Where the Old West comes back to life !!!

PayBox

2010-12-17T20:32:00.004-06:00

Here's something to consider, I've just been introduced to a new start-up that is giving money away to create interest. Just go to http://www.paybox.me/r/oldwestantiques and give it a test drive, for FREE and get paid $25.00 to boot.

Red Dead Redemption

2010-11-03T21:22:00.004-05:00

… a.k.a. Grand Theft Stagecoach

If you are of fan of this hit video game you are going to love OldWestAntiques.Biz where you can actually buy many of the old west items depicted throughout the game.

Items such as those found in a Saloon or worn by a Cowboy and gambling items used by professional gamblers from the Old West.

We’re talking Guns, Knives, Handcuffs, Brass Knuckles, Night Sticks, Saloon Tokens, Morgan Dollars, Arrowheads, Playing Cards, Shot Glasses, Whiskey Bottles, Bootjacks, Dice, Poker Chips, Ect, Ect, Ect.

Here the point, why not own or start a collection of genuine items from the Old West period that relate to the game.

Stop by www.oldwestantiques.biz and checkout the selection.

On the move...

2010-08-24T17:16:00.010-05:00

If you have enjoyed my blogs you may want to check out my latest effort: Gambling Antiques

In addition, I also maintain the following sites:

Old West Antiques
Frontier Gamblers
Saloon Tokens
Luke Short
Dodge City Peace Commission

If you find the time stop by and say "hi".

Roulette in the Wild Wild West

2010-07-27T19:49:00.008-05:00

History of Roulette

The roots of Roulette can be traced back to the time of Blaise Pascal, France 1655 and his attempt to create perpetual motion. His wheel had but 36 numbers and it remained that way until Frenchmen Francois and Louis Blanc added a zero (0) in 1842. If the name Francois Blanc sounds familiar that may be because he is credited with establishing the first casino in Monte Carlo and Roulette became "King" of all gambling games.

Roulette in America

It is generally believed that the French of New Orleans brought the game to American in the early 1800's. It didn't take long for American's to add a second zero (0) to the wheel bringing the total to 38 slots. Some wheels, instead of a zero had an Eagle pictured. Even the Mexican's got into the act with there own version of the game called "Canute". Itinerant gamblers in the old west worked a loosely defined gambling circuit which covered the cow towns, mining camps and rail heads through the midwest, southwest and northwest. Those banking the games traveled with their equipment, which were folded and packed in wooden crates. Today, a folding Roulette table from a well know manufacturer would bring a handsome price at auction.

A Simple Game

Any strategy involved in playing the game of roulette, back in the day as it also does today, takes place in the betting. There can be no strategy involved in the spin of the roulette wheel itself, as the resting place for the little ball is based purely on chance or luck. A roulette wheel in the Old West featured thirty-seven and later thirty-eight compartments with numbers one to thirty six, zero and a double zero or an Eagle. Players have a variety of betting options. Placing 'inside' bets is either selecting the exact number of the pocket the ball will land in, or a small range of pockets based on their proximity on the layout. Players wishing to bet on the 'outside' will select bets on larger positional groupings of pockets, the pocket color, or whether the winning number is odd or even. The payout odds for each type of bet is based on it probability.

Richard Canfield

Famed gambler and sharper Richard Canfield operated a gambling house at #5, East 45th Street in New York, just blocks from Time Square in 1899. In his resort he offered private rooms with Faro and Roulette. He had both a single-end and double-end Roulette table with wheels made of hickory and ivory.

Roulette Today

You can find the game of Roulette today in most any casino in America where they still employ the double zero (oo) or you can go online and find the old French version with just a single zero (o) which offers you the player better odds.

Antique Gambling Equipment

2010-06-11T09:32:00.004-05:00

For a piece of gambling equipment to qualify as an antique let's, for the sake of an argument, agree it must be at least 100 years old. That means anything made before 1910 qualifies and should be listed as an antique.

Let's also agree that the Old West period essentially ended at the turn of the century, 1900.

Based on the two points above we have a gap of 10 years when considering Old West period gambling items and antique gambling items. Plus, that gap widens each year. So you the collector needs to decide are you collecting antique gambling equipment or are you collecting Old West period antique gambling equipment.

Once you decide which it will be you can than begin your search or refine your search depending on where you are at as a collector.

I have a love of the Old West so my focus is on antique gambling items made prior to 1900. I use manufacturer catalogs to help me pinpoint a year of manufacture along with collectors books and similar publications. I also rely on the written history of various manufacturers to help determine the age of say; playing cards, roulette wheels, faro boxes, chuck-a-lucks and so on.

Some items such as playing cards are pretty easy to date but how can you tell when a poker chip was manufactured or a set of dice? For items that that are not already well defined in publications you will have to turn to the type of material used to make the item, how it was made, and design or colors used.

As an example poker chips were made from various materials such as ivory, clay, wood, paper, rubber, celluloid and metal to name some but not all materials. By researching you can learn when ivory was used. With clay chips you can learn about the various molds used to make chips and again determine when. By learning that wood, rubber and paper chips were used as " noiseless chips" when gambling began being outlawed and gamblers moved behind closed doors you can narrow down the period they were manufactured.

The same can be said for dice. Bone dice were made during the 1860's (many by Soldiers during the Civil War), Elephant Ivory was used during the 1870's and celluloid during the 1880's.

I also rely on fellow collectors for information. A word of advise if you also rely on others for help with your collection. It must be a two-way street, meaning you can not always be taking and never giving. I recently got interested in Saloon Tokens and began learning all I could. I even put a web site together to help (www.saloontokens.info) expedite the learning process. Along the way I made a few acquaintances, some very good some not so good. I quickly learned that many saloon token collectors were unwilling to share any information they had because of past experiences with fellow collectors that always "took" but never "gave". As these collectors realized and you must realize is that as you gain knowledge the value of your collection increases. These token collectors got tired of educating others who then took their newly acquired knowledge and charged a premium for any token they offered for sale.

I recently sold a gaffed dealing box to a collector who had helped me in the past and who I hope will help me in the future. I made him aware of the box and gave him first rights to buy, if he was interested. He jumped at the opportunity and I even let him name the price. Why did I do this? Well, I understand how important it is to "give" and not always to "take".

Could I have made more money selling it to someone else? Yes, but that would have only resulted in a sale and I am looking for far more than that. I want the education (knowledge) and I'm willing to pay for it.

At Old West Antiques we are always ready and willing to help because we believe that what goes around comes around, all you need to do is ask.

Antique Roulette Table and Wheel

2010-04-12T13:24:00.003-05:00

Once in awhile a rare piece of gambling equipment comes available on the market. Today, a rare J.W. Snead, Long Beach, California roulette table, a Mason & Company roulette wheel with original carrying case and original wall mount roulette payout card and chip rack are awaiting you.

The table has its original felt layout, a chip wing, security drawer and chip rack. The heavy walnut wood has been professionally refinished. The legs have intricately carved claw feet and a turned cross stretcher. Equipped with special casters for lowering, raising, or leveling to the most uneven floor conditions. This table represents the highest grade table made during the height of gambling in America.

Additionally, a 32" Mason & Co. roulette wheel and original carrying case are included. This wheel is known as Mason's Regulation Roulette Wheel. Per Mason & Co., " Mason's Regulation Roulette Wheel is considered by owners and managers of exclusive clubs the World over, as the Acme of Perfection, in so far as a Roulette Wheel may be mechanically perfect." Made of seasoned South American mahogany, which is veneered and inlaid with Curly Maple, South American rosewood, Gaboon ebony and Turkish boxwood.

If that is not enough there is also an original "Wheel Trunk" i.e. carrying case made of wood and a wall mount Roulette Payout Card.

For more information and photos stop by Old West Antiques, where the Old West Comes Back to Life.

Mason & Co. Chicago

2010-03-07T16:43:00.003-06:00

Back in the "Old West" days the most popular game played in the Saloons and Gambling Houses was "Faro". This was the game of choice for Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and Luke Short, just to name a few. I could easily add that it was popular with most Professional Gamblers.

To play the game you needed a deck of cards and a layout at the very least. You could enhance the game with a Case Keeper and a Dealing Box, like the one pictured to the right.

This particular dealing box was made by the well know company, Mason & Co. out of Chicago. It is made of Germany Silver, also known as Nickel Silver. Many of these boxes were gaffed (rigged to cheat), this box isn't.

Modern boxes made today are made of brass not German Silver otherwise the modern boxes look and operate the same as the original boxes.

You will find this particular box and one that isn't "marked" for sale at Old West Antiques. Stop by and check them out along with Faro Layouts and Case Keepers.

Dealing Buck

2010-03-05T10:13:00.007-06:00

So what is a 'Dealing Buck', you may ask? Well, a dealing buck was an object used by a House Dealer to indicate which player represented the current dealer in a game of cards. In the Old West days an upscale saloon, like the Oriental Saloon, would have their own dealers. Luke Short, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday were all at one time hired as House Dealers. In a game of Bluff Poker with Doc working as the House Dealer the "Buck" would be placed in front of the person who's turn it was to deal. The "Buck" was Doc's way of keeping track of who had the deal. That person didn't actually get to deal the cards that was Doc's job. So the "Buck" moved from player to player after each hand always moving to the players left. Much the same as the "Big Blind" and "Little Blind" are used today in the game of Texas Hold'em.

A "Dealing Buck" could be made of most anything but it was almost always made of a quality material such as Silver, Nickel or Ivory.

At Old West Antiques you will find two 'Dealing Buck". One is made of Nickel Silver and stamped " Mason & Co. " the other is made of Elephant Ivory.

Old West Poker

2010-02-09T13:50:00.003-06:00

Old West Gambling include Poker, but not as we know it today. Prior to 1870 American Playing Cards didn't have a Joker. By the 1880's the card we know as a Joker was depicted as a Jocular Imp, Jester or Clown.

For awhile cards didn't even have rounded corners, indices (numbers in the corners) or a finished surface. They looked like the cards pictured above.

The games of Poker back in the day was known as Bluff Poker and Stud Poker and early on played without Straights and Flushes. As a player you were dealt five cards and that was your hand. There was no discard and draw after the initial deal. The object of the game then was to "Bluff" the other players into dropping out. If that did not happen you and the remaining players revealed your hands and the highest hand (four of a kind was the best hand) won the pot. And, those pots tended to be large when players refused to drop. Plus, the winner not only won the pot but he also won the deal. Today it is common practice to pass the deal to your left but not back in the Old West days. There is great significance in controlling the deal if you were good at "working" the cards and most professional players were "wizards" at handling a deck of cards.

Today, players don't get to "work" the cards let alone handle them if they are gambling at a Casino or playing online poker so few have put in the effort required to obtain and maintain the skills the old time gamblers possessed.

To learn more about games and gamblers of the Old West period go to Frontier Gamblers and if you are interested in Old West Gambling items from the period stop by Old West Antiques.

Gun Books

2010-01-23T13:55:00.005-06:00

At Old West Antiques we recently took in on consignment a number of hard to find books dealing in all types of guns.

Everything from a reproduced 1940 Shooters Bible, a handful of Gun Digest's and a book on the Golden Age of Single-Shot Rifles to Arms Makers from Pennsylvania, Virgina, Ohio and Maryland.

Plus a book on the history of Marlin Firearms, Confederate Arms even a couple books by R.L. Wilson.

Stop by, you may find a real gem among the 100 plus titles.

Saloon Token - Beanville Exchange

2009-11-18T08:28:00.004-06:00

Prior to following the extension of the Galveston and San Antonio “Sunset” railroad westward to El Paso with his tent saloons, Roy Bean was living in the south Flores Street area in San Antonio at a place appropriately known as “Beanville”. Among some of the scams pulled by this colorful character was the unauthorized cutting of trees on land to the south, and then selling the firewood in San Antonio. After the railroad was completed to El Paso, Roy Bean gained international fame as the unorthodox “Law West Of The Pecos” at the Jersey Lilly saloon in Langtry, Texas.

See this and many other examples of Saloon Tokens at www.saloontokens.info.

If you are in the market for a token or two stop by Old West Antiques and view their selection.

Antique Poker Table

2009-11-17T20:34:00.005-06:00

Now here is an antique poker table! Six sided with each side having its own drawer. This is a very unusual design and would be found in the home of the most affluent person of its time. Dating to c1890, this table is made of cherry and is of the highest quality workmanship. It measures 30" tall X 36" wide and each hes is 21" wide. The table was appraised by Johanna Johnson on Nov. 16, 2009 at a retail value of $2500.00. You could own it for just $1875.00 plus shipping. Unproven history places this table in the home of Henry Ford. That fact does not enter into the asking price as it can not be proven at this time.

Stop by Old West Antiques to see this item as well as many others.

Majestic Saloon / Saloon Token

2009-11-16T13:51:00.003-06:00

This 1905 Indian Head cent in a chamber pot encasement was issued by the Majestic Saloon of Las Cruces, NM while still a territory. S. F. Bean was the favorite nephew of Judge Roy Bean of Langtry, Texas fame. This saloon was illuminated with carbide gas lights. In 1906 this saloon exploded as it was being opened that day for business as the gas had filled the place overnight. When the first gas light was being lit it ignited the gas-filled saloon. These tokens are extremely rare and desirable, and further enhanced with the Judge Roy Bean connection.

