr. The gun went through several hands and was stolen, but recoved and sold again at auction in 1993 for $160,000. Ford was killed in a gun fight in Creede, CO. in 1892, by shootist Ed O'Kelley's double barrelled shotgun. The gun was auctioned off again by the 1993 buyer at Little John's auction Nov. 19, 2003 for $385,000. ( I was a bidder, but not the high bidder!) Ed.