A 16-gauge shotgun and a charm bracelet that belonged to famed sharpshooter Annie Oakley have seen fantastic results at Heritage Auctions' November 24 Legends of the Wild West Signature Auction.
 Oakley preferred a 12-gauge for her performances, though woud use a range of gauges, and favoured a 16-gauge for hunting |
Held in Dallas, the sale offered a selection of important memorabilia from the American frontier, with Oakley's gun leading bids at $293,000 while the charm bracelet followed close behind, realising $245,000.
The Parker Brothers shotgun is believed to be the same that Annie famously referred to as "my first real gun", and has been passed down through her family by descent, and therefore has impeccable provenance.
It remains in fantastic condition, though shows all the signs of heavy use as part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.
"She bought this gun in 1883 and there is no evidence of her owning a gun before this one," Heritage Auctions' Americana expert Tom Slater told the Daily Mail newspaper.
"Parker guns were the best you could get and she used this gun throughout her time with the Wild West show."
 Each of the charms is a gold coin, either US or British, gifted to Oakley by her friends and family |
The bracelet is a superb record of Oakley's increasing wealth, as she became more famous for her shooting skills. Made from gold, 12 charms hang from its chain, each a coin presented to her by her family and friends, including famous names such as WF "Buffalo Bill" Cody and Doc Carver.
Both items were sold by Annie Oakley's great grandniece Bess Edwards, who founded the Annie Oakley Foundation in her memory.
We have a fantastic Annie Oakley autograph and photo for sale.
 'Captain Jack' Crawford was known as the 'Poet Scout of the Black Hills' and received the lap desk in thanks for his ode to Custer, following the latter's death at the Battle of Little Bighorn |
Following the shotgun and bracelet was memorabilia from another of the Wild West's most collectible figures, George Armstrong Custer, whose personal monogrammed lap desk sold for $37,500.
The lap desk was brought to auction by the family of "Captain Jack" Crawford, a famous figure of the Old West who became the chief of scouts for the US army. It was apparently presented to him by Custer's wife, Elizabeth, along with a pearl-handled revolver, in thanks for Crawford's ode to the general.
Paul Fraser Collectibles is currently offering an authentic strand of hair from Geronimo, the great Apache leader.
