Every now and then I'm able to acquire a gun that just has the right look. This is such a gun. The verbal history on the pistol is that it was used by an ancestor on early Texas cattle drives.  The nail decorated grips certainly attests to the pistols Texas heritage. The left grips has what appears to be cattle brands while the right grip has a Texas Star. Some years ago I had a first model 1873 trapdoor carbine serial #35xxx that had the same Texas Star design (Star with  circle in the middle) carved in it's stock. At the time I thought this Star design was from a Sioux or Cheyenne warrior society as the gun was in the prime Custer serial range. A friend (Don Jones) was doing some research on Texas Ranger guns and found where the Texas Rangers  purchased some Trap Door carbines of which my gun was listed by serial number. So what I thought was a Indian design turned out to be a Texas Star. The butt of the grips has 2 cartridge casings minus their primers inlet into them. The front toes on both sides are missing a little wood. This neat pistol was mfg.'d in the early part of 1863. All the serial numbers including the grips are matching. The pistol is a U.S issued and have all the proper inspector initials. The cylinder retains most of it's naval cylinder scene and still has all of it's safety pins. The action is smooth and crisp. Overall the pistol has been well taken care of and exhibits a pleasing blue-brown patina. A good looking Texas Cowboy pistol that really talks to you.  

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