I just watched John Sayles' great film "Matewan" again, and I wonder if anyone here has ever had a gun that lettered to the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency.

If you're not familiar with the film, it deals with events leading up to the "Battle of Matewan" in which seven Baldwin-Felts private detectives were killed in a wild shootout in the streets of Matewan, West Virginia, in 1920. The other side was made up of the Chief of Police Sid Hatfield, the mayor, and a bunch of pissed off coal miners. Hatfield was later gunned down on the courthouse steps by other Baldwin-Felts boys.

The company went under in the 30s. I just wonder if their guns were all individually purchased, or were supplied by the company.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I also have seen the movie and always wondered that also. I believe I read an article awhile back that the Chief carried a S&W Triple-Lock. I believe the article was in Shooting Times by Mike Ventrino. I'll have to look for it. I think that would be a really interesting find with all the history connected to it. I hope someone comes up with some info on these guns.

I have Triple Lock #1882. It's a 5 inch barrel blue gun that letters as having been shipped to A. C. Felts in 1913. The shipping address is unfortunately illegible in the shipping records, but this gun undoubtedly was bought by Albert C. Felts, one of the principle players in the Matewan Massacre.

I have been unable to determine if this was one of the guns taken from Felts after his death. If anyone has any further information, I'd certainly be interested.

I shoot the gun occasionally - it shoots to point of aim with my reloads with 240 grain lead bullets. Accuracy is still superb after 96 years. The gun shows wear consistent with having been carried in a holster, but the action is smooth and lockup is tight.

Any chance of posting a picture of that triple lock HKSmith? I have always had an interest in West Virginia, coal mining and guns.
I bought this old #3 in 44 S&W Russian out of WV a couple of years ago but the letter only shows it going to M.W. Robinson out of New York Oct 3rd 1882.
Unfortunately some knuckle head did me the favor of cleaning all the patina off of it. It's still tight and bore is good. I have often wondered what kind of "work" it was used in during it's days in WV?

Attached Images

New model #3 44 Russian 005.jpg (95.2 KB, 119 views)

There was a thread awhile back that was about Baldwin-Felts. There is a city park named Felts Park in Galax, Virginia. I don't recall the exact relationship to the detective agency.

Did a little research. Thomas Felts, co-owner of Baldwin-Felts, was a founder of Galax.

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WAR EAGLE!

My wife just gave me a Nikon Digital SLR to replace my 1970 Nikon Photomic FTn (sort of like the Triple Lock of cameras). As soon as I get up and running with it, I'll post some pictures.

HKSmith - I'd love to see a picture of that gun, too. I'm sure you've seen this, but Albert Felts is top center in this picture, with the other Baldwin-Felts men killed in the Matewan shootout.

__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”