Guns of the Great Shooters from Buffalo Bill's Wild West

Reunions with old friends can be a time filled with nostalgia, laughs, and more than a few old yarns to tell. In our business, the phrase, "if this old gun could talk," is a desire commonly expressed. Firearms with rich histories find their way through our doors on a regular basis, and I've had questions on more than one occasion that I would've like to have posed to one or two of them as they passed through our hallways as part of their grand journey. The grouping of items in this article is no exception. The reunion of these trusty arms would undoubtedly result in a whirlwind of stories, knowing nods, and a list of accomplishments that require no exaggeration in their retelling. These arms all have ties to members of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, and even the ol' scout himself, William F. Cody. Their backgrounds are as varied as the people they belong to, but time and circumstance have brought them back together at Rock Island Auction Company's 2016 September Premiere Firearms Auction for one last reunion. If only they could talk.

Buffalo Bill

Lot 1036: Historic and Well Documented John Ulrich Signed Factory Engraved Deluxe Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Short Rifle with Factory Exhibition Special Order Finish and Features Presented by Buffalo Bill (William F. Cody) to Robbie Campbell Adams Twelve Year Old Son of Wild West Show Pamphlets Publisher for the Wild West Shows Performance at Madison Square Garden

In this case, the headline for our item is so long it almost tells the story itself. Medal of Honor recipient William F. Cody began his own wild west show in 1883, which toured annually in the United States and Europe. He had already earned a solid reputation as a prolific bison hunter, as well as a scout and Indian fighter in the Army, and his reputation continued to grow. However, it was an encounter with author Captain Edward Zane Carroll Judson that began Buffalo Bill's road to stardom. Capt. Judson often wrote under many pseudonyms, but his best known was Ned Buntline. It was a combination of Buntline's dime novels about Buffalo Bill's adventures, as well as Cody's proficiency he displayed in front of top men, such as General Sheridan, Grand Duke Alexis of Russia, and New York Herald publisher James Gordon Bennett, that resulted his star's continued rise.

In that first year, Buffalo Bill's Wild West was such a popular attraction that it was able to take its act indoors to the first iteration of Madison Square Garden, built in 1879. It had no roof since P.T. Barnum converted it into an open-air "Great Roman Hippodrome" in 1873. It was a large oval-shaped arena where he presented circuses (naturally) and other forms of entertainment and performance. It was a fantastic space that traded hands several times, and each owner had a new vision for what the space should offer: events catering to high brow clientele, illegal boxing matches, indoor track and field, dog shows, concerts, religious revivals, and one of the first indoor ice rinks in the nation. Most importantly, people knew of the venue and its attractions. The boxing matches had long drawn crowds over the venue's capacity, and an elephant purchased by P.T. Barnum from the London Zoo in 1881 readily drew enough onlookers to earn back its purchase price of $10,000. So when Buffalo Bill took his show there in 1883, he had no trouble finding crowds willing to fill its seats. Having names such as James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok, Buck Taylor, Captain Adam Bogartus, Doc Carver, and Texas Jack Omohundro on his payroll couldn't hurt either. it was a time of transition for Buffalo Bill from small exhibitions and reenactment performer to an arena-filling showman and master entertainer.

He no doubt gave partial credit for the fine attendance to the man producing the publicity pamphlets for his shows at Madison Square Garden. This same man was also a partner in the Beadle and Adams publishing house, well known for producing the "yellow-back" dime novels of the day. Not to be confused with the publisher Street & Smith, also located in New York, that had published "The Buffalo Bill Stories" which led to a large part of his fame. To thank Mr. Adams for his support in several areas, Buffalo Bill presented this Winchester Model 1873 to his son 12-year old Robbie Campbell Adams. Rock Island Auction President Kevin Hogan says it best, "This is akin to receiving Michael Jordan's sneakers." It was a prized gift from one of the finest performers of the day.

