The guns of Jesse James

[Captainkirk]

While most BP enthusiasts are familiar with many of the outlaws of the Old West, I can't think of anyone I've met who hasn't heard of the outlaw Jesse James. While Jesse undoubtedly used any number of guns throughout his illustrious career, probably the most famous was the gun he was using at the time of his assassination by "that dirty little coward", Bob Ford...his prized Smith and Wesson Schofield.
Here is a short NRA clip featuring photos of the actual gun Jesse used:

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/jesse-james-gun/

The following article lists other guns Jesse may or may not have used but offers little in the way of verifying other than the serial number of the 1873 Colt.

https://www.guns.com/news/2014/04/03/guns-jesse-james-mother-videos

[Marshal Will]

Thanks for the links. That second article is quite an informative piece regarding the number and types of guns he had owned and used. This is a good thread, pard.

[Zulch]

Great post Cap. Sounds as if Zerelda Samuel, his mother, was also an outlaw at heart as the article states.

[Captainkirk]

Great post Cap. Sounds as if Zarelda Samuel, his mother, was also an outlaw at heart as the article states.

If nothing else, she was PT Barnum in a dress...

[ShotgunDave]

I think I saw a program a while back, maybe on the History Channel, where a guy supposedly has the S&W that Jesse carried. It even had blood stains under the grip panel that they were going to have DNA tested. Not sure what the outcome ever was.

[Zulch]

This is interesting. A book that was published in 2012 I think.

http://www.ericjames.org/#welcome

https://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Behind-Family-Stigma-Silence/dp/0985746904

[G Dog]

Anyone who rode with Quantrill or Bill Anderson during the War deserved a bullet or a rope.  They were murderous psychopaths - not soldiers.

It would have been a righteous pleasure to go after those people.  Black flag, all the way.

[Hawg]

I think I saw a program a while back, maybe on the History Channel, where a guy supposedly has the S&W that Jesse carried. It even had blood stains under the grip panel that they were going to have DNA tested. Not sure what the outcome ever was.

Back in the mid 90's the History Channel ran a show where they exhumed Jesse's body to do DNA testing to see if it really was him. I don't remember the why of it but they had to do mitochondrial DNA testing from his teeth which is taken from the mothers side of the family. Mitochondrial DNA didn't prove it was him but it proved if it wasn't him it was a member of the family. Since they recovered the .36 ball he was shot in the chest with in 1864 I tend to believe it was him.

[ShotgunDave]

I think I saw a program a while back, maybe on the History Channel, where a guy supposedly has the S&W that Jesse carried. It even had blood stains under the grip panel that they were going to have DNA tested. Not sure what the outcome ever was.

Back in the mid 90's the History Channel ran a show where they exhumed Jesse's body to do DNA testing to see if it really was him. I don't remember the why of it but they had to do mitochondrial DNA testing from his teeth which is taken from the mothers side of the family. Mitochondrial DNA didn't prove it was him but it proved if it wasn't him it was a member of the family. Since they recovered the .36 ball he was shot in the chest with in 1864 I tend to believe it was him.

I remember that show too Hawg. If I'm not mistaken, there was someone claiming to be direct relative of Jesse James.

[Hawg]

I think I saw a program a while back, maybe on the History Channel, where a guy supposedly has the S&W that Jesse carried. It even had blood stains under the grip panel that they were going to have DNA tested. Not sure what the outcome ever was.

Back in the mid 90's the History Channel ran a show where they exhumed Jesse's body to do DNA testing to see if it really was him. I don't remember the why of it but they had to do mitochondrial DNA testing from his teeth which is taken from the mothers side of the family. Mitochondrial DNA didn't prove it was him but it proved if it wasn't him it was a member of the family. Since they recovered the .36 ball he was shot in the chest with in 1864 I tend to believe it was him.

I remember that show too Hawg. If I'm not mistaken, there was someone claiming to be direct relative of Jesse James.

If it's the one I'm thinking about he wasn't. He believed he was but the DNA ruled it out.

[Miguel Loco]

Love that holster! That was an awfully popular pistol. Wyatt Earp carried one as well. Probably 2 of the most talked about characters from the old west.

[Len]

I visited the James' farm in 2016.
This was a Dragoon attributed to him.
Weird that they found it OK to tack on a big text plate on the grip.
They also had a Winchester on display .....

[Len]

Why, on posting pics, mine get overflowing the screen and you have to click them in order to reduce them to fit, where as earlier it was the other way around 

[ShotgunDave]

Why, on posting pics, mine get overflowing the screen and you have to click them in order to reduce them to fit, where as earlier it was the other way around 

Don't know. Lemme look.


I changed the parameters a bit. Does that look better?

[Zulch]

Ran across this https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3a53077/
Purportedly, this was Jesse' last gun used. Not sure if it means literally. Maybe it was the type he was using at the time but not this actual revolver? One may never truly know.
Anyone on this board own a 45 Schofield? I would like to have one but I'm told they are very pricey.
Show us your Schofield!!