Sometimes gun registration ain't so bad....
I recently aquired this Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 acp. It's just an oridinary Colt Pocket Hammerless. The Colt was manufactured in 1916. Nothing special about it, except it once belonged to Bartholmew McGraw. Now you ask, who is Bartholmew McGraw? I haven't a clue, but I have his Colt Pocket Hammerless.
Handgun registration in Michigan started in the early 1920's. This particular Colt, if not for gun registration would be just another Colt. But what makes this Colt Pocket Hammerless special is Bartholmew McGraw registered it on December 7th 192? (exact year is unknown)
Bartholmew McGraw was born on October 20th, 1867. He was a white male with grey hair, and blue eyes. At the time of registration Bartholmew McGraw was "retired", and lived at 1066 W. Baltimore Ave., Detroit, Michigan (48202, no zips in the 1920's).
The Colt was registered by Lt. Jas Lynch 1st Precinct, Detroit Police Department.
It's amazing the the "Safety Inspection Certificate" (gun registration) survived all these years with the Colt Pocket Hammerless.
Maybe when the weather warms, I'll check out some cemeteries. I'm sure Bartholmew McGraw didn't go far.
Without further ado, may I present Bartholmew McGraws Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless.







This is where Bartholmew McGraw would have lived at the time of registration, 1066 W. Baltimore, Detroit Michigan. It looks like the residence is long gone.

__________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Well ol Bart sure took good care of that Colt.

All that you said is true...

I know because I have the lights turned off and I'm channeling ol' Bartholmew McGraw right now.

"Come in Bart... what are you trying to tell me?"

"Get your gun back?"

"Tell that Coyote guy to send it to me and I'll get it right back to you?"

"OK Bart... I'll PM him my shipping addresss right now."

I bet his friends called him Quick Draw.

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

Nice Colt! Quick scan through the census forms for 1920 would seem to indicate Ol' Bart was in the Hotel business.

Wow! Thats a great find Coyote. I think I might know where you got that one.

Wow. That gun is in super nice condition, considering its age.

It is the history of the gun that is just too dang cool. To be sure it is in great condition, but to know what you know is so refreshing.

Thank you for sharing.

__________________
I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Neat find, John.

If Mr. McGraw was retired by the '20s, there's a decent chance he passed away in the home that stood at that address before they started razing those neighborhoods and expanding the Lodge in the '50s. Churches in the area may provide some clues as to his death/burial.

Great gun and the start of a wonderful story! You might try some of the ancestory websites to see what you can find.

Great condition.. I have serial number 242--. Not as nice as yours as I use it for everyday carry.

Bartholmew was born in Michigan in 1867, but both his parents were born in Ireland. in 1900 his occupation was listed "Chief Server Inspect." He married his wife Annie in 1890 and had 3 children: James born 1890, William 1892, & Bartholmew born 1898. All were born in Michigan. They lived at 876 Brooklyn Ave., Detroit.
By 1910, Bartholemew & Anna added a daughter Anna, born 1901 to the family. His occupation was a "keeper" .
In 1920 they lived 262 Baltamore St. Detroit. His occupation is listed as Owner Hotel, but their home is rented not owned.
In 1930 Bartholemew was 62 and listed as retired. He and Anna lived at 1066 Hamilton Ave. Detroit. In his household lives his single son James age 39 and is a county auditor.
Bartholemew was born to James McGraw & Anna Bolton. In 1870 the family lived in the 8th ward of Detroit. He had a sister Mary born 1862 and a brother Michael born 1857. His father was a laborer in 1870.
He died July 26, 1956 in Detroit. Here is a picture of him. Hope this adds to your pistols history.
Stonecove

Attached Images

B. A. McGraw.jpg (9.2 KB, 121 views)

Stonecove,
That is wonderful information! Thank you very much for your time, and research.

__________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Whitecoyote, You're welcome. It was fun and I thought you would get a kick out of it, especially the picture! That was unbelievable luck-- You need to buy a lottery ticket!
Stonecove

That is double cool. Great thread.

Back to top.

__________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Moosedog, and I went to the Cemetery today. We were able to locate where he is buried, but unfortunately we could not find exactly where his grave is. It appears Bartholmew McGraw does not have a grave marker/head stone. We talked to a grounds keeper, who helped us out a lot. We poked around in the ground to see if we could find a head stone. We uncovered a couple head stones that were buried, but could not find one that belonged to McGraw.
This is where Bartholmew McGraw is buried. His grave is inbetween the black post on the right, and the large gravestone on the left.

__________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Bart McGraw was my Great GrandFather, I remember my Dad had this pistol and the paperwork when I was a kid!

Bart was a character, in the old model. Known to his friends and enemies as 'Batty' McGraw; he was a fixer and an operator and was implicated in a lot of Voteswapper League activities in Detroit politics. He owned several bars over the years and always had a standing bet that if he lost a fist fight with a customer, they could have the bar. Batty never had to pay up, he always won. He was the Detroit Sewer Inspector at the time he bought the pistol, he got the job for 'helping' some buddies get elected themselves. Prior to that, he ran for and won a seat on the Detroit City Council but he was later removed because of 'irregularities' in the voting within his ward. Apparently he was the Democratic ticket frontrunner in the election and was also the voting precinct captain. He ran the voting out of his saloon on Baltimore street (the family lived upstairs) and his two bartenders were the other two precinct voting officers. Any Democrat coming in to vote got free drinks; Republicans voting there apparently voted Democrat without their knowledge after they left, the election that did him in involved erasures on ballots and tally sheets.
My Grandma was Anna, Batty's daughter and she always told the story of Batty setting the bar for the shift changes at the auto factory. He would run shots-an-a-beer the length of the bar, and when the whistle blew the guys coming to work would go in the front door, slap their money down and chug and then keep going right out the back door. Batty would have just enough time to reset the bar before the guys coming off shift were coming through the back door to repeat the process on their way home.
That pistol may be the one that took out a guy who was leaning on Batty for protection money; he came by the bar in the 30's and offered to keep it from burning down for a weekly payment. Batty told him to take a hike and the guy came back with gas and some matches in the wee hours, Batty was in the alley waiting for him and fired one shot in the air as warning. The guys buddies heard it and let loose with shotguns into the front of the bar from their car in the street. Batty plugged the guy in the alley dead and hightailed it for the nearest callbox, he had a 'cops drink for free' policy and knew every guy in that precinct by first name.
Bart ran the saloon right up to Prohibition, which in Detroit started in 1915. He later became undersheriff of Wayne County and apparently used the position to tip off his rum running buddies prior to raids. The FBI has a file on Batty that is pretty thick, but they never proved anything.

If you still have that pistol, I'd be interested in buying it off you.

Well, that's an interesting turn of events.

__________________
- Change it back -

MAN, I love this forum! Endlessly fascinating.

__________________
Oh well, what the hell.

This zombie thread sure has some interesting reincarnations.

I have to echo shouldazagged's sentiment - ya gotta love this place!

Nice gun too, I'm sorry I sold mine to another forum member every time I see a nice pic of a 1908. Can't even remember which S&W it helped fund, which I guess means the Colt is more memorable ?

But his gun had a son..see picture : born in 1922
Peace,
Gordon

__________________
better have that checked