Buffalo Bill Center of the West

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Buffalo Bill Center of the West

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  • Visit
    • Current HoursDecember 1–February 28: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thursday–Sunday
    • Hours and RatesPlan your visit to the Center of the West.
    • Group SalesBook a commercial or non-commercial tour with us.
    • Facility RentalsHost your event in one of our indoor or outdoor spaces.
    • Visiting YellowstonePlan your visit to Yellowstone National Park.
    • LodgingSelect from a variety of local accommodations.
    • ItinerariesDiscover some quick day trips in and around Cody.
    • DirectionsFind driving directions and check road conditions.
    • StoriesFind your story among ours.
    • Calendar of EventsSee what events are happening during your visit here.
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      • Draper Natural History Museum Buffalo Bill Center of the West
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      • ExhibitionsFind out what’s on view in our Center.
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  • Learn
    • School Programs & ResourcesEssential info and resources for teachers and students.
    • Family ProgramsFamily-friendly programs, activities, and craft ideas.
    • InternshipsCollege students may apply to gain museum experience.
    • Skype in the ClassroomLive, interactive K–12 field trips.
    • WorkshopsExplore hands-on programs for kids, families, and adults.
    • Conservation InternshipsTraining for conservators from all over the world.
    • Pre-K ProgramsSet up a guided tour for your preschool class.
    • Field TripsInvestigate outdoor adventures for adults and children.
    • Highlights MapsDiscover collection highlights in each of our museum.
    • Games and InteractivesLearn about the collection through online interactives.
    • Lectures & FilmsPlan for future talks and view past program videos.
    • Western EssaysDelve into historical information on western topics.
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Clothing and Accessories
    • Gifts
    • Native American Replicas
    • Fine Art
    • Quality Leather
    • Native American Jewelry
    • Navajo Rugs
    • Pottery
    • Prints
    • Media
    • Baskets
  • Research
    • McCracken Research LibraryFind books, photos, archives, media, and more.Buffalo Bill Center of the West
    • Digital CollectionsExplore our extensive photo and manuscript collections.
    • Archival Collection List and Finding GuidesBrowse inventories of archival collections.
    • The Papers of William F. CodyDiscover scholarship on the man and the myth.
    • Fellowship ProgramContribute to new scholarship using Center collections.
    • Buffalo BillUncover in-depth information about William F. Cody.
    • Greater Yellowstone Natural HistoryLearn more about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
    • Western ArtDelve into the lives and works of western artists.
    • Plains IndianDiscover more about Plains Indian tribes and collections.
    • FirearmsFind a firearms bibliography, glossary, and more.
    • ConservationFind out how we preserve Center collections.
    • Rights and ReproductionsLicense or reproduce images from our collections.
  • Support
    • Planned GivingLeave your legacy with a bequest or estate gift.
    • Patrons BallAttend our annual gala fundraiser.
    • MembershipBecome a supporter and receive great benefits.
    • VolunteerSupport the Center with your time and talent.
    • 1966 Pontiac GTO winner: Ticket # 4206Our winner: Ticket number 4206 from Bozeman, Montana!
    • Give TodayMake a donation to programs and operations.
    • Why I SupportSee what motivates donors to give to the Center.
    • A.P. Proctor bronze winner: Ticket # 1115407Our winner: Ticket number 1115407 from Dayton, Ohio!
    • Raptor ExperienceHelp provide care for our avian friends.
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Home > Cody Firearms Museum > Schuyler, Hartley, & Graham: The Original Gun Dealer

Schuyler, Hartley, & Graham: The Original Gun Dealer

December 9, 2016 by Danny Michael

Modern gun ordering looks quite a bit different from how consumers purchased firearms in the 1800s. Today, buyers can check a wide range of wholesalers, chain retailers, and large distributors to order a firearm which can be shipped to their local licensed dealer. In the old days orders were made by letter, telegraph, and even showing up in person to a number of East Coast firms. Individuals could order directly from firms, but many of the gun shops around the country also placed large orders. The largest wholesaler of the mid-1800s was a firm called Schuyler, Hartley, & Graham.

shg-blog-2

Spencer Carbines proved their capabilities during the Civil War. SHG sold them in large quantities to the French government and to dealers in the United States. CFM Collection 1988.8.913

The partnership worked out of New York and had been founded in 1854 by Jacob Schuyler, Marcellus Hartley, & Malcom Graham. The founders took advantage of the Civil War to quickly grow their business. They recognized the potential for a long war and quickly began brokering supplies from Europe for Federal and state governments. The trio supplied everything from cannons to camp supplies and formed the foundation for a booming post war business.

shg-model-1842-order

This order placed in 1896 is for 40 Model 1842 Muskets. While well obsolete, they were still serviceable arms, and could be valuable on the frontier. Image courtesy the McCraken Research Library.

When the Civil War ended the US government, along with state governments sold off much of their surplus stock of arms and equipment. The official agencies that had often paid premiums for the same supplies during war time, were now selling them at a major loss. This glut of surplus meant cheap goods for consumers, but made a tough market for dealers. SHG turned, in part, to foreign sales. When the Franco-Prussian War broke out, they began receiving orders from the French government. The conflict in Europe consumed the arms surplus in the United States. It also established SHG as an international dealer. With their connections and experience, SHG stood ready to become the most prominent firearms dealer of the 19th century.

shg-blog-1

Suplus US arms, like this Model 1842 musket, we advertised in SHGs catalog for many years, and remained popular even alongside more advanced designs. CFM Collection 1988.8.779

The McCracken Research Library at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West holds the existing sales records for SHG. These papers are a valuable resource, and can be viewed online. Researchers can study what kind of guns were being used in America at the time through these records. Herb Houze, Curator Emeritus of the Cody Firearms Museum, wrote a book on the subject titled, Arming the West. As the book, and SHG’s records show, the firm sold a wide variety of arms to meet the demands of Americans pushing westward in the late 1800s.

SHG sold everything from the latest lever actions to surplus military muskets over a half century old. One record from the 1890s shows a sale to St. Louis of a case of US Model 1822 Muskets. Government arsenals originally built these flintlocks and later converted many to percussion before surplussing them. Even among all the firearms advances of the 19th century, there was still enough demand to sell a simple musket.  The guns, regardless of how advanced, and the company that sold them, are important parts of the history of the West.

Filed Under: Cody Firearms Museum
Tagged With: 19th century, CFM, firearms, Records, research, Staff, The West

 

About Danny Michael

Danny Michael works as the Assistant Curator of the Cody Firearms Museum. In addition to assisting with visitor inquires, researching, and writing about the collection, he also manages social media content for the Cody Firearms Museum. Danny recently moved from Maryland and enjoys finding ways to watch the Baltimore Orioles from Wyoming, recreational shooting, and reading about history.

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