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Recent Donations

  • Donation in Memory of
     Dr. John R. Palmer, Jr.
  • Donation in Memory of
     Michael Eakin III
  • Donation of James Hale   • Ranger Artifacts from Lew       & Janice Skelton
  • Donation of Chief L.G.      Phares Artifacts

Information on
Firearms

  • Walker Colt Revolver
  • Model 1911 Automatic
  • Model 1851 Navy
  • Model 1860 Army Revolver
  • Survery of Winchesters
  • Remington New Model      Army

Badges

  • Before you Buy: Fake,     Forged and Fantasy Texas     Ranger Badges
  • How the Modern Badge
     was Adopted
  • Historic Badges

Other

  • Standard Issue Field      Equipment of the Texas      Rangers

Donation in Memory of
Dr. John Robert Palmer, Jr.

Dr. John Robert Palmer, Jr.
Courtesy: Franci Plunkett

 

On March 27, 2003, The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum welcomed the friends and family of donor Patricia Palmer-Hartley for a memorial donation of two engraved rifles. The rifles, a 1873 Winchester Rifle and a 1866 Henry Rifle, were donated in the memory of Ms. Palmer-Hartley’s late husband Dr. John Robert Palmer, Jr.

The 1873 Winchester includes an unusual half round-half octagonal barrel and is made entirely of steel. Commonly called a “Gallery Gun,” this Winchester Rifle was chambered for the tiny .22 short caliber and was used mainly for indoor practice shooting.

The weapon was not originally engraved but was finished out using typical Winchester factory engravings by Master Engraver Frank E. Hendricks of Dripping Springs, Texas in 1966-1967.

This Winchester Model 1866 .44 caliber Henry rifle includes ivory stocks and engraved silver plated frame and mounts.

The weapon, often referred to as a “Yellow Boy,” was based on the original Henry Rifle but had an improved loading system and a receiver made from a corrosive resistant copper-alloy. This rifle was also not originally engraved but Dr. Palmer decided in 1968 to reproduce a very rare Winchester factory presentation model of the Winchester 1866 given to a high-ranking Latin American political leader. With the assistance of Master Engraver Frank E. Hendricks, Dick Story engraved the Model 1866 using layouts originally used by renowned engraver L. N. Nimschke and silver-plated it. Hendricks also added an ivory fore end and butt stock.

Both engravers and their families were also present at the ceremony, which included a brief history of the weapons and the story of the weapons engraving work. The weapons were placed on display following the ceremony in the Garrison Gallery.