While doing some research on the web, I came across the A.M. & Welma Aikin Regional Archives web site.  I am a collector of historical Colt firearms and I have in my collection an interesting gun that is factory inscribed “*H.G.W. From H.S.B. 1919*” and was shipped to the H.S. Bettes Hardware Company, Paris Texas on February 3, 1919.  While my Colt factory letter I received on the gun lists the initials, it does not list the names of the people represented by these initials.  I’m fairly certain that the “H.S.B.” stands for H.S. Bettes, but I’m at a loss to figure out the name behind the initials “H.G.W.”  I figure Paris, Texas wasn’t a huge town in 1919 and perhaps someone might have access to a city directory or other public city records from that time that might have some people listed with the initials “H.W.” or “H.G.W.”

Here’s a link to a photo of the inscription:

Any information would be much appreciated.

Regards,

Sam Lisker
Coltautos.com

Hi,
  I just read your inquiery and this may not be of any help to you….but I have a 1918 Paris High School “OWL” (the high school annual).  I have just glanced thru it and saw several boys with first and last initials HW, but they don’t list middle names.  If you think this would be of any value to you, let me know, and I will go thru it again and make you a list of the names
                                                        D Boyd.

Thanks so much for your response and generous offer.  If you could post the info it would be most appreciated.  Not sure where it will lead as a high school age person may not have been the recipient, but those were different times and gun ownership occurred at younger ages.

Thanks again for your offer of assistance.  It’s much appreciated.

Sam Lisker