True Grit (Charles Portis) is one of the most respected novels of the 20th Century. Was made into a movie twice. The first one won John Wayne his only Oscar. The second was made by the Coen Brothers and starred Jeff Bridges as Marshall Cogburn, serving under "Hanging Judge Parker" of Fort Smith Arkansas and the Indian  Territory (Oklahoma).

Although True Grit is fiction, the closest thing to a real Marshall Cogburn was Bass Reeves. Serving under Parker he arrested over 3000 criminals in a very long career (including arresting his own son for murder). Reeves was also the inspiration for the character "The Lone Ranger".

Taylor Sheridan's new series started a couple days ago "Bass Reeves". Sheridan's movies and TV series are always good. Reeves was a runaway slave living among the tribes in the Indian Territory to stay hidden. Then Lincoln freed the slaves, and Reeves was hired as a lawman, because he was a tough guy and knew how to speak the languages of the people there (Cherokee and Seminole).

This is Reeves' gun in an Oklahoma museum. 4.5" barrel, old frame, bullseye ejector rod head, Colt single action army, .32-20 cal. (I have one just like it).