A WILD BILL HICKOCK ATTRIBUTED PINFIRE REVOLVER,

A WILD BILL HICKOCK ATTRIBUTED PINFIRE REVOLVER, France or Belgium, mid-19th century. Serial number 473, 3 7/8 in., 8mm caliber round barrel, six shot cylinder with engraved leaf and gold inlaid line decoration, the frame with leaf and vine engraving and folding trigger, plain rosewood grip. Overall lg. 8 1/8 in. Condition: Barrel and frame toned to gray, cylinder and top of hammer retain approx. half bluing, missing ejector rod, grip has minor scratches and wear, action needs attention. Footnotes: Provenance According to the original exhibition card from the Adams Museum, Deadwood, South Dakota, this pistol was 'One of a pair of target pistols owned by Wild Bill Hickock. These pistols were given to Buffalo Bill by 'Wild Bill' since they were close friends. Buffalo Bill then used these pistols for sharp shooting. Eventually, Buffalo Bill gave one of the pistols to a friend who gave it to John T. Milek. The other pistol's whereabouts is still unknown.' John T. Milek to William V. Milek. William V. Milek sold to Kenneth Leonard, Garrison, North Dakota, January 30, 1964. Kenneth Leonard to Suzanne Leonard Kerzman, c. 1993. Suzanne Leonard Kerzman to the Blanchard Foundation, 1994. Literature Illustrated and described in: Joseph G. Rosa, Are These The Hickok Guns? published in Guns Quarterly, Vol. 1 (1961), p. 45. Mildred Fielder, Wild Bill and Deadwood, (New York: Bonanza Books, 1965), p. 134. Exhibition The Adams Museum, Deadwood, South Dakota. Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming, until June 1993. Note Lot includes a file of correspondence about the pistol's ownership, loan to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, and publication. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing