A .36 cap-and-ball Whitney purported to have belonged to Al Sieber.
There have been a few comments posted on an earlier piece on Al Sieber, regarding his firearms. Thought it was interesting enough to bump the post. Dane over at The Shootist blog (check it out!) provided a link to an auction site with a .36 Whitney cap-and-ball revolver purported to have belonged to Sieber.
Here’s what’s listed on the auction site:
Included in this display case is his 36 caliber Whitney revolver with his name etched on the back strap. The revolver’s holster is Apache made and displays the crossed arrows of the U.S. Scout Service. Also in the case is a dageurreotype (of Sieber?) and an Indian blanket.
Hmm…
Assuming that the provenance is in order, this revolver poses some interesting questions. Was it an everyday carry gun for an active Frontier Partisan in the most dangerous theater of war on the late 19th Century frontier? Seems like he would have carried a more up-to-date sidearm. He was using probably the most effective rifle of his time, a Winchester 1876 in .45-75, so why would he be carrying an already obsolete pistol?
Dane said:
“And I have no doubt Sieber fashioned his rifle as his ‘fighting gun.’ He was good with it. But I would question the cap and ball for use after the SAA became available to him through the Army. Sieber made a effort to use and supply himself with the 1876 Winchester. By comparison to his Apache scouts who used Springfield trapdoors and Army ammo. Sieber supplied his own to be better armed. I’d bet he used the US Army issue Colt .45 SAA and their ammo for all the same reasons he owned a 1876 Winchester and supplied (his) own ammo for that rifle. Best weapons that you could get at the time….for the job he was doing.”
Maybe it wasn’t his carry gun. Could be that somebody just scrounged up the Whitney as a presentation gift for the scout or something along those lines. On the other hand… it could be that a revolver wasn’t that big a deal to Sieber and he just kept on carrying his old piece. (Note: The pistol is converted to fire cartridges, which makes it more viable as a sidearm in the 870s/80s).
This is the kind of stuff that gets us gun-folk all in a swivet. It’d be cool to know for sure.
Dane says
Hi Jim, Thanks for the link above. I just dink around on that blog mostly documenting stuff that just interests me. But your blog (great work btw) got me thinking even more about Sieber. I am currently immersed in his biography as well as other texts on the Apache wars.
Turns out an engraved Henry (“best quality engraved”) ad a case of ammo (1000 rounds back then) was given to another Apache fighter back in the day and time period Sieber was around as a thank you from the town folk. Others got new 1873 Winchesters for their efforst in the same engagement.
Anyway I suspect you are likely onto something as a “presentation piece”…..cheap guns..with some fancy fixins, given as a token of appreciation.
Sieber is quoted as never having used buckskin and mentions the staged studio “scout suit” picture. Speculation was the suit likely a gift from Indian women that he never used. Sieber by all accounts, including his own, as “practical” if not harsh in choice of arms, clothing and manner. I’d still bet…anyone knowing the advantages of a ’76 would be up to date on a hand gun as well, *if he even carried one”! You start understanding where Sieber was and what he was doing, a good knife and a big ammo belt or two full or rifle cartridges might well have been plenty to pack around on horse or foot chasing Apaches, who carried a whole lot less. I need to do some more reading prior to passing judgment on that one. One thing for sure though…Sieber was a man of his time and one very tough hombre!
JimC says
Hey Dane! Great to hear from you. Sieber was a badass, for sure. He’s one of the profiles in the book I’ve almost finished writing and was one of my favorites to write.
Thomas says
If one looks closely, it can be seen that this pistol was converted to fire cartridges.
JimC says
Yep — that makes its use more understandable.