This wonderful 1860 Colt and Sans Francisco holster has it all. Both rarity and history. First off it's a early fluted Army with a rare 7 1/2" barrel and exhibits a great looking set of walrus ivory grips.  It's factory letter states it was shipped to New York City on Jan.15, 1861 . This was 3 months before the War broke out when Southern agents where still coming North to purchase arms. The pistol is in very good shape with all visible matching serial numbers (1711) .   The holster is stamped Main & Winchester -San Francisco .  I did a quick search of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) history and it really lines up with this pistol and holster.  He originally joined the Confederacy and in a short time decided it wasn't for him. He deserted and headed West to Carson City to join his brother Orion who was territorial secretary of Nevada. From there he migrated to Virginia City where he got a job writing for the Territorial Enterprise. It was while working for this paper that he first started to sign his work Mark Twain. After two years he ended up in San Francisco where he wrote for a variety of newspapers and periodicals including The Californian. This information certainly lines up the pistol with his early life story. The pistol is pre war and many of these early fluted army's ended up in the South. The walrus ivory grips are another California feature along with the San Francisco Slim Jim holster. The pistol will come with a signed and witnessed affidavit attesting to the fact that it was purchased  from a descendant of Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) 40 years ago.  

Sold