Your TR Source
“Would it be possible to substitute for the metal bead you have on the three front sights a small light pink ivory bead, in each case the color of the lightest pink billiard ball—that is, ivory stained so as just to have a pink tinge over the whiteness and still leave it light?” Theodore Roosevelt wrote this question to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in September 1906. Roosevelt was a man who cared deeply about guns.
In 2017, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West celebrated its centennial. Beginning with the original goal of examining the life and impact of William F. Cody, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West has developed into a five museum complex in Cody, Wyoming. The Center is composed of the Plains Indian Museum, the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Draper Museum of Natural History, and the Cody Firearms Museum. The McCracken Research Library also contains rare books, historic photographs, and original manuscripts, including the archive of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
Materials in this collection include Theodore Roosevelt’s correspondence with the Winchester Company as he prepares the guns and ammunition that will be used on his 1909 African safari with his son Kermit. A Winchester advertisement with an endorsement from Roosevelt is also included. The collection documents firearm history and Roosevelt’s passion for hunting.
See below to view items from this collection.
President Roosevelt likes the two .405 rifles the Winchester Company sent. He would like a third rifle, a duplicate of these two, but the silver pads could be a little thinner. He would like the duplicate done in time to take it to Africa in March.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1908-12-13
William Loeb acknowledges receipt of the letter and .45-70 rifle. Loeb asks the Winchester Company when the rifles ordered by Theodore Roosevelt will be sent.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1907-11-18
The Winchester Repeating Arms Company has the model ’96 gun, belonging to Kermit Roosevelt. President Roosevelt’s Springfield rifle has already been returned to him. The Company is also working on finding the best shipping line from London to Mombasa; they will not ship the guns through Aden as was requested earlier because they have no agents they trust there. They will await Roosevelt’s reply in regard to the model ’95 rifle.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1908-07-22
President Roosevelt would like a Winchester gun that shoots the same ammunition as his Springfield, and requests more ammunition as well. Roosevelt says the guns should not be sent to Aden to be reshipped, but should be sent to London and thence to Mombasa. Kermit Roosevelt will carry one rifle with him, and Theodore Roosevelt will have another, the balance should be shipped with almost all of the ammunition far enough in advance to receive cable confirmation that they have arrived before Roosevelt himself does.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1908-07-17
President Roosevelt sends his 30-30 as a model for the two 405s. Roosevelt would like to know how soon the two 405s can be sent to him. He also returns the reloading tools, as he does not wish to reload. Roosevelt will take his 45-70 Winchester to Africa, even though he has been warned it is not right for killing African game. He used it successfully to kill moose in Canada.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1908-07-09
President Roosevelt would like to know when the guns to be used on the African hunting trip will be available for Kermit Roosevelt to inspect. Theodore Roosevelt thinks he would like a 30-40 shooting the same ammunition he uses in his Springfield and two .405 rifles.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1908-06-29
William Loeb thanks the Winchester Repeating Arms Company for the letter and catalog.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1908-06-25
The previous catalog mailed to Theodore Roosevelt “has gone astray.” The Winchester Repeating Arms Company sends out one of their leather bound catalogs.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1908-06-24
President Roosevelt would like to find guns that Kermit Roosevelt can use on the African hunting trip, one gun should be a “high-power small caliber rifle” and the other “a very much more powerful rifle.”
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1908-06-16
Unknown author reminds himself to ask Professor Williamson where one of Theodore Roosevelt’s letters and three of William Loeb’s letters are located. The answers are included in a different hand.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Unknown
A partial list of Theodore and Kermit Roosevelt correspondence contained in the Winchester Library.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1949-11-02
Theodore Roosevelt would like a .22 rifle with a peep sight and 1,000 cartridges charged to his account, and sent to Alfred E. Pease. Roosevelt has done well with the .405 against lions, giraffes, and other game. Includes handwritten original and typed copy.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1909-05-12
President Roosevelt requests that the Winchester Repeating Arms Company furnish Kermit Roosevelt with a model 1905 gun, using the same ammunition as the Springfield.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1908-07-23
A complete listing of the firearm related items that Theodore Roosevelt took on his South African hunting trip in 1909.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1909-03-17
Theodore Roosevelt has sent over his Winchester rifle, so William Crozier can have one of the new Springfield carbines made like it. Roosevelt would like the sights reproduced exactly and the butt of the gun should be one inch shorter.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1903-11-17
Theodore Roosevelt is annoyed at the condition of the rifles sent by the Winchester Company. Roosevelt plans to send them his government rifle, so they can see the stocks and sights he uses. He emphasizes the importance of copying the rear sight and stocks of the government rifle. Roosevelt would also like a “small light pink ivory bead” substituted for the metal bead on the three front sights.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1906-09-16
Winchester rifles and ammunition are the “invariable choice of experience-taught and discriminating big game hunters.” An endorsement from Theodore Roosevelt is included in the advertisement.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1910
Theodore Roosevelt would like a .22 automatic repeating rifle and 1000 cartridges charged to his account and sent to Alfred E. Pease. Roosevelt has done well with the .405 on safari in Africa.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1909-05-12
Winchester model 1895 expedition rifles of Theodore Roosevelt.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1925
Theodore Roosevelt as Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1897