**LETTER ARRIVED**A S&W with a mystery attached. Need help deciphering....

[Buford57]

Maybe now a relative doing genealogy research will turn up this thread (as happened with a LE gun a few years ago) and confirm one of these stories.

 

[DWalt]

At this point I feel like saying one of our former female Secretary of State's most famous quotations.

 

[mmesa005]

One of the best episodes from Ghost Adventures was their visit to the Goldfield Hotel.

Ghost Adventures: Goldfield Hotel Pictures | Ghost Adventures : Shows : Travelchannel.com | Travel Channel

 

[Buford57]

One of the best episodes from Ghost Adventures was their visit to the Goldfield Hotel.

Ghost Adventures: Goldfield Hotel Pictures | Ghost Adventures : Shows : Travelchannel.com | Travel Channel

Are you saying the only way to resolve this is a seance?

 

[mmesa005]

Are you saying the only way to resolve this is a seance?

with a happy medium!

 

[jebstuart]

I'm seeing (Geo.) George H. Water(s). But, I'm pretty drugged up in this hospital bed.

 

[nameacarl]

Goldfield is a neat place to visit as is the abandoned gold mining town of Bodie in CA

I think the first name is Geo for George.

Bodie was a silver mining town, running huge stamp mills.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

The M&P arrived on Friday. I have attached some additional pics of the inscription.

I will say this though. It has the smoothest trigger pull in single and double action of any K FRAME that have ever owned or even held for that matter. It is a slick as glass with the perfect "break " in either mode.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

Some more pics of the revolver. There is some holster wear and an interesting wear pattern on the top strap.

The bore shines like a mirror.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

It looks like Mr. Cater geared up in San Francisco several months after the 'quake and trekked to Nevada to seek his fortune.

 

[Absalom]

Small world. I have a .32 Safety Hammerless that shipped to San Francisco just two days before your gun, on Oct. 20, 1906. Different store, though.

PS: Interesting. At least Google doesn't seem to know a "Pacific Hardware & Metal Company" in San Francisco.

There was, however, the "Pacific Hardware & Steel Company". I have a Colt lettered to them a few years later. Their building, from 1904/05, still stands.

 

[Gunhacker]

Interesting... I have #75738 and it lettered as being shipped 07/30/1906 to Pacific Hardware & Steel Co., San Francisco, CA.

I've often wondered about it's history after arriving in S.F., you're lucky to have the clue left for you under the grips!

 

[moosedog]

I'm late to this interesting post but I'll guess "Geo H Ward" for the name on the grip. If only that gun could talk.

 

[linde]

I'm late to this interesting post but I'll guess "Geo H Ward" for the name on the grip. If only that gun could talk.

My first guess at the surname was "Ward", but the more I look at it the less I think so . . . Then again, this picture was taken by C.A. Rinker in Goldfield some time between 1900 and 1920.

http://d.library.unlv.edu/digital/a...hlightTerms=men C. A. Earle Rinker Collection . . .

A very interesting thread with many outstanding contributions! I'm placing my bet with moosedog and Buford57 above!

Russ

 

[Absalom]

It looks like Mr. Cater geared up in San Francisco several months after the 'quake and trekked to Nevada to seek his fortune.

This is not necessarily the case, by the way.

Large supply companies in San Francisco, many of which trace their history back to the gold rush, didn't just (and many not even primarily) retail to folks in the city, but also served as wholesalers for the retail business in central California and presumably Western Nevada. They also did mail order. In case of Pacific Hardware & Steel, I've found library references to catalogs.

 

[bullmack]

I have a subscription to Newspapers.com and could not find a George H. Cater in Nevada. As a side note I have several land deeds from 1895-1905 that are in long hand and are very hard to read. the more words you have to compare letter writing styles the better- as others have done in this instance. I'll keep digging!

 

[Toyman]

The shipping clerk could have substituted METAL for STEEL in shipping records.
I went through Goldfield going to Reno for S&WCA meeting. The old hotel still stands and there was story of someone rehabbing it.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

I have a subscription to Newspapers.com and could not find a George H. Cater in Nevada. As a side note I have several land deeds from 1895-1905 that are in long hand and are very hard to read. the more words you have to compare letter writing styles the better- as others have done in this instance. I'll keep digging!

Thanks!

Mr. Cater's draft registration card placed him in Nevada. Census records placed him in Nevada & California and listed him in the gold mining industry.

 

[bullmack]

Thanks!

Mr. Cater's draft registration card placed him in Nevada. Census records placed him in Nevada & California and listed him in the gold mining industry.

Yup - I did search on Nevada - perhaps he stayed out of the news!