(Click on a thumbnail to see a larger view)
The Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and Museum is in Waco, Texas
This is George Herold's
Colt .45. He was one of two rangers who fired at Sam Bass. The other was
Dick Ware. Note the barrel has been crudely cut off even with the ejector
rod (this occurred prior to the availability of the 4-3/4" barrel).
There is no front sight.
This is a right-handed
buscadero rig belonging to Capt. John R. Hughes. Hughes joined the rangers
in 1887. In 1892 he was promoted to sergeant, replacing Bass Outlaw, who
was dismissed for drinking on duty. In 1893 he replaced Captain Jones (George
Baylor's son-in-law), who was killed in action. His ranger career was 28
years. The buscadero rig is right handed. Capt. Hughes, however, shot a
pistol left handed. In an early gunfight he was wounded and lost full use
of his right arm. The only photo I have of him showing his weapon shows
a left-handed cross-draw holster. The weapon is on the right butt first.
Allegedly buscadero rigs were invented in the 20's for the movies. This
seems to predate those. The book Border Boss credits the design of
the buscadero rig for Capt. Hughes. Why this one is right handed is a mystery
to me.
This shows a tang peep sight
on a Winchester rifle. In case anyone complains that yours is gamy, refer
them to this photo. They were used back then.
A visit in May, 2002 produced more photos, but, sadly, some interesting stuff was gone. George Herold's Colt and Capt. Hughes' rig are no longer on display. Neither is Sergeant Gillette's Springfield, pistol, and knife, though his .73 is. The museum is overdue for its planned new, larger facilities. But, we did find some things of interest:
This
is a neat looking Stetson. Sadly for us CAS shooters, it's 1910 vintage.
Hats began to get this large around the end of the 19th century. They weren't
around in the 1870s and '80s.
This
is a sombrero from the same era. Several photos exist of rangers wearing
sombreros in the 19th century, and Jim Gillett mentioned that every ranger
who was stationed in the south showed up at his next duty station with one.
Mention was made in one engagement that Co. A had so many men wearing sombreros
that they could pass for Mexicans.
Back to Captain Baylor's Ranger Camp