What Gun Killed Jesse James?

[CowboyKen]

I think the recent issue of Guns Of The Old West has an article on the Jesse James gun.

There is a long article in the current (summer 2009) issue of Guns of the Old West. It is titled " The Gun That Killed Jesse James" "S&W New Model No. 3 that gunned down America's most famous outlaw!"

It includes pictures of the gun shown above.

Ken

Yes, it does.

Ken

 

[model3sw]

Interesting!

Nearest SN I have is 3813, 6.5" Nickel, came from Montana to me about 25 years ago. All my Model 3s are lettered excepting very few. This is one of the few I have not yet "lettered".

 

[Absalom]

The thread is a zombie, but very interesting. Thanks for bringing it back up!

Too bad the picture of the gun seems no longer accessible.

 

[Jtown]

Great thread, very interesting
Walt

 

[twaits]

I am currently reading "Shot All To Hell" about the Northfield bank robbery. Good read. I found a used copy on Amazon for less than 6 bucks delivered.

 

[vortex360]

The Springfield XD Mod 2 chambered for 45ACP.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Interesting article from 1993.

(c) UPI 2018

Gun that killed American outlaw up for sale - UPI Archives

Part of the confusion is likely due to the fact that Jesse James himself, as well as his brother Frank, at one time or another carried Schofields. It's pretty well known in cowboy action shooting circles. So a quick search turned this up:

Smith & Wesson's Most Famous Top-Break: The Schofield | Gun Digest

(c) 2018 Gun Digest Media

 

[sspierce8]

I may crazy, but I think they have a model 3 at Bass Pro museum that says it's the one that killed him. I was looking for model 3's while I was there since I have one which is why I remember it. It's an NRA museum.

 

[glowe]

Never was able to confirm the stories about Jesse's mother buying junk revolvers and selling them to tourists stating they were owned by Jesse. I remember 40 years ago I visited Jthe James house and the tour guide made that same statement as well.

 

[Absalom]

I am currently reading "Shot All To Hell" about the Northfield bank robbery. Good read. I found a used copy on Amazon for less than 6 bucks delivered.

I second that. Excellent book. I got the Kindle edition for less than that on sale a while back, although that's now back up to the regular 12 bucks.

 

[gmborkovic]

Gary Mrs. James pic reveals a real Hottie. Plus she may have been a stellar
entrepreneur. Gotta make a buck!

 

[MCorps0311]

Bod Ford was a coward.Rest In Peace Jessie James!

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I may crazy, but I think they have a model 3 at Bass Pro museum that says it's the one that killed him. I was looking for model 3's while I was there since I have one which is why I remember it. It's an NRA museum.

They'd have to have 100% perfect provenance to convince me that that was anything more than baloney.

Never was able to confirm the stories about Jesse's mother buying junk revolvers and selling them to tourists stating they were owned by Jesse. I remember 40 years ago I visited Jthe James house and the tour guide made that same statement as well.

Rumor has it that Bat Masterson did the same thing quite a few times. I forget who he claimed to have shot with "it".

 

[flagman1776]

I've read that in later life Geronimo sold "his rifle" many times.

 

[Absalom]

I've read that in later life Geronimo sold "his rifle" many times.

Well heck, if he himself sold it, it was by definition his, and who are we to quibble over how many he had and how long he had them before selling them again?

 

[opoefc]

Pancho Villa guns are right up their with the rest of them. His widow was famous for peddling "Pancho's favorite gun" I have one in my collection that is a stunning cased Model 1861 Colt Navy factory conversion .38RF, beautiful engraving with carved Ivory Mexican Snake & Eagle stocks and vestiges of gold plating. Case has brass plate that says" Pancho Villa " ( Colt records indicate the gun was made years before Pancho was born, but doesn't mean he didn't steal it somewhere later on ! ) I think I paid about 100 Pesos for it in Mexico around 1945. Es un pistola muy grande, Señor ! Ed.

 

[S&WsRsweet]

Man their are some interesting folks on this forum and you guys come up with some interesting questions .I would like to pt out the name of a very interesting book by Ted P. Yeatman titled Frank and Jesse James,The Story Behind The Legend. I am somewhat of a history buff especially around the time of the Civil War and aftermath and found this book very informative .Unfortunately as Jesse James was moved after his death twice before the last forensic investigation and buried in a wooden coffin his remains weren't in excellent shape .The report stated that the wound in his skull was made by a .44 or .45 caliber bullet but I don't recall anything about the actual gun used being mentioned. You take into consideration of the times and the people involved and you can bet there were many guns sold that were said to be this is the gun that Bob Ford used to kill Jesse. I mean I can see why so much controversy has surrounded questions like this .In this book Bob Fords brother states " Jesse turned his back and I gave my brother the wink and we drew our revolvers but he was a little quicker than me and he ( Jesse) heard us cock our revolvers and was about to turn his head when my brother fired" seeing it was a death shot I did t fire. Unfortunately he didn't say what kind of gun was used . Anyway I picked up a Hard Back copy of the book for 5 bucks in nearly new condition at a thrift store just last month.interestingly there is a picture of a Smith and Wesson American 44 caliber revolver taken from Jim Younger and it days Cole Younger had one like it with Ivory grips.

 

[Pisgah]

From the number of "This-is the-gun" accounts, I would say that half the revolvers in St. Jo, MO, were used to kill Jesse...

 

[sspierce8]

You know, now that I think about it, the one at Bass Pro I think it is a model 3 owned by Jesse, not the one that killed him. Sorry.