Learn more about Saloon Tokens by visiting www.saloontokens.info. or if you are in the market for saloon tokens stop by Old West Antiques.

Cowboy Collectibles

2009-10-11T20:24:00.004-05:00

When you think of Cowboy Collectibles does your mind conjure up visions of young men pushing cattle out of south Texas to the rail heads in Kansas or maybe the young men working the large ranch's in Montana and Wyoming? I'll beat your first thought isn't dirt farmers or gamblers, nor lawmen or outlaws. Well in the field of collectibles it's all of the above and much, much more.

At Old West Antiques you will find gear used by those "Cowboy's" of Texas, Montana and Wyoming. Plus the hardware used my Lawman and Outlaws. The tools of the trade for Gamblers and Saloon Keepers. Even everyday items used by Townies (the name given to people who lived and worked in town).

Stop by Old West Antiques and expand your vision of the Old West. You might even consider starting your own collection.

Chinese Opium Scales

2009-10-01T19:15:00.004-05:00

Commonly referred to as an "Opium Scale" because that sounds better than Chinese Scale, it may have been used for that. The Chinese migrated to America beginning in 1850 during the Gold Rush and with them they brought this type scale. Since they also brought Opium with them the scale was aptly named. Hhand carved, the case was made of wood and the long rod of bone. The oldest scales in America dated from the 1850's.

Pictured is a very early set of "Opium Scales", the case made of wood and the long white rod of bone. See this and a later model scale at: Old West Antiques.

Mattatuck Handcuff's

2009-10-01T19:02:00.006-05:00

Marked THE MALTBY on one cuff and MANUFACTURED BY THE MATTATUCK M'F'G. CO. WATERBURY, CONN. U.S.A. This company was founded on October 15, 1896 by Louis F. Maltby, a blacksmith, who was given a patent in November 12, 1901. A round key called the Maltby round key accompanied this type of handcuff. This first design is unique in that it has a trigger mechanism on the inside of the cuffs that causes the shackle to snap shut when a wrist is placed inside as it touches the trigger. This company produced Maltby's first, then Judd's and then finally Mattatucks.

You can find a nice set of 1904 Mattatuck's at Old West Antiques along with Towers and H&R's.

Saloon Tokens

2009-09-12T19:30:00.004-05:00

Saloon tokens have become a highly collectible item and that has given rise to a rash of reproductions. Recently, I read that 90 plus percent of all the saloon tokens sold on eBay were in fact not authentic saloon tokens. So you need to get up to speed if you are going to start a collection.

I spoke with a collector of saloon tokens who has spent the last 40 plus years studying and collecting tokens. He mentioned that for the most part all the new tokens coming on the market are being dug up. If that is the case it gives you an idea of how popular collecting saloon tokens has become and also how difficult it is to put a new collection together.

At Old West Antiques you will find a hand full of authentic period saloon tokens that are all in nice to very nice condition. Stop by and check out the newly listed tokens and in the very near future a collection of 145 shot glasses will be added to the site.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

P.P.S. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events.

American Engraved Powder Horns

2009-08-26T08:49:00.003-05:00

American Engraved Powder Horns, the Golden Age, 1755-1783 by John S. duMont, 1978. This book is one of the bibles used in the collecting of golden age powder horns. This book is No. 301 of a 1500 limited edition. The book is in excellent condition with no bumps, tears or creases.

Find this book and many more out-of-print books at www.oldwestantiques.biz

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

P.P.S. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events.

Ivory Dice

2009-08-25T20:06:00.004-05:00

Have you always wanted to own a set of Ivory dice but couldn't find a genuine pair or you were put off by how pricey they were. Well, now you can have those Ivory dice at a very affordable price. Modern made from the Ivory tusks of a Woolly Mammoth that can be as old as 200,000 years. Each dice measures 19/32" and has the visible crosshatch pattern.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

P.P.S. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events.

Card Press - The Fancy Type

2009-08-18T15:37:00.005-05:00

Card Presses, the type used in the Old West to help preserve playing cards came in all shapes, sizes and materials. Back in January 2008 I wrote about the most common of all the card presses used by gamblers and gambling houses in the Old West, the ones made of wood.

Those presses were very functional and served their purpose well but were plain in appearance and styling.

An alternative to the plain wood style card press during that time was the ornate metal style card press that was functional but also highly attractive. They are the rarest of all the card presses and today you will find it difficult to locate many in the market place.

In the book, "Gambling Collectibles, A Sure Winner" by Leonard Schneir 1991 there are two very early (1860) card presses pictured on page 120 valued at between $800.00 and $1200.00. At the Rich Penn Auction in 2006, featuring the lifetime collections of Jim Boeke and John Buckland, a collection of gambling and related old west items that sold for nearly one-half million dollars, yet they had but one ornate metal card press and it sold for $1300.00.

Most all the ornate metal style presses come in a vertical format while the all-wood presses tend to come in a horizontal format. Both styles hold multiple decks and are very portable. It's the compact size and appearance appeal that collectors find so inviting. Keep a lookout for card presses at Antique shops, flea markets, garage sales or just stop by OldWestAntiques where you will both styles available today.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

P.P.S. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

Steamboat #999 Playing Cards

2009-08-06T15:55:00.002-05:00

Steamboat #999 playing cards were first produced in 1883 by Russell, Morgan & Co.

This brand was of cheap quality and sold for as little as 5 cents per deck. From that humble beginning this brand has managed to out last most other brands and enjoys an auspicious place in the history of playing cards.

Back in 1867 Robert Morgan, A. O. Russell, John Robinson and James Armstrong entered into a partnership and purchased from the Cincinnati Enquirer the job printing rooms located at 20 College St, Cincinnati, Ohio. Business was so good that a larger facility was needed. Land was purchased and a four story building was constructed on Race St. in 1872. Russell saw an opportunity in producing playing cards and in 1880 he approached his partners with the idea.

All agreed with the idea of producing cards and on June 28, 1881 their first deck was produced. Five brands were manufactured at that time. They included Tigers#101, Sportsman's#202, Army & Navy #303 and the Congress #404's.

It has been written that most, if not all, of their standard pattern backs came in either red or blue and some brands were also produced in green or brown. The green and brown back cards are scarcer and highly desired by most collectors.

Playing cards have gone through many changes over the years in design and materials used which has been covered in a earlier blog as has thehistory of playing cards in America.

At Old West Antiques we have a growing selection of playing cards including the Steamboat #999 brand. Stop by and take a look , you may find a deck of cards you just can't live without.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

P.P.S. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

Frontier Gambler Gold Jewerly

2009-07-31T13:38:00.010-05:00

From the days of the California Gold Rush to the turn of the century "Gold" was all the rage. The gamblers of that time found gold jewelry a "must have". They wore gaudy pure gold pinky rings and pocket watch chains. Some even had pure gold matchsafes.

Lawman even got into the act with fancy jeweled and pure gold badges.

Today gold is still prized and when it's "Old" gold from California or even Alaska it commands a premium. Currently available at OldWestAntiques.Biz is a pure gold ring made from Alaska gold and a California Gold Rush period nugget pocket watch chain. Stop by and check these items out.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

P.P.S. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

Antique Poker Table / Riverboat Era

2009-07-30T08:10:00.010-05:00

Not much has survived from the riverboat era that existed prior to the Civil War. The boats have been salvaged for scrap and the gamblers are long dead and buried. About all that remains are the stories and legends from that time in history.

Legends like George Devol who spent 40 years gambling on those Mississippi Riverboats.

However, every now and then an item from those early days of gambling manages to find its way into the market place. Such items are very rare and highly collectible. This Poker Table was saved from the junk heap when an old man managed to acquire it as a boat was being salvaged many many years ago.

The table stands 29" tall and is 35" wide. The top of the table and the shelf use to have a leather covering which has long since been removed due to age. The shelf is 20" wide and good for placing your drink or six-shooter. The pedestal is cast iron as is the section above the shelf. Note the holes in the base to anchor the table to the deck. The table weighs about 70lbs.

This table and many other gambling items are available at OldWestAntiques.Biz.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

P.P.S. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

Alais Soapy Smith

2009-07-22T17:56:00.006-05:00

Available now on advanced order is the most comprehensive book ever written about legendary "confidence man" Soapy Smith. Priced at just $26.00 softcover and $43.00 hardcover plus postage, this is the buy of the century.

Author and great-grandson, Jeff Smith, spent 25 years researching his book and has left no stones unturned. Jeff has told the truth as he found it in this comprehensive biography of his Great-Grandfather, an extraordinary confidence man, gambler and all-around bad man.

From Georgia to Texas and from Colorado to Alaska you will learn firsthand the inter-workings of a swindler/crime boss and business man with many surprise associations.

Order now to insure getting a copy from the very first printing.

Wild West ...

2009-07-19T16:13:00.006-05:00

... or Old American West or The Old West or Old Western, ect, ect, ect, in the end it's all the same. It seems like there are a million ( exaggeration for emphasis) search terms for collectible items from the Old West period and what about all the books on the subject?

Even some of the books written about Old West Collectibles are now collectibles themselves. Take the book, " Old West Antiques and Collectibles ". Written in 1979 it doesn't even come close to being considered an antique but recently I found a copy selling online for $300.00 at Alibris.

It won't be long before "Cowboy Collectibles and Western Memorabilia" rises to such a lofty position among collectors.

If you already have those two reference books in your home library then you may want to consider the following; Western Memorabilia/1980, Treasury of Frontier Relics/1966 and Official Price Guide to Old West Collectibles/1994.

Maybe you are looking for more specialized books like, " Cowboy and Gunfighter Collectibles ". One of my favorites is, " Gambling Collectibles, A Sure Winner by Leonard Schneir/1993. As I refined my collection of Cowboy Collectibles I zeroed in on gambling items and this book filled my need for quit a while. I even exchanged emails with Mr. Schneir once.

Whatever your particular item(s) of interest there is likely to be a book or two that has been already written covering those items. If you find that is not the case why not consider putting what you have learned to paper and share it with your fellow collectors.

Brass Knuckles, a.k.a. Knuckles...

2009-06-01T08:27:00.012-05:00

So, speaking of Knuckles, it sure is difficult to find much information about the history of these non-lethal/lethal weapons. Maybe that's why I have recently found two sets of unique knuckles and both were mis-identified by the sellers (antiques dealers in San Antonio, Texas and Siren, Wisconsin).

Knuckles, also called knucks, brass knuckles, or knuckle dusters, are weapons used in hand-to-hand combat. In spite of the name "Brass" knuckles they are made from all types of materials; brass, cast iron, steel, ect. but all fall under the generic name of "Brass Knuckles".

Authentic brass knuckles can be found at flea markets, swap meets, and antique stores. The notorious reputation and history have made them popular collector’s items.

Check out David Grant's YouTube video and his book on Knuckles and also stop by OldWestAntiques to see two very rare and unique examples of antique Knuckles.

Saloon Nude

2009-05-26T13:47:00.004-05:00

I have a customer looking for a Saloon Nude ( like the one pictured). She would like a reclining nude measuring around 30" X 40". If you have such an item email me at sales@oldwestantiques.biz

Will & Finck Grand Hazard Table

2009-05-15T16:01:00.005-05:00

OldWestAntiques.Biz will be listing shortly on their site a rare Will & Finck made Grand Hazard Layout and period table.

Grand Hazard was a hybrid of the game Chuck-A-Luck and not very popular with the Cowboys due to the long odds for the gambler. As a result the game did not last long and few layouts remain.

For more details and photos contact Bob at: oldwestantiques.biz@comcast.net

Saloon Nude

2009-02-13T19:13:00.004-06:00

At OldWestAAntiques.Biz you can learn about all things Old West, including Saloons and those items associated with saloons.

Such as this one-of-a-kind Saloon Nude painted by French artist Guillaume Seignac (1870-1924), titled 'The Wave' or 'La Vague'. It's an original oil on panel measuring 39" w x 28" h including frame, in excellent condition, in a later gilt-wood frame.

This painting is available now at $18,000.00.

Guns of the Old West

2009-01-08T09:48:00.005-06:00

It was on this date in 1874 that Doc Holiday was arrested for gambling in Dallas, Texas. During his arrest a double-barreled derringer was found in his vest pocket.

You may wonder what is note worthy about this. Well, two things make this worth the effort to write about it.

First, just about everyone would have believed that gambling was wide open in the Old West and no one was ever arrested for it. Gambling was in fact out-of-vogue as much as it was in. Towns used such arrests as a means of collecting a fee for allowing gambling. They did the same for those involved in the oldest profession on earth. Once the fine was paid the gambler or the gal went right back to what he/she did best.

The second point is that in most towns it was illegal to carry a gun so many and in particular gamblers tended to carry concealed. If caught, it meant arrest, loss of gun and a fine. Most towns preferred to fine and release verses lockup. Reason being, if they locked someone up they had to feed and care for them. Town fathers did not won't or couldn't afford such an expense.