The gun is a remarkable presentation grade gun with a grocery list of special order features:

- Gold plated frame, tip, and buttplate
- Nickel finish
- Ulrich engraved
- checkered, fancy walnut stocks
- short rifle
- shotgun butt
- pistol grip

On the right side of the frame is a panel scene depicting a hunter peering out from behind a tree to shoot a bull elk. The left side also bears masterfully done floral scrollwork along with the inscription that reads, "Presented by Buffalo Bill (W. F. Cody) to Robbie Campbell Adams ~1883~"

Besides being lavished with presentation grade features, the gun was clearly chosen for the boy to be able to use it if he so chose.  It's a short rifle for easier handling by a lad, it is chambered in the relatively mild yet still effective 32 WCF, and the 22-inch barrel would also not have been unwieldy for a 12-year old. Obviously, the gun never saw the typical boyhood use and it remains in very fine condition.

This remarkable rifle's provenance is extensively documented, as it has been in the public eye for quite some time, appearing in numerous books and magazines. Rock Island Auction Company is proud to offer this rifle to the public, taking this oft dreamt-about gun and making the possibility of owning it a reality.

Frank Butler and Annie Oakley

Lot 1770: Documented Historic Factory Engraved Remington Model 12-B Gallery Special Model Slide Action Rifle Sold to Frank Butler Husband of Famed Exhibition Shooter Annie Oakley

Phoebe Ann Moses, better known as Annie Oakley, is a woman that needs no introduction to most Americans, let alone those interested in shooting. However, much fewer folks know about her husband, Frank Butler, or the story of how they met. First things first, there is much debate over the exact significant dates of the young couple. That in mind, precise dates will be avoided as much as possible in an effort to stick to the story.

Frank Butler was a dog trainer and exhibition shooter who, like many others, toured the country taking on challengers in shooting competitions for money, bragging rights, and an increase in reputation. On one of those trips he placed a $100 wager with Jack Frost (yes, that's his real name) who owned a Cincinnati hotel. Butler stated that he could best any local who dared to challenge him. When a challenger was found and the match was set, imagine Butler's surprise when out from the crowd walked a young lady. "The last thing Butler expected was a five-foot-tall... girl named Annie," recalled Frost. As was customary at the time, they would shoot live birds, and both sides agreed to a best-of-25 contest. Frank Butler lost that contest by a single bird, but both lives would be changed forever. Frank had fallen for the then-shy young lady, while Annie seemed more interested in his French poodle named George. Frank courted Annie by sending her postcards and letters signed by George. The two would be wed within a year.

It was 1885 when Annie Oakley and her husband, Mr. Frank Butler, became part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West. Annie's stature earned her the nickname "Little Sure Shot" in  Cody's publicity flyers and ads, a name given to her by Lakota leader Sitting Bull, himself a participant in the early years of Buffalo Bill's Wild West. There is no need to recount her numerous feats and popularity. However, she is an intriguing personality, known for fierce independence, an advocate for suffrage (as was William Cody), as well as a kind heart, a gentle word, a strong desire to maintain her sterling reputation, and to always portray herself as a lady despite her involvement in what was then a very masculine sport.

The first time Annie and Frank tried to settle down was in 1901, an attempt to alleviate Annie's terrible back pain suffered during a train accident, but such joie de vivre could not be tamed for long. Defeating an early diagnosis of paralysis after five spinal operations, Annie left the Buffalo Bill show in 1902 and began a less travel-intensive career in stage acting. She would return again to another show in 1911, "The Young Buffalo Show," while consecutively serving as a representative for Union Metallic Cartridge Co. Annie never lost a step as she aged, with one reporter quoted as saying, "Annie Oakley looks as though she had discovered the secret that Ponce De Leon sought so long in vain...She is as bright and alert, as when I saw her a slip of a girl with long braids 25 years ago when I was a kid." However, it didn't last long and the couple "retired" once again in 1912, even though Annie toured sporadically with another show.

