The RINGO is made from the actual black oak tree that the famed gunfighter John Ringo's body was found in back in
July of 1882 and under which he is still buried. The wood used is taken from the tree that was hit by lightning and broke away. The pen will include a 45 Long Colt bullet casing
similar to the type Ringo would have used in his Colt revolver for many of his murders. We will also include a certificate of authenticity and a leather case branded with the name
RINGO.
Only 1500 (500 each of three types) of this pen will be made, making this pen a treasured heirloom for you and your family, and a direct connection to a part of the history of the Old West.
THE MAKING OF THE JOHNNY RINGO PEN
I have worked with wood from every continent on this planet and been able to make beautiful pens from all of it. I have never had any wood give me this much
trouble. I hate to sound superstitious, but I have begun to think this wood is haunted. I have never been afraid of any wood until I tried my hand at this wood from the Black
Oak tree which was not only the place where Johnny Ringo's body was found, but it also has been feeding upon his decaying remains for over a hundred and twenty years.
It has been so difficult to work this wood, that I have even tried singing hymns while I turned the wood. Now I don't know if the wood gave up the ghost because of the sacred
music or just to get away from my terrible singing, but it seems to help tame the wood. It is still very slow going and it takes me at least five times longer to make a RINGO Pen
as any other kind of pen.
The wood was shipped to me in the form of very dry logs along with a letter of authenticity from the owner of the ranch where the tree and Ringo's grave are located.
After examining each log, I made a plan on how I could get the most pens out of it. The moment I started to cut into the log a thick black smoke poured out of it. It was
very clear that the smoke was coming from the log, not the saw. I have often seen smoke from friction scorching on very hard woods but it never looked like this. I decided to
finish the cut and see what the inside looked like. To my surprise there were no scorch marks of the wood. Why or how it produced the smoke I can not tell you. Each time I
made a cut it produces less smoke. It is as if most of it pours out in the first cut. That is not to say the other cuts have been easy .... I have broken several saw blades and tools
on the wood and even burned out my belt sander trying to sand the ends square. Drilling the holes has even been hard and I am praying I don't burn up my drill press. Any
holes going near the heart wood have warped down in the center of the hole at the heart. I am starting to think of that as a metaphor for Ringo's own heart. The wood seems to
have a mind of its own. I have even been injured while cutting the wood and I can't explain how it happened.
After each pen has been sanded and polished with at least 5 layers of friction lacquer the pen is assembled and the back end is initialed and numbered and capped
with a .45 Long Colt bullet casing. It is then placed in a hand made leather sheath that I have branded with the name RINGO and my makers mark.
Given the historic significance of this beautiful wood, I think it is well worth the effort. However, I want to keep the RINGO as a rare collectible pen and I believe that
by limiting the number of pens made, each one will become a treasured family heirloom that you can use to share the exciting history of the Old West. I have decided to make
only 1500 signed and numbered pens from this wood. I plan to make 500 pens each in gold and in platinum as a ballpoint pen style and 500 gold fountain pens. I realize
a lot of you will want a pen from Ringo's tree and I already have a waiting list of buyers for the RINGO pens, but this way each pen will only increase in value over time.
A word of caution, Johnny Ringo was very intelligent and well educated but he was also a cruel and violent man and I believe that some of his meanness has been
absorbed by this wood. I make some very nice pens from other historic woods that are not haunted. Please think about that before you decide to buy one of these pens. It
has been said that the pen is mightier than the sword. You have been warned and I am not responsible for anything beyond making a beautiful quality pen.
- Tommie Lou Whittingslow
- Fountain Pen: $96.00
- Ball-Point Pen: $96.00
Ball point pens use Parker Style Ballpoint Refills and the fountain pens use
an ink cartridge, both of these can be found at most stationary, office
supply or art supply stores or can be ordered from Dove Cottage Crafts using
the following item #s
Ball Point Pen
5 Parker Style Refills Item #PKPARK-R5 $6.95
Fountain Pen
10 blue ink cartrages Item # PK10-FPR $5.00
Nib assembly Item #PKBIGFP-NIB $10.00 each
You can purchase these pens at:
Tombstone Western Heritage Museum gift shop:
Located at the corner of Fremont Street (Hwy 80) and 6th street.
519 East Fremont Street
Tombstone, AZ 85638
(520) 457-3933 or (520) 457-3800
Tombstone Pawn
(Next to the Rose Tree in downtown Tombstone)