One last point, Henry Deringer invented the Deringer pistol. His name was misspelled by the press and his invention forever became known as the Derringer (with two r's) pistol. Over time all small framed guns were lumped into the Derringer category. Today when someone refers to a Derringer it is not limited to Henry's gun.

At Old West Antiques we have a genuine Henry Deringer along with many other derringers. Stop by and take a look.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

P.P.S. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Guns of the Old West

Old West Antiques Gun Collection

2009-01-07T08:58:00.006-06:00

So your investments are off, way off and you are trying to figure out where to put your money now. Why not consider antiques? In particular, guns from the Old West period. The value of these type guns never goes down and there are always customers looking to buy.

At Old West Antiques we have a nice selection ranging from Colt, S&W and Remington to less known makers like Webley (you gotta see this one), Dickenson, Sharps and Marlin. We even have an original Henry Deringer and a Palm Pistol.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Old West Guns

Off to a running start ...

2009-01-04T19:13:00.005-06:00

Just three days into the new year (2009) and we have the new home for Old West Antiques up and running. And within two hours of announcing we were operating on the new site we had our first customer. All went well and now to focus on better photos and more products.

Remember, we are interested in talking to you about consigning your items. Why risk trying to sell them on eBay or other type auctions where you have no guarantees. Our fee is far below the industry standard, you retain your item(s), we do the leg work (marketing) and it ends up a win win situation.

We are also interested in your opinion and suggestions so email us when the notion strikes you.

oldwestantiques.biz@comcast.net

Old West Antiques

2008-12-30T21:31:00.006-06:00

It's been awhile since my last post because I have been busy working with my old friend Jeff "Ski" Kinsey, owner of vBuzz.org. He and I along with Stephanie Herington have been busy building a new home for OldWestAntiques.Biz.

I had little idea how time consuming this project was going to be but as the work nears completion it seems the time has been well spent and I have high hopes our customers will find the new site much more customer friendly.

So as we say goodby to 2008 I would like to thank all who have visited the site ( each of you are in part responsible for a record year of, customers, through the doors) and a big thank you to all who became customers this year( another record breaking year in sales).

We have high hopes for 2009 and we hope you do also.

... another Consigner joins Old West Antiques

2008-12-01T11:32:00.007-06:00

Rick Church has joined the team. His specialty is "Handcrafted Reproductions". So far he has fashioned a medicine bag, a gunbelt mirror and a set of horseshoe coasters. You will want to stop by on a regular basis to see his latest creation.

If it's "Old West" and you are looking to sell, we have a ready made market waiting to buy your item(s). Could mean more money in your pocket now rather than later.

P.S. We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West history so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S.S. We can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Consignor

Old West Antiques announces the sale of another...

2008-11-29T07:28:00.004-06:00

Old West Antiques has sold another Consigned item. This time it's a set of nearly 400 Antique Swastika Poker Chips along with a very fine wooden case to house them in and 9 wooden boxes.

Even though Dale Seymour, author of Antique Gambling Chips, chose to call this particular designed chip the "Swastika" chip, the symbol on the chip has nothing to do with the Nazi's.

The symbol on the chips comes from Native American's and represents " Good Luck" and thus the reason for the symbol on the chip(s).

If it's Old West we have a ready made market waiting to buy your item(s). Could mean more money in your pocket now rather than later.

P.S. We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West history so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S.S. We can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Consignor

... another Consignor joins Old West Antiques

2008-11-26T05:10:00.004-06:00

This time it's long time collector of Winchesters and Colts, Dale Peterson who has joined the family. Dale has been at this a long time and recently decided to shed some of his collection in order to better focus on his main interests.

When collecting firearms one always seems to fine great buys of related items and that causes the focus to become a bit fuzzy. It is tough to pass up items you know are good buys that are some how related to your main interest(s). We collectors know this all to well and struggle daily to avoid the temptation.

That's where Old West Antiques comes in. We can help you sell those fringe items you have managed to collect over the years and put some cash back in your pockets. Most of the consignors tell me they are turning around and using the extra cash to purchase more or better items for their collection.

If it's Old West we have a ready made market waiting to buy your item(s). Could mean more money in your pocket now rather than later.

P.S. We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West history so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S.S. We can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Consignor

... another Consignor joins Old West Antiques

2008-11-25T13:13:00.004-06:00

Yes, another Consignor has joined the Old West Antiques family of Sellers and she becomes the first female. Pam Gordon, owner of MOON DANCE EMPORIUM, decided Old West Antiques could help market a few niche items she had for sale.

If it's Old West we have a ready made market waiting to buy your item(s). Could mean more money in your pocket now rather than later.

P.S. We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West history so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S.S. We can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Consignor

... another Consignor joins Old West Antiques

2008-11-25T08:20:00.005-06:00

Long time (Big Time) collector Bob Jeche decided to sell off a portion of his massive collection in order to better focus on his main interest, Antique Knives.

Well know across the country in the knife collecting community, Bob also has side collections of antique gambling equipment and antique toys.

Bob contacted Old West Antiques for help in selling his gambling collection. Since the very first item was listed his items have been selling like hotcakes.

Returning customers often ask, when will you be posting more of Bob's stuff. The answer is, just as soon as he decides to sell more.

P.S. We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West history so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S.S. We can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Consignor

Consignor joins the Old West Antiques Family

2008-11-24T14:01:00.005-06:00

Way back on May 22, 2005 Old West Antiques established it's Internet presence. Shortly after that a call went out to people who were looking to sell their Cowboy Collectibles, Old West Antiques and Western Memorabilia.

The first person to answer that call was a young man by the name of Nick Narog. Nick joined the Old West Antiques family in the fall of 2006.

His small but very impressive collection included a post card picture of Bob Ford's tent saloon. The place were Ford was gunned down for the murder of Jesse James. Also in the collection was a picture of Jim Younger, brother of Cole Younger and a note with signature from John Wesley Harden. The most impressive item in the collection was a certified signature of Jesse James.

Nick will always hold the distinction of becoming the first consignor at Old West Antiques but not the last. Many others have followed his lead. So keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

P.S. We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West history so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

P.S.S. We can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Consignor

Kepplinger Holdout & Other Cheating Devices

2008-11-18T08:16:00.005-06:00

Gamblers and those who ran gambling houses in the Old West used a host of methods from marked cards to gaffed devises to separate gamblers from their money.

One of the most ingenious devises was the Kepplinger Holdout (also one of the most sought after by collectors). P. J. Kepplinger, a gambler from San Francisco, invented the device which consisted of wires, pulleys, metal rods, metal slides, flexible tubes and clamps. This devise worked well, to well once greed took over. Kepplinger's fellow gamblers figured something was up when he won hand after hand. The other gamblers finally had all they could take and jumped Kepplinger looking for his "cheating device". What they found amazed them. Instead of giving Kepplinger the usual cheater rough-up they convinced him to make each one of them a holdout and as they say, The Rest is History!

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Kepplinger Holdout

Saloons of the Old West

2008-10-27T12:18:00.012-05:00

If you are a collector of things Old West and in particular Saloon items you may find this article of interest.

Imagine yourself walking into an 1880's saloon in southwest United States. As you approach the swinging doors (batwing doors were a popular Hollywood staple but most saloons had regular doors) you would first hear the music pouring out. Once inside your senses would be bombarded from all directions. Besides the music you would also hear the chatter from customers at the bar and at the gaming tables, not to mention the ringing of poker chips. Your sense of smell would pick up the strong odor of cigar smoke and stale beer as you moved closer to the bar. Your eyes would race around the room as they caught the movement of girls dancing, cowboys cutting up, gamblers throwing down their bets and raking in their winnings. Finally arriving at the bar your sense of touch and taste would join in as you picked up your drink and sampled the critter.

At the bar you could buy a cigar, order a sandwich, snack on pretzels, buy some poker chips, throw dice, check your guns, purchase the services of soiled doves, pull the handle on a trade stimulator, view paintings of naked women, spit your chaw into a spittoon, order up a shave or haircut and a hot bath, engage in conversation, or simply quench your thirst.

As you order up a second drink you begin to relax and look around. On the back bar you notice the cut glass whiskey bottles with their painted fronts and labels under glass, along with the collection of shot glasses. Down at one end of the bar a glass jar full of cigars sets next to a bowl of nuts and a brass nutcracker. A liquor license and tobacco license hangs from the back bar mirror and on the other side hangs a calendar. The gaming chips, though out of site, are setting on a shelf below the bar. Just to your left a dice drop sets idle on the bar and you consider testing your luck. Searching your pockets you manage to find one silver dollar and a small bag of gold nuggets. The barkeep, on cue, brings up from under the bar a set of scales to weigh your gold. As he weighs the gold and turns it into silver coin you finish your drink and move off to explore.

The cheering from a large crowd gathered around a table at the far end of the saloon draws you in. As you approach a few people move away and you finally make out the shape of a roulette table with its colorful layout and beautifully crafted wheel. A man next to you shouts out the number 5 and a loud moan rises up from the crowd.

Keeping on the move you next find yourself surrounded by a group of young cowboys. All are sporting fresh haircuts and new clothes. It's obvious to you they are part of a cattle drive and have not been in town long. Though the night is still young most of the cowboys are already drunk and really whooping it up. The game they are playing is called "Chuck", that's Chuck-A-Luck for the uninformed. It's a game of chance which requires no skill and has been dubbed by the Professional Gamblers as a game for "Tinhorn" gamblers, which fits these boys to a tee.

As you begin to step away a gal grabs you by the arm and pulls you towards the middle of the room. She wants to dance and a drink. You know from experience this is going to cost you and you pull away. She isn't so easily dissuaded and pulls you back. With no room to run you find yourself in her arms and then you smell a sweet scent coming from her. With all your strength, both physical and mental, you give one last attempt to break away and stumble off as you hear her laughter chase after you.

Now on the other side of the saloon you notice how quiet it is. As you turn around you can see men playing cards at various tables and notice a sign on the wall that reads, "Buck the Tiger". Moving closer you realize you are now among the "Professionals" and those who want to challenge the pros. The table with the sign hanging behind it is a "Faro table". Faro was the king of all gambling games in the Old West. To play you needed a table, a layout, cards, chips, coppers, a dealing box, a casekeeper, a dealer, a coffin keeper and a lookout. The dealer, coffin keeper and lookout all worked for the saloon or "Banker", the person funding the game.

The action was fast paced and large amounts of money were won and lost on the turn of a card. Operators would post a sign letting the players know just how much money the bank had. This would encourage some players to approach the game with the intent of busting the bank. A number of stories from the Old West tell of such occurrences.

An argument breaks out behind you and as you turn to see what the fuss is all about the crack of a pistol causes all to freeze. The sound is deafening and smoke from burnt powder fills the air. One man falls to the ground as another pleads self defense. The town Marshall appears out of nowhere and before you can collect yourself the matter is settled and play resumes.

Making your way towards the entrance you turn for one last look and walk out the doors into the cool night air. The street is dark except for a few fires burning which illuminates a line of horses tied to hitching posts. Across the street is your hotel and you move off in that direction hoping it's not to late to get a meal.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Saloons of the Old West

Glass Cigar Jars

2008-10-21T08:29:00.008-05:00

Recently I came across these three glass cigar jars and that got me to thinking about how and when they were used. I began by googling the information embossed on the bottom of each jar.

I soon learned that the jar on the right was connected to the R.J. Reynolds Co. in North Carolina so I searched on the company and found that Richard Joshua Reynolds at the tender age of 25 left the family farm to strike out on his own. He established his tobacco company in 1875 in Winston, North Carolina ( Winston & Salem were separate towns at that time).

I also learned that these jars were used before 1900 in General Stores and Saloons to hold and display cigars. That was before humidors and all the sophistication now employed to maintain cigars today. They would of had paper labels attached around them and a cork liner to seal the lid. Those items are long gone but what remains is the history of where and during what time period these jars were used.

I can imagine walking into a saloon and there on the back bar sat such a jar with its colorful label full of the finest cigars west of the Mississippi. A cowboy would saunter up to the bar and order a beer or a whiskey and a cigar. Taking a drink and puffing on his cigar as the piano music played and the saloon girls danced around he had to feel like he had died and gone to heaven.

If you know what I'm talking about and you have a saloon in your basement this may be just one of many items needed to recreate the atmosphere of that "Old West Saloon".

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Glass Cigar Jars

Old West Antiques - Handcrafted Reproductions

2008-09-29T11:28:00.005-05:00

Earlier today Old West Antiques lunched a new line of products at the suggestion of customers and clients alike. The new line, Handcrafted Reproductions, features Old West period related items many of which are made by hand.