For the most part, the Butlers were finished with life as performers (until Annie attempted a comeback in 1922). Perhaps as a retirement gift for his wife, Frank purchased this Remington Model 12-B on February 28, 1912. Designed by J.D. Pedersen, the model had been introduced three years prior and Annie would have already been familiar with it. Later she became quite prolific with the model using it to shoot apples off of the head of their beloved dog, Dave, and another Model 12 of Annie's (SN 600125) still resides in the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming.

The example in Cody, while in excellent condition, is relatively plain compared to the Model 12-B currently offered by Rock Island Auction Company. The example purchased by Frank Butler has a highly grained, fancy stock, checkered forearm, half octagon-half round barrel, a folding peep sight, and is finely factory engraved with panel scenes of rabbits and squirrels.

The rifle may have been a perfect retirement gift for Annie, but it didn't help her desire to settle down. Annie often gave pointers on shooting to those around her, be it at trapshooting tournaments, impromptu exhibitions, or even fellow guests at the Caroline Hotel of Pinehurst, NC. "The lessons [at the hotel] began by accident when the shooting star had overheard a wealthy New Yorker comment to another in the hotel's ballroom, 'My, how I wish I were a man so that I could shoot.' Oakley replied, 'Your sex does not prevent you from learning to shoot.'"  It is documented in numerous sources that her skills had not faded in the slightest even into her fifties and sixties. In 1922, in a shooting contest in Pinehurst, the 62-year old hit 100 clays in a row at 16 yards. Unfortunately, her sixties was as long as Annie would live. She passed on November 3, 1926, at the age of 66, of what the doctor termed "pernicious anemia." Frank Butler went into intense mourning and refused to eat. He followed Annie in death 18 days later.

This is not only an incredible rifle with numerous special order features, but it remains an incredible piece of memorabilia tied to arguably the greatest American exhibition shooter from the sport's Golden Age. Opportunities like this may never arise again, and any collector or museum would be extremely fortunate to acquire this little rifle.

Buck Taylor

This remarkable Colt Single Auction Army owned by Buck Taylor, the true "King of the Cowboys" has already been covered in depth in a previous article. If you'd like to find out more about this incredible cowpuncher, his history with Buffalo Bill's Wild West, and how the important provenance of this beautiful revolver was almost lost forever to history, please read our story "Buck Taylor: The True King of the Cowboys."

Memorabilia of William F. Cody

There is also a fascinating lot in this auction that contains two items with intimate ties to Buffalo Bill.  Frankly, with all the items shown above, also with ties to the man, it could not have arrived at a better time. These items were consigned to us by someone who purchased them from an estate sale 25 years ago. The sale was being held by the niece of a man who had worked for Cody in Wheaton, Illinois. With the birthplace of Buffalo Bill a short drive away from Rock Island Auction Company, it is not surprising to hear of artifacts of the man in nearby areas. The first item is a briefcase with his name clearly printed on the closing flap. It is likely no coincidence at all that the case is designed to resemble a saddle bag. The second item is a tri-fold mirror that, according to its inscription, was a Christmas gift from Cody to "my darling wife Louisa."

Both items are a simple reminder of the wonderfully ordinary life of a man more known for his spectacle, crowds, and showmanship. They would be welcome in any accomplished collection of the man or his storied show.

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These marvelous items revolving around the America legend that is Buffalo Bill's Wild West, are only the beginning of the historic and presentation grade items available in the 2016 September Premiere Firearms Auction. With items from celebrated figures such as President Teddy Roosevelt, to infamous Nazi leaders, the selection has never been better. Two juggernaut groupings among several other accomplished collections lead the way, but they are accompanied by hundreds of single gun consignments from around the country. They all combine to make a sale that collectors will be talking about for years to come. Visit www.rockislandauction.com today to browse the items and see for yourself.




