Last year’s The Lone Ranger movie may have been a disaster with both critics and audiences, but the legend of the masked hero still lives on. Now people in Wyoming will get to see a piece of that legend as the Lone Ranger’s pistol has made its way to a Cody, Wyoming museum.
According to a Powell Tribune report, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is now home to the Lone Ranger’s Colt. 45 revolver. The weapon was used by the character in the famous TV series that introduced the Lone Ranger to many Americans.
The pistol was carried by actor John Hart during his time as the Lone Ranger on the original TV series. Though the show aired from 1949 to 1957, Hart played the titular character for only one season. Actor Clayton Moore (pictured) is more widely recognized as the Lone Ranger from the TV series, but was replaced by Hart during the show’s third season due to a contract dispute Moore had with ABC.
Hart, who had experience in TV westerns, was tapped to replace Moore for 52 episodes of the series. Hart also stepped back into the Lone Ranger’s boots for two 1980s-era TV shows, including a Happy Days episode titled “Hi Yo, Fonzie Away.” He also appeared in dozens of other TV shows throughout the 50s, 60s, and 70s.
Hart died in September 2009 at the age of 91.
The pistol, which belonged to Hart, is now on display in the Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. This particular revolver features an engraved pattern and ivory grips displaying the skull of a steer.
#LoneRanger's pistol acquired by #Wyoming museum http://t.co/UWOMLBwz8R pic.twitter.com/2rpARYhon2
— WPEC CBS 12 News (@CBS12) April 29, 2014
Along with the pistol the museum now also has autographed photos of Hart and a signed copy of the actor’s cookbook/memoir “Cowboys in the Kitchen.” In addition to recipes the book contains stories from Hart’s acting career and life.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