Always looking to add to our existing lines of products this seemed like such a natural fit and addresses a need customers have expressed. With that said, if you are an artisan and feel you have an item that fits nicely with our Old West theme send me an email and lets talk about it.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Handcrafted Reproductions

Old West Photos

2008-09-25T11:41:00.005-05:00

So what type of photos, the process used, existed during the Old West period. On one end of the time spectrum the process used created what is known as a "tintype", also known as a "ferrotype". Most of all the Civil War photos you will find today are tintypes. They were a negative image produced on a thin iron plate. First introduced in 1856 and peaking between 1860-1863. The last tintypes contained in a case were produced around 1867. However, it is important to understand that today tintypes are once again being made by the thousands. Many are being created by reenactor photographers using antique camera equipment and following the same process as was used back in the day.

Prior to what many consider the beginning of the Old West period, just after the end of the Civil War, two other processes were used to make photos. The first being a Daguerreotype image and the other being an Ambrotype image.

The Daguerreotype images were produced on a silver-coated copper plate first introduced in 1839. This process peaked between 1852 & 1854. By 1860 the process had waned. In identifying a Daguerreotype it's important to remember the image was produced on a highly polished silver plate which exhibits a mirror-like finish. The image will exhibit a wide tonal range with rich blacks and bright whites unlike the lackluster ambro & tintypes. If you reflect a white piece of paper onto the surface the image will appear as a negative.

Ambrotypes, a negative image produced on a glass plate and viewed as a positive by placing the glass on a black backing. Ambros were introduced in 1854 and peaked between 1857 - 1859. The bast way to identify an Ambro is to remove it from the case. If the image is on glass it is an Ambro. If it's not glass it is not an Ambro.

So what about the height of the Old West period, say from the 1870's to the end of the 1880's. Well by then photography had entered the modern age and paper prints were being turned out all across the country, including the southwest.

Like all things, photographs made on paper took awhile to perfect. Calotype photos made as a positive image on salted paper were first introduced in 1841. Following the Calotype came the Albumen wet-plate print and from that the Albumenized paper print.

It is from these albumenized paper prints that many of the Old West period photographs come. In fact, from 1850 to the turn of the century millions of images were produced on albumenized paper by itinerant photographers traveling around the Southwest, by resident photographers and by amateur photographers using their store bought cameras.

There also existed the Carte De Viste, Cabinet Card and Stereograph photos. At the very end of the Old West period prints were made from silver bromide or silver chloride. Lastly, came the Carbon prints and the Platinum prints. In 1880 a man named George Eastman took his life savings and started manufacturing photographic plates and as they say, "the rest is history".

For more information of early period photographs look for a book titled, " Collector's Guide to Early Photographs", by O. Henry Mace c.1999.

Stop by Old West Antiques and check out our selection of Old West photos.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Old West Photos

Medicine Pouch

2008-09-23T08:44:00.008-05:00

Old West Antiques has added another item to their extensive collection of Old West and related collectibles. This replica of a Medicine Pouch was handmade by Rick Church and is exact in every detail.

Made of leather with hand cut, twisted fringe. Faux bone bead slider and decorated with a buffalo hair on hide piece. The Pouch measures 3 1/2"x 8", and can hold anything from medicines, to arrow heads.

Stop by and check this "New Item" out.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Medicine Pouch

Winchester for Sale

2008-09-21T08:41:00.011-05:00

At OldWestAntiques.Biz the collection of Winchester branded items continues to grow. In addition to the Winchester Rifle currently for sale and the many Winchester Posters and Calendars we just added a Winchester Envelope, a 12 ga Duck Gun pamphlet, and a March 1922 copy of the Winchester Herald.

These items can be viewed by going to the site and clicking on the tab marked "New" Items or by just clicking this hot link.

You will also find on the "New" items page an Ithaca envelope, a United States Cartridge Co " The Black Shell" envelope and a 1915 Remington UMC Booklet titled, " Four American Boys Who Are Famous Rifle Shots.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Winchester Antique Collectibles

Antique, an item at least 100 years old.

2008-09-11T11:36:00.007-05:00

Ok, for an item to qualify as an Antique it must be at least 100 years old, so why is it when you walk into Antique Stores you often see items you once owned ? Maybe it's because you are 100 years old. No. Well, maybe it's because they tend to use the term loosely and if you don't know the legal definition which states," an item must be at least 100 years old" to be considered an antique they can get you to pay more money for whatever item you are interested in.

This being 2008 an item would have had to be made in the year 1908 or before to truly be considered an "Antique ". Age along does not make items " Collectibles " though. Sure age alone can make an item an antique but if no one is interested in keeping an item it is not an Antique Collectible.

So how old does an item need to be to be considered " Vintage "? For cars it's 25 years. With wine vintage has nothing to do with age. With Guns they are either "Antiques " or " Modern " there are no vintage guns by legal definition which makes your Old West Guns antiques. So what about books, bottles, toys and all those other collectibles and what is Memorabilia ? I could not find a breakdown for photos but you can be assured that any old west photo you have is considered an antique and valuable.

Memorabilia is defined as, "1. Objects valued for their connection with historical events, culture, or entertainment. " "2. Mementos of past events; souvenirs." So with Memorabilia age doesn't seem to be the overriding factor but still could include items from the "Old West" period.

At Old West Antiques our focus is on Old West Antique items but with everything you have spill over so you may encounter in addition to antiques, vintage and modern items relating to the old west period plus memorabilia.

Now that I have bored you to death why not take a minute to look over the offerings at Old West Antiques. Doing so may bring you back to life.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Antique Collectibles

Time to Remember ...

2008-09-11T09:24:00.003-05:00

I know many people want to move on and that is what life is all about but it's important to also remember:

September 11, 2001

I remember the day like it was yesterday, a nice autumn morning in Northeast Ohio. I was mowing my grass when a neighbor came running over to tell me what had just happened. I sat there on my mower as he recalled the news coverage.

Everything changed that day yet many today have already forgotten, what a shame!

Guns of the Old West

2008-09-10T17:57:00.007-05:00

Much has been written and documented about the two most famous gun makers of the Old West period, Colt and Winchester, but there were others.

At Old West Antiques we currently have for sale a Winchester Model "73" .44-40 manufactured in 1873. You just can't get any closer to the Old West then with a "73", after all, it did Win-the-West.

We also have many other guns from that period. Now Colt is the premier revolver manufacturer but many other existed. If you can afford an "Original" Colt by all means make the purchase. It will always be a good investment. If you can't afford the Colt you may want to consider one of the many other manufacturers.

If we can agree that Colt and Winchester are the top tier guns to Collect then what is the second tier ? I like the hideouts, the Gamblers and Soiled Doves guns. A great history exists with such firearms and it seems logical they are the next boom in Old West firearms.

Guns like The Protector, Minneapolis Fire Arms Company that produced the Palm Pistol or the Smith & Wesson bottom break Model 5. Don't forget Remington's Smoot New Model 1.

We have many others and if I have tweaked your interest stop by and look over the entire collection. Remember also that we offer a 100% guarantee, if you are not happy send it back no questions asked.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Guns of the Old West

The "Old West", Mining Camps and Cow Towns

2008-09-09T20:43:00.006-05:00

You know the Old West was a dangerous place compared to today but it was also a lot less complicated and you had a lot more freedoms. It was all about Guns, Gambling, Women and Whiskey back then. You didn't have a bunch of wacko's running around trying to protect every thing or infringing on your rights in the name of protecting their rights.

It was a time when you had better mind your own business less you find yourself pushing up daisy's. You carried a gun because you still had the right to protect yourself, others and your property. Lawyers and Politicians sure have screwed up this Country. Just imagine today, if your town formed it's own Citizens Committee. Do you think the criminals would quickly get the message and get out of "Dodge"? I think they would.

In the Old West, you also didn't have a whole segment of society living off of others either. I just don't understand the mentality of people who find it ok for the Government to tax the shit out of 80% of the population just to turn around and hand out those tax dollars to those who won't work but can or to those who have managed to enter this Country illegally. People who come to America should do it through legal means and be a productive member of our society. They should have to "become" Americans.

Back in the Old West you had newspapers that reported the news and you had newspapers that created the news. Not much has changed in that regard, except those papers today that are known to create the news are finding fewer and fewer people willing to read their garbage. I don't know if over time I just became more aware that some papers were " making up " the news or if they just started to resemble those trashy "Tabloid News " papers and it dawned on me how much they resembled each other.

I saw yesterday where NBC demoted two of their top talking heads. Boy, those two had to wonder ," What the Hell just Happened ", after all they were hired guns just doing the job they were hired to do. Same thing happened to hired guns in the Old West. The town-fathers would gather and agree to hire so-and-so to clean up the place and just as soon as the job was done (sometimes even before the job was done) they couldn't wait to run the guy out of town.

It seems that back then, for the most part, average people could see through the bullshit and make educated decisions. Today, it seems that many people either aren't paying attention, can't see through the b.s. or just plain don't care.

I find it ironic, that as America is pushed by a few towards Socialism, much of the World is turning away from it. Just how damn dumb have American's become ?

Gambling Items, from the Old West period

2008-08-28T10:09:00.007-05:00

Old West Gambling items can range from pocket size; Dice, Tokens, Poker Chips, Spinners, Card Holdouts, or a Roulette Ball to as large as a full size commercial Roulette table. No matter the size of the item you are collecting it is wise to buy the very best you can afford. Yes, you will pay more now but in the future it will also be worth far more than less expensive version of the same item.

When buying it is important to consider Condition, Age, Desirability and the Wholeness of an item.

Condition relates to how close an item comes to being in its original state. If a Tobacco Tin is perfect in every way but for a dent in it, it's condition would not be considered "Excellent"

Age has to do with whether an item rates being considered an Antique or just Vintage or a Reproduction. Nowadays many reproduction items are of such good quality it is very difficult to tell the real thing from a fake.

Desirability is subjective but if you are not drawn to a particular item don't expect that others will be either. Think in terms of "down-the-road" when you are ready to sell. The item will be much easier for you to sell if you have or had a fondness for it when you bought it.

Wholeness deals with a piece being all original with nothing missing or nothing replaced. Expect to pay a premium for an all-original item. Bite the bullet and make the purchase. Yes it may hurt a bit now but down the road you will pat yourself on the back for being so smart and such a wise buyer.

We at Old West Antiques enjoy talking about collectibles and in particular Old West items so don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Gambling Items

Antique Poker Chips

2008-08-27T10:53:00.007-05:00

When you're talking Old West and Poker Chips you're talking either Ivory Poker Chips or you're talking Clay Poker Chips.

Ivory chips came first and date from 1820 to the 1870's. They were made from the tusks of Elephants or Whales and though costly held up well from all the play. Two type of chips existed those with numbers etched in them or those with designs. They ranged in size from 1 " to 1 5/8" but like all things there were exceptions. Todays market finds few Ivory chips and those that are available are rising in value. In Dale Seymour's acclaimed book, "Antique Gambling Chips" it mentions that 1400 different chip designs have been found.

With the development of man-made compounds "Composition Chips" soon became the norm as they were manufactured at a fraction of the cost of Ivory Chips. This made Ivory Chips far to expensive which signaled the demise of Ivory chips.

By the 1880's chips made from "Celluloid" had taken over the market and could be found in virtually every Saloon offering games of chance. Just think about it for a minute, Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp, two well known gamblers from the Old West period may have actually played with those "CelluloidChips" you now own.

Celluloid chips can be found in many of the Antique stores today and range in price depending on condition, quantity and if they are contained in the original box or a chip rack.

Regarding pricing of celluloid chips, what you pay per chip will differ greatly from what you will pay for an entire box of chips. By this I mean if you find a chip valued at, for example, $4.00 and then find an entire box containing 100 of the very same chip you would pay but a fraction of the $4 per chip. In fact, it may be more like .25 per chip.

Composition chips were made with paste-on's, engraved, embossed or inlaid. Many chips reflected the times by depicting current trends whether it be bicycles or baseball, ect.

Celluloid made chips were marketed under various trade names with Pyralin and Catalin being two of the first.

I should also mention that other materials were also used to make chips such as wood, bone, paper and hard rubber.

I can't promise you that the selection of chips available at Old West Antiques were played with by anyone famous buy I can assure you we have a very nice collection to choice from.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Antique Poker Chips

Old West Collectibles

2008-08-26T11:41:00.009-05:00

At Old West Antiques you can find all of the following:

Old West Art
Books, both modern and antique
Calendars (Many Winchester Calendars)
Cowboy Gear (bootjacks,branding irons,leather items,Spurs,eye glasses,hat stretcher and more)
Dice
Faro Equipment (layouts,dealing boxes, cards,chips,casekeepers)
Gambling Equipment (Our Specialty/You gotta check out the Jeche Collection-3 pages)
Guns (Both handguns and Rifles)
Handcuffs (Both original and reproductions)
Jewelry (Gold chains,pocket watches,solid gold ring,ivory necklace,tie tacs and much more)
Old West Sign (Modern)
Photographs (prints/Tintypes/Lockets
Playing Cards (Both original and reproductions)
Postcards
1893 World's Fair items
Winchester Items ( Rare Calendars and Posters)

Plus, you can learn a little history, check out the "Today in History" calendar, view video clips and read my blog.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Old West Antiques

Chuck-A-Luck

2008-08-25T20:17:00.004-05:00

In the hey day of the Cow Towns gambling was one of just a hand full of forms of entertainment for the cowboys pushing cows on that long journey out of southern Texas and into Kansas. These men were mere boys in age but were trail seasoned and weather hardened.

