FORT SMITH (KFSM)- The U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith is selling a replica of the Colt 45 Peacemaker to help fund the museum's construction.
“This one is special,” Stephen Young said.
On Monday (June 15), Young picked up a replica of the gun Bass Reeves carried more than 100 years ago as the first African-American U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi.
“I'm the first one receiving [the gun],” Young said.
Young received gun number three out of 500.
Justin Biddle, Director of Marketing at Umarex USA, helped develop the gun. He said it runs on carbon dioxide and is similar to a BB gun. The guns sell for about $200 a piece, which goes toward the construction of the museum.
“We have about $26 million on the books," Museum Director Alice Alt said. "This is a $50 million project so we have a little over $30 million itself depending on if we want a basement or not."
Young said the price for the gun was worth every penny.
“It's a piece of history,” Young said.
The museum hopes to be open by 2018. For more information on how to purchase a commemorative gun click here.