Preserving Old West history for future generations.
The Schwend Gun Collection was started by Henry Harrison Schwend, a Deputy Sheriff of Clay County, Texas and City Marshal in Henrietta, Texas. He began his law enforcement career in the mid 1890's and started collecting firearms at the same time. Clay County lies just south of the Red River and, at that time, the Indian Territory (later Oklahoma) was a favorite hideout for all manner of outlaws. Harrison was acquainted with and worked alongside other lawmen and Texas Rangers in the pursuit of some of the most notorious bad men that made the history books. His penchant for collecting these old tools of the trade was well known throughout the territory. Many of the weapons he acquired were given to him by his fellow lawmen. When he died in 1924, he had amassed an assortment of more than 150 weapons, many owned by famous outlaws and lawmen.
Find a full history of this collection on our About Page.