-Written by Joel R. Kolander






SOURCES:

http://www.annieoakleycenterfoundation.com/faq.html

https://centerofthewest.org/explore/buffalo-bill/research/annie-oakley/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/primary-resources/oakley-new-york/

Sorg, Eric V. "Annie Oakley." Wild West Feb. 2001: n. pag. Historynet.com. Web.

Buck Taylor: The True King of the Cowboys

If you run a quick online search for "King of the Cowboys" the results are packed with websites featuring Roy Rogers. This is helped, of course, by a film that Rogers made entitled "King of the Cowboys." Capitalizing on World War II, the 1943 film features saboteurs blowing up government warehouses in the United States, with Roy and some associates hot on their trail to foil them. Unfortunately, Rogers was not the first to bear this royal moniker. While Roy is worthy of a lot of praise, he hadn't even been born yet by the time the original King of the Cowboys was living the winter years of his life. That man was William Levi "Buck" Taylor, a Texas-born, real live ridin' ropin' cowpuncher who grew up in the life, and whose talents were so prodigious they pushed him to the very heights of stardom and helped forever change how the public would perceive the very word "cowboy."

Buck Taylor, as he is better known to history, was born in a small east Texas town called Fredericksburgh, located in Gillespie County, in 1857. They moved around Texas some, and his father fought several times to protect his homeland. William Cody in his book "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" wrote that Taylor's family "fought for its [Texas] independence with Crockett and Col Travis at the Alamo, where a grandfather and uncle fell" and "under Sam Houston at San Jacinto..." By the time Buck was born, only he, his father, and a younger brother were the sole surviving males of the family. He was still a child when his dad joined the newly-formed Texas Cavalry and died in one of its early engagements in the Civil War, almost certainly in 1863. Two years later Buck endured the worst tragedy possible for a child, when he was orphaned after losing his mother as well. He then fell under the protective wing of an uncle who owned a large ranch on the rolling Texas plains.

There Buck grew up in the hard life of a cowpuncher. He learned the tricks, the trades, the hard work, all the while growing stronger and more accomplished. Millions of boys growing up decades later would have given almost anything to find themselves in the exact position in which Taylor was thriving. He could ride like the wind, throw a lasso with uncanny precision, understood how to manage a herd, could bust nearly any bronco, and possessed what Cody describes as "general cow-sense." That may sound like a funny word, but it is no small compliment. Buck himself is quoted as saying,

"I was dependent on myself at an age when ordinary children are still in the nursery... There was only one thing to do; which was to be a cowpuncher... By the time I was 14 I was able to ride and rope with some of the best of them and was known around our section as the best cowpuncher of my age that had ever been seen."

He would soon take supervisory roles such as "boss of the outfit" and lead herds along the Chisholm Trail with his brother James Baxter "Bax" Taylor, to the cattle yards and slaughterhouses up north. Those trips would also take him to Nebraska where his skills and "remarkable dexterity earned the attention of Major [Frank] North and Buffalo Bill and they secured his services for several seasons on their ranch by the Dismal River." Cody Ranch (also referred to as "Scout's Rest Ranch") is located about 65 miles north of North Platte and was founded in 1877 when Cody reached out to Major North, then the leader of the Pawneee Scouts for the U.S. Army. The scouts were disbanded that year and Cody proposed a partnership with Frank North and his brother Luther to become cattlemen. Cody's first encounter with the Taylor brothers was when they brought a herd up the trail for Luther, who swore up and down that Bax, not Buck, was the best bronco buster he had ever encountered. Turns out good horsemanship ran in the family. Even their older sister Mary is written about in a local newspaper as apt to "ride the worst bronco, or rope the most refracting old sow in the county." Buck continued to impress Cody with "his feats of strength, easily throwing a steer by the horns or tail, lassoing and tying single-handed," and "his mastery of wild horses," The last of which earned him his nickname, "Buck." It was on the Cody Ranch he also learned to read and write and earned a infamous reputation to down large amounts of biscuits. Once having ate 24 in one sitting, he was enduring some ribbing by his mess mates before finally being sufficiently annoyed and threatening to eat 24 more.

