An update on Tom Threepersons and his holster

[rednichols]

Tom's own holster was different in several styling details to the 'Threepersons Style' of today. And it seems that the Horseshoe Prize (winning for getting closest) would go to J.M. Bucheimer. This particular one is so close that it even sports the owner's initials on the backside, scratched there as on Tom's holster! And also has a leg tiedown at the muzzle as did Tom's. And some empty holes on both that were once fitted with retainer thongs. Add that it's for an SAA (it's a 6-1/2" so m/b for a Ruger not a Colt) and is a dark brown with a Mexican carved finish, and they are non-identical twins:

 

[rednichols]

I can also add some factual updates to my bit o' whimsy about Bucheimer having already 'replicated' Tom's personal holster (less the thick welts pressing hard up against the frame).

Turns out that Tom Three Persons, Blood Indian of Alberta and British subject, did find out about 'our' Tom (who was Cherokee) having expropriated his identity. An article that appeared in a local 1928 newspaper was produced for him and he was mighty unhappy with being called a 'killer' -- because the article was about 'our' Tom who reputedly had killed many men, and yet it seemed to be about him (the Blood) including the Calgary Stampede win in 1912 that he himself was known for.

It seems that either Cunningham or Arnold had one of the many pieces about 'our' Tom published, in, of all places, England in a little-known magazine called The Wide World Magazine. I've not sighted a copy of the original magazine article (still looking), but I do have the newspaper article: it is titled "Tom Threepersons a Two Gun Man?" and published in Alberta, CN.

Upon seeing the article, the Blood Tom stated he had been vilified and swore to sue; understandably Indian ranchers didn't find it beneficial to be a gunman. This was Feb 1928, and Tom left his LEO career forever within a month of that. Coincidence?

 

[rednichols]

The letter that I requested from Colt about the SAA that The Autry Museum holds as Tom Threepersons, arrived today; and holds no surprises. Shipped in 1905 to a distributor in Chicago with 4-3/4" barrel in 44/40 and blue finish. The pistol is nickel now but it was quite common for the SAAs to be nickelled by the dealer, before or after sale; and for the grips to be changed, too.

Tom's revolver has a solid form of the adjustable military iron sight found on the Colt flattop, and the only pic we have of the pistol suggests that the pistol was nickelled after the sight was installed. Theories that the pistol was equipped with a longer barrel that was cut down, because the sight is mounted flush with the muzzle, are incorrect.

Tom was a bit fussy about the sights on his SAAs, because his other SAA also has modified sights: the rear sight has been 'clearanced' by actually cutting deeply into the topstrap just in front of the rear sight, tapering back up to full thickness near the cylinder face; and the original front sight has been made smaller/lower. He took a file to other parts of the pistol, too; and a penknife to the mouth of his holster to lower it.

P.S. I swiped my 'Variegated' title for my Hoyt thread, from the article about this man with whom at least one period newspaper article compared Tom Threepersons ("Exploits of Tom Threepersons Rival Experiences of Diamond Dick Himself", OREN ARNOLD) in which Tom's mythical companion named White first appears (and who himself may have been given his name by Tom's real life ATF partner):

"The Variegated Life of Norfolk's Diamond Dick", L.B. Finch. Nebraska History 84 (2003). Dr. Richard Tanner b. 27 Nov 1869 d. 02 Jul 1943.

Can be found online via Google.

 

[crazyphil]

Red's Tom Threepersons First Series #1 prototype that he gave to me
deserves a better photo than I posted in #9 above, so here is another
try.