Many lacked much, if any, formal schooling but they all knew the ways of the world. Well, at least their little world. They had honed the skills necessary to survive from day-to-day out on the plains but when they reached trails end it was a different story.

The true professionals of any town in the Old West were the Gamblers and the Painted Ladies. Those young men could shoot straight, ride like the wind and tolerate the elements but they were no match for the "Townies".

Once the boys walked through those swinging doors it was a race between the gals and the gamblers to see who could relieve the cow pokes of their wages first. At least with the gals you received something for your money but with the gamblers, it was like taking candy from a baby and you received nothing in return.

Chuck-A-Luck was one of many gambling games designed to rid a cowboy of his hard earned money. The odds were all in favor of the "House" and if that wasn't enough many of the cages used in the game were rigged so you couldn't even get lucky and win.

The game itself was very simplistic. You had three dice and a layout with the numbers one through six. As the player, all you had to do was place your money on any number or numbers you believed would turn up when the dice were rolled. With a one in six chance of winning it's no wonder Professional gamblers avoided the game like the plague.

As the game evolved the dice were placed in a cup and thrown, then through a horn shaped devise made of tin and eventually the dice ended up in an hour glass shaped cage.

The term, "Tin Horn Gambler" derived from this game and was coined by those very same Professional gamblers and directed at our trail seasoned cowboys.

Chuck-A-Luck is still played today in Las Vegas. Well, I should say, it was still played in Vegas the last time I was out there in 2003. And people still lined up to test their luck since no skill is involved in the game at all.

Cages and layouts came in all shapes and sizes and examples of each can be found at Old West Antiques. Stop by and check out the selection. You may just find that combination you can't live without.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Chuck-A-Luck

Bootjacks - in the Old West

2008-08-23T17:43:00.005-05:00

What a practical tool back then and very collectible today. In the Old West a few bootjacks could be considered "popular".

Naughty Nellie would have to be at the top of the list. After all, she is just lying around waiting for you to come home. Lets not mention those exposed nipples. And speaking of nipples, if you come across a Naughty Nellie that's for sell and she does not have a nice set of exposed nipples she is a reproduction piece and not the real thing. An original Nellie is somewhat difficult to find nowadays so if you find one you ought to think long and hard before you pass her up.

Bootjacks were homemade and store bought. Most homemade bootjacks were made of wood with a "V" notch to slide a boot into. The store bought variety could be found in cast iron and brass.

Another Old West favorite was the Bulldog Pistol Bootjack. This particular "Jack" was hinged in the middle so it could be folded up making for easy storage or transporting. Again, this particular piece has been reproduced so buy with care.

You will pay more for cast iron verses wood and more for brass than cast iron. Condition is always a factor when buying an antique but with bootjacks as long as the piece is intact wear is usually not a factor. In fact, some sign of usage is more desirable then not.

Expect an original bootjack to have some weight to it. The Naught Nellie at OldWestAntiques weighs over two pounds and a Walrus bootjack there weighs over 3 pounds.

Stop by OldWestAntiques.Biz and check out our selection of bootjacks on our "Cowboy Gear" page.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Bootjack

Bezique, in the Old West

2008-08-22T18:08:00.004-05:00

Bezique, a card game of French origin was far more popular in the United Kingdom than in the U.S. but still it was a game enjoyed in the 1880's by many American's.

In its original state the game was designed for two players with a double deck of 64 (cards 2 thru 6 were stripped out) cards and two counters. It has been called the forerunner of Pinochle by some but that would be the Scottish version and not the French version that was fashioned after the game Piquet.

Many versions of the games existed, such as; 500 Bezique, Rubicon Bezique, Bezique without a turned Trump, Polish Bezique and three handed or four handed Bezique. But here, we are talking about the original game in its original form. The Ace being the high card and 7 the lowest. The object is to take tricks and if the same denomination and suit card is played on a turn the first played is considered the superior. Players cut for deal and 8 cards, dealt 3 at a time, then 2, then 3. The next card in the deck is then turned up and its suit is trump.

Melds come in three classes; A, B and C and points are awarded for the various melds in each class.

Class "A"

A-K-Q-J-10 of Trumps ----- = 250
K-Q of Trumps ------------- = 40 (royal marriage)
K-Q not Trump ------------ = 20
7 of Trump ---------------- = 10 (dix)

Class "B"

Q/Spades & J/Diamonds ---- = 40 ( Bezique)
2Q's/Spades-2J's/Diamonds = 500 (Double Bezique)

Class "C"

4/A's any suits -------------- = 100
4/K's any suit --------------- = 80
4/Q's any suit --------------- = 60
4/J's any suit --------------- = 40

For any Ace or Ten a player wins in a trick he scores 10pts at once. Last trick is worth 10 points. First person to score 1000 points wins.

I can't see the likes of Wyatt Earp or Bat Masterson playing Bezique but no doubt they were familiar with the game and may even have know people who played the game. This was a friendly game played in the home on a parlor table and may even have been the game children played as their first exposure to cards.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Bezique

Old West Books

2008-08-18T14:23:00.005-05:00

We at Old West Antiques have a nice collection of books dating back to the Old West period, books about the Old West and even Dime Novels.

If you are looking for a book dating to before 1900 check out the following:

Uncle George on Draw Poker written in 1883
Foster's Whist Tactics written in 1895
Criminal Eminiscence & Detective Sketches by Allen Pinkerton written in 1878
Card-Sharping Exposed written in 1882

Or maybe you are interested in books about individuals from the period, like:

Cole Younger
Johnny Ringo
Doc Holliday
The Saga of Billy the Kid
Jesse James
Fred Dodge
Texas Ranger Jack Hayes
Jesse James & the Northfield Raid

What about books on organizations or groups of men:

Famous Sheriffs and Western Outlaws - 1929
Myths and Mysteries of the Old West - 2005
Pioneers of the Old West - 1988
The Cowboy Way - 2005

Then there are the books about guns:

The History of Winchester Firearms 1866-1966l
Packing Iron
Winchester Shot Shell Metallic Ammunition
Winchester Ammunition Handbook
Colt, an American Legend
The Winchester Book
Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 2nd Edition
Colt Firearms
Classic Colt Peacemakers
Secret Firearms
Winchester, an American Legend

... and we have just one Dime Novel left, No. 30, Beadle's Frontier Series, Deadwood Dick's Big Deal or The Gold Brick of Oregon. Copyright 1883.

Did I mention Buffalo Bill. We have two Comic book size, Dime Novel type , French version books titled: " Buffalo Bill's Still Hunt or The Masked Men of Santa Fe" and " Buffalo Bill's Death Grapple or Shadowed by the Shure Shot".

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.
p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events
tag: Old West books

Spittoons of the Old West

2008-08-17T07:49:00.006-05:00

These containers came in all sizes and shapes and where made of many different materials. Most people, when thinking of spittoons, think of just saloons. But spittoons could be found any where people gathered, the hardware store, jail, the barbershop, banks, hotel lobbies, even the courtroom.

The materials used to make these early containers ranged from brass to cast iron to nickel and porcelain.

Sizes varied as much as materials. The largest were called gaboons and the smallest were pocket size, often used by those suffering from tuberculosis.

Shapes consisted of the common hour glass to low profile to even the shapes of animals such as turtles and the Bradley & Hubbard Dragon spittoon.

George Pullman, Pullman Palace Car Company, manufacturer of railroad cars from the mid 1800's even had a special nickel plated low profile spittoon made for his cars.

Spittoons came into favor as public spitting on the ground became a health concern. Laws were passed and objections were raised but in the end public favor won out and it was considered ungentleman like to spit on the floor, sidewalk or ground.

Spitting anywhere, even in a spittoon, lost favor shortly after the 1918 Flu pandemic and chewing gum, of all things, began to replace the chewing of tobacco. Even cigarettes were considered more hygienic thus favored over the spitting of chewed tobacco.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: spittoons

Old West Handcuffs

2008-08-15T19:24:00.007-05:00

One of those "special" collectibles is handcuffs. There is strong interest in handcuffs and in particular handcuffs from the "Old West Period". Can you imagine adding a pair of cuffs dating to the time of such famous lawman as Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp and Bill Tilghman ( best of the best) ?

It is possible if you take a little time to educate yourself about the various manufacturers from that period and the design of those cuffs. I have reproduction handcuffs and leg irons that I have seen listed for sale as original period items. Now the originals exists but can you tell them from the reproductions? You do not want to pay the price of "originals" and end up with "reproductions". That would be very costly and do little to improve the value of your collection.

I also have a pair of original Tower Double Lock handcuffs dating to the late 1870's. Could you tell them from the Tower Single Lock of the same period or the Double Lock's from the 1920's ?

See, this is what I mean when I say, " take a little time to educate yourself". It will be well worth your time and in the process you will gain a little more knowledge about the "Old West".

A great web site on the internet dealing in handcuffs is titled Handcuffs.org. You will want to bookmark the site above as well as my OldWestAntiques.Biz site in order to find us again.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of Old West Reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Old West Handcuffs

Gambler's of the Old West ...

2008-08-10T16:50:00.007-05:00

Professional Gamblers of the Old West were known for many things. Such as; being the best dressed of all the towns people, most generous with their money, cool under threat, and able to work magic with the cards, to name just a few of their traits.

They were also the best armed. We're talking concealed weapons of all kinds. A boot knife, a derringer hung from a pocket watch chain, a shoulder holster housing a cutdown .45, a knife hanging around his neck, a set of knuckles in his pocket, even a loaded cane.

As a person who made a living by the turn of a card he had to perfect two skills, that of "working the cards" and that of "defending himself".

Working the cards has been addressed in previous blogs so let's focus on "defending oneself". Some may recall the time Doc Holliday used a cane on fellow gambler Henry Kahn in Dallas, Texas. Later that same day Kahn shot Doc, seriously wounding him. The lesson here is if you don't kill the other guy you better expect him to come looking for you. And speaking of Doc, how about the time Ed Bailey failed to heed Doc's warning to "stop monkeying with the deadwood ( discards)". Bailey went to the well once to often and Doc claimed the pot which was the customary thing to do. Bailey took exception to Doc's action and jerked out his six-shooter. Doc managed to pull a knife from his breast-pocket and with a single stroke opened up Bailey's belly. Bailey never got a shot off.

Saloon fights with either hands or weapons was a common occurrence, what else could be expected? You had a bunch of young men who just spent the last three months pushing cattle out of Texas and spending 12 hour days in the saddle who had money to burn and little knowledge of how to gamble. On the other side of the table you had a man who had spent most of his adult life learning the finer points of gambling who also would spend 12 hours and much more in the saddle at a poker table. The youngster didn't have a chance of winning at cards and mix that with the rot gut he was just getting to know, well bad things were very likely to happen and they did.

There was the time that Luke Short shot and killed Charlie Storms, a gambler and gunhand, outside the Oriental Saloon, Tombstone A.T. Some say the dispute was over a gambling debt but the fact is that Storm's had been hired to cause trouble in the Oriental in an attempt to drive its customers away. Storm's being the bully he was went after the littlest guy in the place, Luke Short who stood just 5' 6" and weighed a slim 130lbs. What Storm's didn't know was the Luke was a seasoned fighter having been an Army scout, buffalo hunter, trader with the Indians and having grown up on the very edge of the Western Frontier. Luke also had a tailored suit with a custom made holster concealed in his hip pocket. Unlike Holliday, when Short had to jerk his six-shooter into action he shot to kill and he shot until his assailant was dead. In the Storm's shooting Short put 5 shots into Storm's. Storm's was dead before he hit the ground.

How about the time in Denver when Bat Masterson was managing The Denver Exchange, a first rate saloon. Soapy Smith, owner and operator of the Orleans Club and a bunco artist decided to kick up some dust in Bat's place. Smith took roost at a Faro table in which Jeff Argyle was dealing and Tom Crippen was acting as lookout. At some point Soapy went for his gun and yelled, " Argyle, you're through as dealer in this game. You pull that card and you'll pull the next one in hell! I want a change of dealers." Argyle held his ground and stated, " If Bat Masterson tells me to pull, I'll pull it." Just then a known outlaw and train robber by the name Peg Leg Charlie Adams stuck his nose in the mix siding with Smith. Now Adams had a reputation and no one cared to challenge him. Besides, he was wearing a pair of six-guns on his hip, had a derringer in his vest pocket and another in the palm of his hand. That's a lot of fire power for just shooting across a poker table or for that matter shooting inside anywhere.

Those Old West Saloons and Professional Gamblers sure would have been something to see.

Stop by and check out all the "new" items added this week. Who knows you may find that one item you just can't live without.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of old west reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Gambler's of the Old West

More Winchester items and a Great Remington Poster

2008-08-08T11:14:00.010-05:00

By now you have seen all the great Winchester Posters and Calendars offered at Old West Antiques along with a host of Revolvers and a Winchester "73" Rifle. Oh, need I also mention the Dupont and Hopkins & Allen posters.

