Pair of consecutive number "Dakota Colt" 45 Long Colt Single Action Army revolvers taken as evidence in the case against the Manson Family for connection to the disappearance of Donald Jerome "Shorty" Shea.
Shorty came into possession of the revolvers from Archie Hall Sr. Hall was in the film business and eventually started his own film company, Fairway International Films, in the late 1950s. Hall met Shorty while shooting "What's Up Front" in 1963 at the Spahn Ranch, and they stayed in touch for possible future movie roles. In 1964, Hall was shooting a western film called "Deadwood 76" and needed to use some horse's in the filming, so he rented some for Spahn Ranch. Shorty was the one bringing the horse over for filming, and even got a small role in the film. Hall acquired the revolver to use in the filming and Shorty quickly fell in love with them. He eventually convinced Hall to sell him the revolvers and finally got them in 1968.
Shorty never officially paid for the revolvers in full, so when Archie Hall Sr. died in 1978. Hall Jr. applied to the Superior Court of Los Angeles to have the revolvers returned.
The revolvers are recorded in the court documents as ".45 Cal. Colt Revolver, Serial # 2421" and ".45 Cal. Colt Revolver, Serial # 2422", but they are not actually Colts, just Italian produced copies.
According to Addalyn Hall, Archie Hall Sr.'s wife, in 1969, Shorty was murdered by Charles Manson and his family while they were living on the Spahn Ranch and they came into possession of the revolvers. The guns were used as evidence in the Charles Manson murder trial and were in the possession of LAPD until they were returned to Addalyn in 1983. (see Notary document  dated for October 26, 1983.) The murder and revolvers are mention in the book, Helter Skelter on pages 150 and 273. The story is, Manson killed or had Shorty killed, because he was a "snitch" who had reported the 'family' to the police, but they had been having multiple run-ins over their time at the Spahn Ranch. Multiple reports and witness testimonies eventually got Manson and his 'family' convicted of murder of "Shorty" Shea.
This is a unique opportunity to acquire a bit of history from the infamous Manson Family.
Serial: (1) 2421; (2) 2422
Manufacturer: Uberti-Italy / Inter Continental Arms Inc. (c. 1963)
Model: Dakota Colt SAA
Caliber: 45 LC
Barrel Length: 7.5 in. 
OAL: 13 in.
Condition: both are in good-used condition; wood grips show moderate wear & handling marks; barrels & frames worn appropriately for use & wear in holsters; patina & light rusting present; bores are good & bright w/ some fouling from use; mechanically good
Includes: shadowbox case w/ documents; copy of Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi
-blue folder containing court case records of The State of California vs. Charles Manson
-Notary letter from Addalyn Hall
-Letter from Lee A. Silva, longtime Wild West author & historian, stating his confidence in the history of these revolvers. (dated Jan. 18, 1989)

Provenance: A San Antonio, Texas gentleman

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