Fort Chadbourne Recipient of Gun Collection, Coke County, TX Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net 3 March 2001 ***************************************************************** The Observer/Enterprise, 9 Feb 2001, Robert Lee, TX FORT CHADBOURNE RECIPIENT OF GUN COLLECTION Christmas is still here for the Fort Chadbourne Foundation. The Foundation is the recipient of an unsolicited gift - but not just any gift. A rare set of Mexican miniature half scale rifles, complete with a presentation case was given to the Foundation. "It's remarkable, both the gun set and the gesture," said Garland Richards owner of Charbourne Ranch and chairman of the Foundation board. "We're honored to accept such a gracious gift." The three rifles are perfectly scale model rifles, complete with bayonets made in the Mexican Arsenal for General Naranjo in 1882. The case is parquet wooden engraved for the presentation to Gen. Naranjo. All three rifles did fire and are still capable of firing today, although there is no know ammunition available for them. "Arsenal made miniatures are extremely rare with only a handful know in private hands in the world. Presentation sets are virtually nonexistent," notes Joel Marrow, president of Imperial Miniature Armory. The set consists of the following: * 1866 Winchester musket with bayonet in one half scale * Frence Gras bolt action rifle, single shot in one half scale with bayonet * Peabody Martini falling black rifle in single shot half scale, with bayonet "The donor, a physician from Ohio, wants to remain anonymous, and we'll respect those wishes." said Richards when asked about the details of the generous donor. "To be given three rifles in mint condition is incredible. Fort Chadbourne is very fortunate to have these." Fort Chadbourne Foundation is the administrative function of Fort Chadbourne, one of eight historic Forts on the Texas Forts Trail. Opened to the public since 1999, Fort Chadbourne was built as a frontier fort in 1852. Family owned since the 1870's, the Fort is located eleven miles northeast of Bronte on U.S. Highway 277. Fort Chadbourne has an extensive historical artifact collection - over 18,000 artifacts have been catalogued, including an Indian artifact collection, with many items to be over 6,000 - 9,000 years old. Permission granted by Observer/Enterprise for publication in the Coke County TXGenWeb Archives ***************************************************************** NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb/~usgenweb/