Hoot Gibson
Member
Back in the late 1960s my dad worked with an old gentleman that happened to be the son of an early 20th Century Sheriff out of Van Wert County, Ohio. The gentleman was an antique buff, as was my father. My dad purchased 2 .38 handguns from the man with documents and newspaper articles from 1907 concerning a shootout between Sheriff Hott of Van Wert(the man's father) and an outlaw from Indiana named Marvin Kuhns...Marvin had spent considerable time in prison in both Ohio and Indiana, including convictions of being a horse theif and a murderer...once pardoned by the Ohio Governor, Marvin soon went back to his life of crime, until he was brought to old fashion justice by the Sheriff and his posse' in the summer of 1907.
Hott used a newer .38 break top 5'" barrel, 5 shot Smith and Wesson...while Marvin's weapon of choice was a smaller Iver Johnson .38, not in as near good shape. After many years in a trunk, my mother finally turned the .38s over to me, along with the paper work.
I have posted elsewhere about the S&W, and Brian on the handgun side gave me his opinions of the date, exact type of weapon, ect.....I thought I would share photos of both guns(the SW cleaned up by me over this winter, the IJ hardly touched since that faithful day over 100 years ago) and the outlaw himself, on his death bed.
Just a little history story, not looking for value, because they are staying in the family...but what good are history or antiques if you can share with the like minded?
Enjoy----the SW, the Outlaw, and the IJ
Now it's time to get to work on Marvin's Iver Johnson.
Hott used a newer .38 break top 5'" barrel, 5 shot Smith and Wesson...while Marvin's weapon of choice was a smaller Iver Johnson .38, not in as near good shape. After many years in a trunk, my mother finally turned the .38s over to me, along with the paper work.
I have posted elsewhere about the S&W, and Brian on the handgun side gave me his opinions of the date, exact type of weapon, ect.....I thought I would share photos of both guns(the SW cleaned up by me over this winter, the IJ hardly touched since that faithful day over 100 years ago) and the outlaw himself, on his death bed.
Just a little history story, not looking for value, because they are staying in the family...but what good are history or antiques if you can share with the like minded?
Enjoy----the SW, the Outlaw, and the IJ
Now it's time to get to work on Marvin's Iver Johnson.
