A range of Texas Ranger firearms and associated collectibles are coming to auction on December 9 in Dallas.
Among the highlights are a number of guns employed by Texas Ranger captain Clint Peoples (1910-1992).
 The Smith & Wessons were to be worn at barbecues and other friendly gatherings |
Two pairs of Peoples' "barbecue guns" - so called because the ornate firearms tended to be worn at special events - each hold a $15,000 high estimate.
The articles in question are a custom pair of Smith & Wesson double action revolvers, and a custom pair of US model 1911 Ithaca Semi-Automatic pistols.
"Both sets have heavy silver overlays, pearl grips and fancy leather cases, all of which are part of the contemporary Texas Ranger mystique," commented Heritage Auctions' Clifford Chappell.
"Captain Peoples indeed had a fascinating career," he added.
"He worked on cases involving Billie Sol Estes, the Maceo brothers gambling syndicate in Galveston, and the Chicken Ranch brothel in La Grange, which inspired the 1982 musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. He certainly was among the most famous of Texas Rangers."
It explains why Peoples' memorabilia has sold so well in the past - including a pair of his Texas Ranger badges, which sold for $7,000 in 2008, almost doubling their $4,000 high estimate.
Also up for grabs are a Remington shotgun once used by Ranger Jim Huggins, valued at $1,200, and Ranger Sid Kelso's 1894 Winchester Carbine, which has a $3,000 high estimate.
The Texas Rangers were established in 1823 to protect 300 families who had recently settled in the region that would become Texas.
View Paul Fraser Collectibles' militaria collection for sale here.