Well just added to the collection is a very rare Winchester Advertising Umbrella and a 1920 Remington poster that seems to be Remington's attempt to advertise for the Boy Scouts and to compete against Winchesters Junior Rifle Corp. Plus, early NRA advertising on lower portion of poster. The artist is R.G. Herbert.

Stop by and check out all the "new" items added this week. Who knows you may find that one item you just can't live without.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of old west reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Remington Poster

Frontier Gamblers

2008-08-07T18:51:00.008-05:00

At Old West Antiques not only do we deal in period antiques but we are also involved in Old West Reenacting and fund raising through Casino type events with an Old West twist.

We got involved in fund raising a few years back when we were approached to help a local Railroad Museum with their annual fund raiser. That year the theme just happened to be "Tombstone" so we were eager to assist. We traveled to Tombstone and talked with many of the local merchants about our efforts to help the Museum and much to our surprise, every single merchant provided some type of donation which ranged from meals to shows to even free rooms for the weekend.

The Museum chipped in a grand prize of airfare to Tucson and a rental car. The pressure was on for us to create enough excitement and profit to not only pay for the grand prize but also make enough money through the gambling event we hosted to add substantially to the Museums coffers.

All the Dealers dress in period dress with all the extras which gives us great pleasure as the customers passed through the doosr and saw us for the first time. We also enjoyed the customers outfits that they managed to put together for the one night.

While in Tombstone we found many items suitable for a silent auction to go along with the gambling event.

We were feeling pretty good about helping make that night the most successful fund raiser the Museum ever had and when all was said and done we exceeded all expectations.

Today we offer many of the games played in the Old West from Card games like Draw Poker, Stud Poker, Monte, Vingt-Et-Un and Whiskey to Wheel games like Roulette and Wheel of Fortune and banked games like Faro and Chuck-A-Luck. We also recently added Grand Hazard to the mix. All in all it makes for a great night of fun.

If you or your organization find it's self in the market for our type of services or if you are just interested in getting more information email us at oldwestantiques.biz@comcast.net

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items

tag: Frontier Gambling

Cowboy Antiques - Old West Collectibles ...

2008-07-28T20:30:00.006-05:00

... call it what you may, we are talking about items from the Old West period (1865-1899). I am frequently asked by people who I've never met, " what is it worth? ". First I must say I am humbled that you would ask me. Secondly, the answer is not as simply as the old cliche, " whatever the market will bear". In this Internet World the answer gets very complicated.

Let's say you have a mint condition Faro layout and Casekeeper. If you tried to sell it at a garage sale your wife was having with the neighbor you could expect to get somewhere in the range of $50.00, maybe a little more if the guy who stopped by thought it would look neat in his basement bar. No, this would not be the correct venue to try and sell the items.

Maybe you can just let your buddies know you have decided to sell it and they can help get the word out.

Well how about craigslist then? Go ahead and put an ad together with a nice description and an ok photo. In most cases the local buyers will look through the listings and no one looking that moment is interested in what you are selling so within hours your listing is buried. You can ring up a "No Sell" and figure it was worth a try.

There is always the local newspaper ads section. If you haven't placed an ad lately maybe you should take someone with you when you go to place the ad. Can you say, " Sticker Shock"?. Also you might want to consider who will be showing up at your home while you are at work. Not the best situation to put your wife in now-a-days.

Wait, wait, wait, I know let's sell it on eBay! I did eBay for years as both a seller and as a buyer. Guess what, you go ahead and put your high-end Faro layout and Casekeeper on eBay just figure on getting about 50 to 60% of what it is worth. And that's before you settle with eBay.

I know, lets sell it at the local Auction House, I hear he is doing a great business. Oh wait, you were hoping to get top dollar and since it's the same old buyers that are all buddies with the Auctioneer you are now wondering who's really going to get the better end of this deal and what about the listing fees and selling fees?

Well what's left ? How about listing your item with an Internet business that specializes in what you are trying to sell? A business with an established clientele that is actually looking for what you are selling and a business that can reach the four corners of the World. With such an arrangement you can actually begin to expect top dollar for your item(s).

OldWestAntiques.Biz is such a business. We have no listing fees. You retain control of your item(s). You only need to provide a description and a photo, we do the rest. We even utilize a marketing firm, vBuzz.org, for items listed at $1,000.00 or more. In addition to all this we monitor sites offering similar items to help stay current on market values. Our goal is to help you get the most for whatever you are selling. When that happens we both win.

p.s. for more information click this link Old West Antiques We would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of old west reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Consignments

Pocket Pistols

2008-07-27T20:50:00.006-05:00

Old West gamblers found it necessary to go well "heeled" while working. That could be as simple as a knife in a boot or around the neck to a set of knuckles, a small hideaway gun hung off a pocket watch chain or a large frame revolver with the barrel cut down to an inch or less. In some cases a "Sharp" ( gambler who made a living by cheating to win) may feel a need to have all of the above.

Most, if not, all the gun manufacturers produced a line of pocket pistols. These tiny, usually small caliber, pistols were less then deadly at a distance greater than across a poker table. Even at that distance you were more likely then not to make your intended victim mad rather than disable him. So it took a very well placed shot or shots for the gambler to live another day.

One manufacturer even produced a revolver, knife and knuckles combination weapon simply called a "Knuckleduster Pistol". The knife blade and the knuckles grip both folded to make a very nice compact package of death.

These" hideaways" came in various calibers from .22, .30, .32, .38, .41, .44, and .45 . They ranged from a single shot to a 10 shots Palm Pistol.

Gamblers would hide there tiny weapons in a boot, a vest pocket, a shoulder holster, or even up a sleeve. Luke Short, famous gambler and gunfighter, took a large caliber revolver to a gunsmith and had the barrel cut off. He then took the modified gun to a tailor and had him customize a hip pocket with a leather holster. Short used this arrangement very effectively on two particular occasions. First in 1881 when known gunhand Charlie Storms forced Short into a shootout outside the Oriental Saloon in Tombstone and then again in 1887 when Tim (Long-haired Jim) Courtright drew down on Short outside the White Elephant Saloon in Fort Worth, Texas. In both cases Short was faster on the draw and killed his assailants.

If you find yourself in the market for a pocket pistol for that next high-stakes poker game or just to add to your existing collection, stop by Old West Antiques and check out the nice selection currently on hand.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of old west reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Pocket Pistol

Wyatt Earp

2008-07-26T08:18:00.005-05:00

This bit of history is brought to you by Old West Antiques, "Where the Old West Comes Back to Life".

Many of you will remember in the movie Tombstone when Wyatt alluded to killing a cowboy in Dodge City while trying to control a group of drunken cowboys.

Well it was on this day, July 26th in 1878, while attempting to preserve the peace in Dodge City that Assistant Marshal Wyatt Earp traded shots with a band of drunken cowboys, fatally wounding one of them.

It was the only time Wyatt was forced to kill a man until he arrived in Tombstone and took a stand against the outlaw bunch known as the "Cowboys".

Can you imagine what is was like to live in Dodge City, a place described as, " The Bibulous Babylon of the Plain", " Queen of the Cow Towns" and " A Wicked Little Town". A place that at any given time you could run into the likes of; Clay Allison, Charlie Bassett, Jesse Chisholm, Buffalo Bill Cody, Shotgun Collins, Big Nose Kate, Eddie Foy, Charles Goodnight, Dora Hand, Doc Holliday, Rowdy Joe Lowe and wife Rowdy Kate Lowe, Bat Masterson, Mysterious Dave Mather, Luke Short, Squirrel Tooth Alice, Ben Thompson, Bill Tilghman (the best of the best lawman in the old west), and a host of others that I know I've missed.

A place where in 1879 a visitor reported 700 residents, 14 saloons,2 dance halls and 47 prostitutes. It was also reported that gambling ranged from 5 cent chuck-a-luck to $1,000.00 poker pot. Almost every top rated gambler made it a point to visit Dodge City. Dodge City's wide-open reputation was all the draw needed to get your average man to want to stop by and do a little drinking, try his luck at the tables and chase a few girls.

That sure would have been something to see.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of old west reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: Wyatt Earp

Wizard Card Holdout

2008-07-25T19:59:00.005-05:00

For years many of us collectors of antique gambling equipment have asked each other, " Have you found anything that proves sleeve card holdouts were used by gamblers to hold a card up their sleeve ?"

Until now the answer was always, "No, not yet". We all knew in our collective hearts that the little wizard clips were used by gamblers but we just couldn't prove it. The doubters would say, " those clips were used to hold sleeves up not to hold a card up the sleeve" and all we could do was smile. We knew one day we would find proof positive that those clips were used for more than holding sleeves up.

Well, today is that day. In the book titled, " Monte Carlo, secret service sealed book, " Don't Be A Sucker" Cheating Exposed, 100 ways to win 100 ways to cheat", copyright 1925, page 43 there is an illustration at the bottom of the page clearly showing a sleeve holdout along with a description which reads, " Sleeve Holdout - attached to the underside of the sleeve. Simple and effective method of holdout."

Now "Wizard " was just one of many different names for holdouts but no matter what they were called they all served the same purpose, or two.

For a piece of gambling history stop by Old West Antiques and look over the selection of holdouts now in stock.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of old west reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: wizard card holdout

Antique Poker Chips & Dice, materials used to...

2008-07-24T09:54:00.008-05:00

Recently a customer asked if Celluloid and Bakelite were the same. That got me to thinking about the materials in general used to make poker chips and dice back in the day.

To answer my customers question, "No" they are not the same. I'll explain the difference below as I cover all the materials used in the manufacturer of chips and dice.

Let me begin with the 1870's since this blog is all about the "Old West" and that period is generally agreed to run from 1865 to 1899. In the 1870's Ivory was all the rage and poker chips and dice were made of this material. Ivory poker chips can readily be found today and I would suggest that if you are in the market for an Ivory Chip or two pay the extra cost for one that has no defects i.e. no cracks or nicks.

With Dice I will throw up a big red flag and suggest - buyer beware! I say that because in the twenty plus years I have been collecting I have yet to handle a pair of Elephant Ivory Dice. I have bought dice guaranteed to be Ivory only to be disappointed time and time again.

I recommend that if you are in the market for some Ivory Dice then make the seller prove it is Ivory. Things you should know about Ivory: there is Elephant Ivory, Mammoth Ivory, Hippo Ivory and Walrus Ivory.

Elephant and Mammoth Ivory has the tall-tale cross-hatch "X" pattern. Hippo Ivory has a pattern similar to growth rings of a tree and Walrus Ivory has a "crushed ice" look that sets Walrus apart from all other Ivories. Synthetic Ivory does not have this cross-hatch pattern. I am not an expert on Ivory but I did research it after being "eBayed" back in June/07. The eBay seller sold me a pair of 1880's Ivory Dice. God, was I a fool. They turned out to be Vegetable Ivory, which is nothing more then a "nut" that comes from a tree found in the South American Rain Forest. So, Buyer Beware.

The cost of Ivory and the cost to manufacturer Ivory Poker Chips made them expensive for that time. So much so that by the 1880's "Composition Chips" became the norm. A "Composition Chip" is a chip made of man-made materials. Celluloid, actually Cellulose Nitrate, an early synthetic polymer is one such man-made material. Celluloid was made from gun cotton and camphor and when in a pure state resembles ivory in texture and color. Celluloid is also know as; Parkesine, Pyroxiline, Xyloidin, Xyloidine, Xylonite and Zylonite.

By the 1890's many of those small burgs, the mining camps and cattle towns had either turned into ghost towns or grown into cities. Once they became a city they were able to stand on their own and no longer needed gamblers and gambling joints to support them. The reformers had always been around in one form or another but the town fathers spent their time pandering to the reformers, never really taking their concerns seriously because the gamblers were a necessity. But once the cities no longer needed gambling the reformers were now in vogue. Laws were passed and gambling was outlawed in city after city. Now the gamblers weren't about to just give up so they moved behind closed doors. The "ringing" in of composite chips made it easy for officials to discover these illegal games and raid them. The gamblers needed a quieter chip and manufacturers quickly responded. Chips made of rubber, wood and paper were soon available. Gambling thrived behind closed doors and all was well with the world. Well, at least for awhile.

You can find wood and paper chips today in most any Antique Shop. They have little value, in fact, the box may be worth more than the chips but it's nice to have a box or two because they help complete a collection. Especially when you understand there purpose and place in history.

This brings us to the turn of the century and Bakelite. First introduce in 1909, Bakelite is a synthetic resin formed by the reaction under heat and pressure of phenol and formaldehyde and a wood flour filler.

So the difference between Celluloid and Bakelite is Celluloid is a synthetic polymer and Bakelite is a synthetic resin.

Stop by Old West Antiques and look over the selection of poker chips and dice available and remember items are added on a regular basis so stop back often.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of old west reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: poker chips and dice

Playing Cards from the 1880's

2008-07-22T12:22:00.008-05:00

I have already covered the history of Playing Cards in my March 2007 post so today I would like to detail what a deck of cards from 1882 would look and feel like.

Why 1882 ? Well, because by focusing in on that particular year you will learn about the cards Luke Short, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday(just to mention a few very famous gamblers from that time period) would have held in their hands and dealt out daily when gambling. Besides, I happen to be lucky enough to own a very nice deck of cards that were manufactured that year.

By 1882 American ingenuity had already taken a pasteboard card (the type used in Faro) and evolved it to the point that cards were now double-headed so a player wouldn't have to turn a card around, added indices (numbers) in the corners again for the convenience of the player, rounded the corners making the cards easier to hold and deal and by adding a finish to the card so it lasted longer and also made it easier to shuffle and deal.

Additionally, around 1870 a Joker card was added to each deck and was inscribed, " Best Bower". By the 1880's the Joker had come to depict a Jocular Imp, Jester or Clown.

A very high quality deck of cards would not only be made out of the highest quality material but also be trimmed in gold leaf.

Let me also mention that by the 1880's there where a laundry list of well recognized card manufactures producing what were known as " Advantaged Cards", cards used to cheat with. These cards were"trimmed" or "marked" so a skilled player/dealer could read each and every card he dealt.

If you have ever handled a deck of Faro cards you know they are very hard to shuffle and deal because of the material they were made of and because they lacked a finished surface. Another problem with Pasteboards was they tended to easily bend and they collected moisture and would swell up. Because of this, Pasteboards would need to be placed in a Card Press when not in use. The more "modern cards" were manufactured with a varnished surface thus eliminating this problem.

The cards pictured above are identified in Hochman's Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards on page 109. They were manufactured by The National Card Co., Indianapolis, Indiana in 1882. Note the Sunflower Watermelon card with the Black Boy Faces. This is the Joker card for this deck. They weren't at all concerned back then about political correctness, were they?

Stop by Old West Antiques and look over the selection of playing cards available and remember items are added on a regular basis so stop back often.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of old west reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: playing cards

Important Dates in Old West History

2008-07-21T08:52:00.008-05:00

While visiting Old West Antiques take a few minutes to look over the perpetual web calendar I've created covering many of the most important dates in Old West History. This project has been a labor of love and I continue to add to the calendar as I come across events with specific dates attached to them.

Today in Old West History on July 21, 1873 the Jesse James gang rob their first train near Adair, Iowa.

In addition to the calendar I am also working on adding video clips to my frontiergambler.com site. So, if you run across any clips on the web showing Old West gambling or scenes set inside an Old West Saloon drop me a line so I can check them out.

p.s. keep in mind that Old West Antiques would love to talk to you about listing your items.

p.s.s. we can also provide a seasoned group of old west reenactors for your upcoming events

tag: perpetual web calendar

1873 Winchester

2008-07-19T21:03:00.003-05:00

Wow, you will want to check this one out. Old West Antiques just took in a Model 1873 Winchester Rifle. The serial number indicates it was made in 1894. It has 90% plus original blue on the receiver, 85% to 90% blue on the barrel and tube. Good percentage of varnish remaining, case colors on the hammer and lever. 24" octagon barrel, full magazine, crescent butt plate, excellent bore, crisp action, correct and original in every way. This rifle is collector or investment grade. 1873 Winchesters in this condition are hard to find. The only flaw I could find is a small chip in the wood of the forearm. Additional photos are available.

Mason and Company Roulette Table

2008-07-17T19:18:00.006-05:00

Now this is one neat Roulette table. Made by Mason and Co. Newark, New Jersey, this table is a table top portable version just like the Professional Gamblers in the Old West used as they moved from Cow Town to Cow Town and from Mining Camp to Mining Camp. Included is a removable side leaf used to hold chips. Condition is used with small moth holes and some seam tears. Overall, this is one very nice table for its age. The layout is hand painted and looks great. Because it is of the portable version and does not require the space of a floor model table this type table is highly sought after. Wheel in photo is not included. Stop by Old West Antiques for a closer look.

Winchester Calendars & Posters

2008-07-17T12:19:00.020-05:00

Looking for that perfect gift for the guy who collects Winchesters or are you the guy looking for that one item that will make your display the hit of the next big Winchester show. Well, I've got what you are looking for. I'm talking high-end, best-of-the-best. Stop by Old West Antiques and check out the collection.

The "Real" Old West

2008-07-16T18:06:00.004-05:00

Growing up in the early 60's I developed a love for the Old West from watching T.V. shows like the Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers. As an adult I fancied myself as the " Good Guy" on a white horse wearing a white hat so when I went looking for a career, Law Enforcement, seemed a natural fit.

Getting to see first hand from my law dog position what life was all about from both the "good guy" and the "bad guy" side of things gave me a real appreciation for what the Lawman and the Outlaws of the Old West were all about. Twenty years in Law Enforcement also taught me to question everything and never except anything at face value. I took this approach when I began to really study the Old West and boy did I have my eyes opened up.

For example, many of you have watched the movie "Tombstone" starring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer which was released in 1993. Well, in the movie just moments before the big shootout the action switches from the showdown to inside Fly's Photo Studio and a young gal dressed in a very revealing outfit. That young gal was Josie Marcus, the future wife of Wyatt Earp or so we were lead to believe. Yes, Wyatt and Josie lived as husband and wife but she never posed for such a photo. That means you can forget about making millions on the copy you have of the "real" photo that has circulated for years purported to be Josie. The truth is that a much disgraced writer by the name of Glen Boyer made the whole story up. You can google Boyer's name to read the details I not going to waste space here.

Here's another example. Most everyone has heard of the "Dead Man's Hand" of Aces and Eights. We have all been lead to believe that Wild Bill Hickok was holding a pair of Ace's and Eight's when Jack McCall murdered him in the Number 10 saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory on August 2, 1876. The truth is that Bill was playing poker on that fateful afternoon with men he knew. Captain William Massie, a former Missouri riverboat pilot was seated at the table along with co-owner of the Number 10 Carl Mann and Charlie Rich, a 20 year old gambler and house dealer from Ohio. Play had just concluded with Wild Bill and Capt. Massie showing their respective hands. Bill had four 7's and a King kicker but Massie bested that hand and busted Bill. In disgust Hickok said," You old duffer, you beat me on that one". Hickok called to the bar for more chips and Harry Young responded by bringing chips and a credit voucher to the table. As Young turned and walked away McCall moved in and without warning fired a single bullet that struck Hickok in the back of the head and exited his right cheek. The bullet then struck Massie in the left wrist. Hickok who was setting on a stool and not in a chair slumped sideways off his stool and onto the floor. After McCall fired he yelled, " Damn you, take that". He then stated, " Come on ya sons-a-bitches!" as he turned on the other men in the saloon that day. Most men headed for the front door but George Shingle, a bartender, moved from behind the bar and to Hickok's side. McCall turned his gun on Shingle and pulled the trigger. The gun snapped but did not fire. Shingle got up and ran for the door. McCall fired a third time but again a misfire. Carl Mann moved to attend Hickok and McCall threatened to shoot Mann. Mann quickly moved behind the bar to retrieve a gun. McCall then bolted for the back door. Now with all that taking place you tell me who was left to see what Hickok's cards were? Who is to say that cards had even been dealt? So where did the story of Ace's and Eight's come from? Well as best as can be determined by famed writer Joseph Rosa in his( Man & Myth book) the story of the Dead Man's Hand may have come from correspondence between Ellis Peirce & Frank Wilstach in the 1920's. Which amounts to just another writer(s) taking liberty with facts and distorting history.

My last point will be about famous guns and their owners. I can't tell how many museums I have walked into over the years all claiming to have the guns of Will Bill or Jesse and Frank James. Hell, you fill in the name and I'll bet more than one museum claims to hold his gun. Sure, I'll give you that many, if not all, these men has more than one gun but in the cases I've mentioned the museums are claiming to have the same gun. Now some of the those guns are well documented. An example would be Bat Masterson's gun and the gun belonging to Johnny Ringo with serial number 222 which was taken from his corpse. But in many cases there isn't a shred of evidence who a particular gun belonged to.

To see some actual items from the Old West period stop by Old West Antiques and step back in time.

Books on Gambling - Antique

2008-07-13T20:41:00.003-05:00

In the book, : Hands Across The Table", by Albert A. Ostrow: The Complete Card Player, Copyright 1945 Ostrow covers some history of cards, card playing in America, running tournaments, and then spends the next 700 plus pages covering all the various games including a section on odds. The book is leather bound (the binding is tight) with the front cover embossed. If you are looking for books, antique books, on gambling check out the selection at Old West Antiques.

Faro, King of all the Old West gambling games.

2008-06-29T19:40:00.004-05:00

Faro, also spelled Pharo was a "banking" game where any number of players (called "punters") played against the dealer or the house, referred to as the "bank". As such, faro dealers often traveled with their gaming equipment from town to town, setting up a faro bank and often risking their personal fortune in a saloon for a fee or running a "house" bank in exchange for a piece (percentage) of the action.

Many a players would "Buck the Tiger" in an attempt to break the bank and numerous stories have been written of men who were successful in doing so. Wyatt Earp was one such man and the bank he broke was operated by none other than Johnny Behan. This is just one reason Behan hated Earp and my have been a factor leading to the O.K. Corral shootout.

If you are a collector of antique gambling equipment and in particular, Faro equipment, stop by Old West Antiques and look around.

Antique Cowboy Collectibles

2008-06-24T19:55:00.005-05:00

Old West Antiques is an online business who's focus is the period in time from 1865 to 1899, the "Old West" period. Our main focus is Saloon and Gambling items from that era but we have grown to be much more. Plus, this year we have added consigned items so you, the collector, will have more and better items to choose from. So, stop by and look around. Read some of the history and check out those businesses we have linked with.

Cowboy Collectibles

2008-06-23T13:13:00.010-05:00

We all know about the guns (Colt & Winchester) that won the West and then there were the Hideaway Guns that saved many a gamblers life. The gun picture is aptly named, " The Protector". This pocket pistol was made by the Minneapolis Fire Arms Company and is but one design used in making concealable handguns. This type was also known as a, " Palm Pistol ". See this and many other Cowboy Collectibles at OldWestAntiques.biz.

Antique Gambling

2008-06-19T10:40:00.006-05:00

When you think Antique Gambling you should be thinking of items like the ones pictured in this great photograph by Texas Star Digital.

The Wheel-of-Fortune with its spoked wheel stands tall over the Chucks (Chuck-a-Luck Cages), Faro Casekeeper and Dealing Boxes. And then there are the weapons needed by the Professional Gambler; the Hide-Away guns and Knife, not to mention the modified Shotgun.

Did you notice the Top Hat? Professional Gamblers were some of the best dressed men in town and they were noted for their generosity. But that was a long ago time when gambling was considered a respected profession. In fact, Bat Masterson is noted for a famous quote where he stated that Professional Gamblers in his time ranked as high as a Physician and above an Undertaker.

You can get a sense of the Old West at Old West Antiques. Stop over and spend a little time viewing the site. Also stop by Texas Star Digital and take a look at all the great photographs.

Old West Antiques Consignments

2008-06-18T09:59:00.006-05:00

Is it time to move part of that collection you have managed to collect over the years? Or, are you ready to upgrade that existing collection and you need to move a few items to make it happen?

Old West Antiques can help !

Our Consignment Business offers affordable rates and we are ready to handle your collection no matter the size. Stop by to learn more.

Winchesters Repeating Arms Posters/Calendars

2008-06-17T15:15:00.005-05:00

" 1897 " Winchester Calendar

Bet you haven't seen one of these available on the market in some time. In addition to this Winchester calendar, Old West Antiques, has three additional Winchester calenders plus two Winchester posters, a Dupont poster, a Hopkins & Allen Arms poster, an old newspaper ad, a sketch of a women hunting by C. Everett Johnson, a 1902 Smith & Wesson print signed by Frederic Remington, an old Embossed Quail Hunting print and what may be the prize of the lot, a Winchester 73 wood and plaster display sign.

There's Gold in them thar hills ...

2008-06-12T19:01:00.005-05:00

With the threat of inflation returning you can bet the price of Gold will be rising. One investor sees Gold hitting around $2,000.00 an ounce within 12 to 14 months. I say all that to say this, why not buy some Gold while it is selling around $870.00 per ounce verses $2,000.00 per ounce.

At Old West Antiques we just took in a ring made of Gold Nuggets from Alaska. Plus, we have a Gold Nugget Pocket Watch Chain from the 1850's (California Gold). We even have a number of Pocket Gold Scales from the period so stop by Old West Antiques and do a little prospecting.

Winchester Arms

2008-06-11T20:44:00.003-05:00

Old West Antiques has added a new "tab" specifically for a collection of Original Winchester Repeating Arms Calendars that are days away from being added to the site. If you are a collector of Winchester items you will want to be standing at the virtual door when these items are listed as they are not expected to last long.

Mining for Gold ...

2008-06-08T09:04:00.005-05:00

and other precious metals is as simple as stopping by the premier Gold/Silver Stock Certificate site on the web, Daly's Mining Shop.

You won't find a more complete site or better pricing of similar items anywhere on the net.

If you have an itching for some actual gold or silver save yourself the time and expense, not to mention the back breaking work, because the owner of Daly's Mining Shop, Jeff Daly has you covered there also.

Happy prospecting from Old West Antiques.

Western Collectibles, Western Memorabilia

2008-06-06T09:01:00.003-05:00

Tired of the eBay's of the World ? Looking for a place to sell your collection (large or small) ? Stop by and check out Old West Antiques. We can handle your needs and even help you figure out what your items are worth.

For details regarding terms and the benefits of using our service give us a call at 612-382-8562.

Western Movies

2008-06-06T08:05:00.006-05:00

Just thinking about all those great "old western movies" and the actors that made those movies what they were. If you then consider the men and women of today who would you want to see in the next great western movie, if Hollywood would manage to get their collective heads out of their asses?

For me the list would have to include ( no particular order) Robert Duvall, Sam Elliott, Tom Selleck, Kevin Costner, Tim Olyphant (Seth Bullock - HBO Deadwood), gees I almost for got Tommy Lee Jones, Mark Wahlberg.

For the ladies I would have to include Sharon Stone, Paula Malcomson & Robin Weigert (Deadwood), Autumn Reeser, Halle Berry, Moon Bloodgood, and Roselyn Sanchez.

Stop by OldWestAntiques.biz and check out the trailers under the tab "Video Clips". At least one guy in Hollywood has the vision to see the need to continue producing Westerns.

So who have I missed ?

Old West Collectibles & Items

2008-05-20T09:32:00.008-05:00

It seems that collecting items from the Old West period is all the rage again. A recent blog by Cowgirl Ramblings addressed just this point. I too have found that more and more people are making their first purchase of period Old West items. So why the increased interest ? I'm not sure but it could be because of the recent movies like 3:10 to Yuma and The Assassination of Jesse James. Maybe it's a generation thing and the people that grew up watching The Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers are now at a point in their lives that they have more discretionary money and collecting Old West items reminds them of their childhood. Whatever the reason, business is good. Happy hunting for Old West Antiques.

Old West Gambling

2008-05-19T08:20:00.003-05:00

If you are a collector of Old West Gambling item you will want to stop by the premier site on the web dealing in Frontier Gambling items - Old West Antiques. There you will find period playing cards, poker chips, dice, layouts, holdouts, books, guns, and many rare and hard to find items.

Saloon Collectibles

2008-05-19T07:28:00.003-05:00

The Old West Saloon, a place of drinking, gambling and ladies of the night. It was also a place of fun and violence. So how can you experience such a place, by researching, reading and collecting. At Old West Antiques we have created a place where you can stop by and look around. You can read history of the period and browse our collection of Old West items. Plus, our links pages provide additional sites for you to visit. So stop by Old West Antiques and see what we have to offer.

Keno Goose and other Frontier Gambling items

2008-05-18T20:49:00.004-05:00

Have you been searching high and low for a quality commercial grade Keno Goose? Well, your search is over. Old West Antiques has just listed such an item along with Faro Layouts, Chuck-A-Lucks, Playing Cards, Poker Chips, Dice and much more. See it all at Old West Antiques.

Faro Gambling Equipment and more

2008-05-18T20:30:00.005-05:00

Old West Antiques now has for sale a number of items used to play the Frontier Gambling game, Faro, the king of all gambling games during the 1870's and 1880's. We're talking Casekeepers from Mason and Company, H. C. Evans and Dailey. Along with racks of clay poker chips and even a dealing box. Check out these items and much more at Old West Antiques.

Chief Iron Tail a.k.a. Dewey Beard

2008-05-18T20:06:00.003-05:00

From Old West Antiques comes this oil on canvas portrait of Chief Iron Tail a.k.a. Dewey Beard by acclaimed Indian artist David Humphreys Miller measures 30" X 36" framed. Chief Iron Tail's likeness was used on the Buffalo Nickel. This is an outstanding work of art and piece of history.

See this and many more Old West items at Old West Antiques

Antique Gambling Equipment

2008-05-05T13:41:00.006-05:00

... from the Old West period (1865-1899) is the main focus of Old West Antiques. Biz, an Internet based business that is open whenever the urge strikes you. The Internet has many downsides but having a virtual store that is open whenever a customer decides to do some shopping is a huge plus.

Customers can visit the store whenever they like, they can also call Monday thru Friday 9a to 5p cst and if feeling lucky can call later and may find someone working late and now they can even Skype the store from the home page. We will even take in your items on consignment.

It just doesn't get any better then this for both the person looking to buy and the person looking to sell. So stop by Old West Antiques and take a look.

Rare Gambling Equipment

2008-04-25T15:22:00.002-05:00

Wow, I just listed some of the rarest and hardest to find gambling equipment made and used during the "Old West" period. I'm talking Faro Casekeepers, a Hazard Horn, a Card Trimmer, a very rare card Corner Trimmer, a traveling Keno Goose, Dice Drops, Poker Chips and a Rare complete Kepplinger Card Holdout.

Stop by and take a look, www.oldwestantiques.biz

Above mentioned items are listed under the tab, Robert (Bob) Jeche Collection

Whiskey in the Old West, part II

2008-04-17T18:26:00.007-05:00

My research into Whiskeys of the Old West period continues...

I have learned from Oscar Getz, in his book, "Whiskey, An American Pictorial History" that Whiskey, with an "e" is used by American and Irish distillers and Whisky, no "e" is used by Scots and Canadians.

First produced in the Highlands of Scotland in the 1400's, whisky was known as Usquebaugh, which means - water of life. I'll drink to that!!!

I have also found three more makers to add to my initial list: Evan Williams/1783, Rebel Yell/1849 and Southern Comfort/1874.

Stop by Old West Antiques and look over the selection of Saloon items.

Whiskey in the Old West

2008-03-12T20:45:00.007-05:00

I believe that most people are under the impression that whiskey in the Old West was of poor quality and that drinking it was risky business. Yet I have never read a historical account of anyone dying from drinking whiskey ( I'm not talking about drunks) in any one particular saloon.

I can agree that in some of the tent towns the whiskey may have been altered (watered down) so the saloon owner could turn a bigger profit per barrel but I am not buying the notion that it was somehow poisonous. And when permanent towns were established and saloons abound I doubt that it was even watered down because competition was so keen.

To lend support to my position I offer the following list of whiskey makers that were around back then and are still in business today. This list does not include the many whiskey makers that existed back then but are no longer around.

Wild Turkey/1789, Jim Beam/1795, Old Grand Dad/1796, Makers Mark/1805, Old Overholt/1810, Old Crow/1835, Jack Daniels/1866, George Dickel/1870, Old Forester/1870, Old Taylor/1872, Kessler's/late 1870's. There may well be more but you get a sense of how big this business was and by reading there respective histories you come to understand these companies were producing a quality product from the start.

So my question is, did writers feed us another line of crap that we bought hook, line and sinker or was whiskey back then truly a killer ?

Stop by Old West Antiques and look over the selection of saloon and whiskey items.

Gambling & Cheating in the Old West

2008-03-04T18:04:00.003-06:00

From just after the Civil War until the turn of the century men worked long and hard hours with few diversions. The few diversions that existed came in the form of drinking ( in men only saloons), chasing after the soiled doves ( working gals were allowed in saloons) and gambling.

The whiskey was of poor quality. The whores young but were looking to turn a quick trick and move on and the gambling was more often then not rigged. Not much has changed over the years, the hard working man is still getting screwed at every turn.

I'll leave the whiskey and women of easy virtue of another day and deal with the gambling cheats today.

I have already written about who did the cheating so now I will address who enabled the cheaters. From various sources I have begun to develop a list of the many manufacturers who openly advertised loaded dice, advantaged cards and gaffed equipment. On the West Coast one of the most famous companies known to collectors, Will & Finck, San Fransisco advertised in the 1880's as the only sporting emporium on the Pacific Coast. George Mason and Company, located in Denver from 1890 to 1910 and then returned to Chicago. He mainly dealt in gaffed equipment. In the midwest you had the following companies; Daley Manufacturing/Minneapolis, A. Ball & Brothers/Chicago, Doctor Cross & Co./New Orleans and on the East Coast there was a host of companies. In New York alone you had ; E. N. Grandine, Bartlett and F. Grote & Co.

No doubt there were many more but with just these you begin to understand just how prevalent cheating was and just how many gamblers must have been cheating to support such an industry. Many, if not all, of these companies printed catalogs and the gamblers who cheated knew where to find such catalogs.

Eventually a few cheaters saw the errors of their ways and exposed the entire industry. You can imagine the uproar. The lucky gamblers found cheating were merely run out of town. The unlucky ones never saw the morning sun rise. From all this came the outlawing of gambling and gamblers. Today, gambling is working it's way back into society but cheaters will again cause a backlash. An area of great concern currently is the Offshore gambling being done over the internet. With no government oversight, there is no way to be assured these games are being played on the "square".

To learn more about Frontier Gambling go to: www.frontiergambler.com

Who's the greatest con man ?

2008-02-23T19:43:00.003-06:00

In the 19th century it could be said that Soapy Smith was the greatest con man of his time. His life history can be read at: www.soapysmith.net/index.html

So if Soapy Smith filled the bill back then who would you vote for as the greatest con man of the 21st century ?

My vote goes to none other than Al (the internet inventor) Gore for his babble regarding carbon offsets (is he making money on this ? ) and the sky is falling (earth is warming) notion. He sure has conned a bunch of people into believing the end is near but he can save the day. Can you say Dudley Doright ? No wait, that was West Side Story, wasn't it? Ah hell, I can't remember.

Old West Saloon

2008-02-02T19:35:00.000-06:00

Dreaming of the Old West and my own saloon...

With title in hand, I would be on the road to fulfilling a lifelong dream. The Saloon would be called," The Palace Royal Gambling Hall ".

Riding down the dusty street towards my place you can hear the piano music flowing out the front entrance. Slowing to a stop as you pull up reins and dismount you now hear all the chatter of people inside. The sounds of laughter and music, coins clanging together along with glasses and bottles. A huge thirst hits you as you walk through the batwing doors while knocking the dust from your cloths with your hat. Your eyes feast on the sights inside through a haze of smoke. In one corner you see a barber hard at work. The girls all dressed in the latest fashions catch your eyes as you continue to survey the sights. You next notice the highly polished bar with the fancy back bar and huge mirrors. Looking into the mirrors you can now see the poker tables and beyond that a pool table, all busy with customers laughing and having a good time.

It's a typical Friday night as the crowd begins to swell and people are jammed elbow to elbow. But this night is different in that Lilly Langtree has come to town and will be putting on a performance shortly. She is truly the Queen of the cowtowns and the biggest name to come to these parts, ever!

I hear my name being called out and begin to make my way towards the gambling tables. As I pass the Kino and Chuck-A-Luck I notice a large crowd of cowboys cutting up and think to myself its going to be a wild night tonight. As I approach the poker table the boys gathered around it open a pathway for me and I now see my old buddies gathered at the table. To my left is Ol' Doc and to his left is Bat. On my right is Wyatt and beyond him is my nemesis Jim Courtright. Directly in front of me is an open seat. The boys all greet me as I slide into the chair. As I reach into my breast pocket to pull out my money I think to myself, it doesn't get any better then this.

Before my money hits the table I hear, "Luke", "the trash needs taken out". My dream has come to a screeching halt as I am jolted back to reality and the first hand hasn't even been dealt.

Check out the Saloon items listed at: Old West Antiques

Outlaws, why do we honor them ?

2008-01-30T17:53:00.000-06:00

On a far more serious note, I have this burning question, " Why are people so enamored with outlaws like Billy the Kid, the James boys and the "Cowboys" of Tombstone", just to name a few. To date, no one has stepped forward to explain to me why they love these criminals so much.

Well, yesterday while reading the USA Today - Jan.29,2008 - I came across a story about modern day criminals. The story focused on one particular family, the James Caston family. It seems that James, the father, was obsessed with the lore of the Jesse James gang. So much so that he named his first two boys, Jesse and Frank James Caston. A third son soon followed and the boys became known locally as the James gang. To make a long story short, all three boys are currently residing in the Louisiana State Penitentiary and each has been convicted of murder. So much for loving outlaws.

Why is it so hard for people to understand that children will grow up based on the parents vision of the child ? Why can't adults understand that being enamored with outlaws can result in nothing good ?

Yes, this is an extreme case but not a rare case. People in law enforcement see this all the time. Maybe the problem is, the average person just doesn't get to see this like people in law enforcement does so they don't make the connection.

I hope, by reading this, people will think twice about tearing down the good guys and stop building up the bad guys.

Mason and Co. Newark N.J.

2008-01-27T10:10:00.000-06:00

One of the best known manufacturers of gambling equipment during the "Old West" period was Mason and Company out of Newark, N.J. , Denver, Colorado and San Francisco, California. For a while [1890-1910] George Mason moved his base of operation from the East Coast to Denver and later returned to the East Coast.

Looking for Mason gambling equipment stop by Old West Antiques.