When the Buffalo Bill Wild West show opened on May 19, 1883, Buck was a shoe-in to appear in the show. He had already been auditioning for Cody for several years by way of his performance, but his talents and skills on the range were only part of his appeal. Buck Taylor stood between 6' 3" and 6' 5" depending on what source you read, and was an imposing figure when the average cowboy stood but a scant 5' 8". In addition to skills he had honed nearly his entire life, Taylor was well known to pick up his hat off the ground at a full gallop. If that wasn't enough to impress the crowd, he would often follow it up by retrieving his handkerchief or glove in the same manner. Handsome and with long, curly hair, Buck played a perfect lead in Buffalo Bill's staged recreation of The Battle of Little Big Horn. Buck was also well-liked by his colleagues and those he met. He had a personality that Cody describes as "...a fine representative of his class. Amiable as a child," features Cody never failed to publicize, billing him as the "King of the Cowboys." It was this combination of talent, good looks, and a kind nature that set the stage for the Buffalo Bill Wild West show to rewrite history.

At that point in American history, cowboys were viewed quite differently than they are today. They were considered dirty, gritty, unmannered, uncultured, dangerous, hard men who lived hard lives in the dust, mud and rain with livestock. Even worse, they were sometimes synonymous with outlaws. In his 1881 message to Congress, President Chester Arthur describes a band of "armed desperadoes known as 'cowboys," as a violent faction disturbing the peace in the Arizona Territory. There were some writers who were making heroes of scouts and cavalry men at that time, but the cowboy remained the depraved prairie drifter. Period author Frederick Whittaker even went so far as to write damning articles about cowboys depicting them as unrefined, ruffians and barbarians, violent to all they encountered.

Thankfully, Cody's show was already doing its part to counter the unfavorable image of the cowboy. The Staten Island venue for Buffalo Bill's Wild West show held 35,000 souls with two performances a day. In later years, it would also play prominently outside the 1893 Columbian Exposition (after being denied a place inside the show) on the Midway where he would skim from the over 26 million visitors the World's Fair would attract during its six month run. Cody, ever the marketer, had seen his own stories enjoy immense popularity. What if he took the new-found popularity of the cowboys in his show and gave the people what they wanted? He had already increased their role in his shows with positive results, so why not take the next step? That role fell to the most likely choice: Buck Taylor.

In 1887 Cody's promoter and friend Prentiss Ingraham, who had produced a nearly ceaseless stream of stories on Buffalo Bill, published the first of several dime novels about Buck which was grandly entitled Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys, or, the Raiders and the Rangers: A Story of the Wild and Thrilling Life of William L Taylor. He would go on to write six more on the King of the Cowboys, and 1887 was arguably the peak of Taylor's career. His dime novel had been released and he was currently on tour with the Wild West show in Europe, performing in front of various heads of state and even royalty. In fact, Queen Victoria herself came to enjoy a show with the public during her Jubilee of that year. It marked the first time she had attended a show in public since the death of Prince Albert twenty-five years earlier. Author and historian R. L. Wilson adds, "Further, the Queen paid homage to the American flag during the performance, the first time a British sovereign had done so since the beginning of the Republic." Unfortunately, Buck Taylor broke a leg or hip during a performance that year, allegedly during a quadrille when a horse collided with his leg while on horseback. The popularity of the show and of Taylor was so great that his recovery was frequently covered in the local newspapers.

Buck Taylor shown at far right. Photo copyright to the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave

If this were a more tragic story, that might be the end of Buck's career, but it would take more than a busted leg to stop a real cowboy. He would reappear in the show and stayed with it until about 1890 when he would leave for reasons that appear to be undocumented to history. Whatever his reasons, Taylor moved to Wyoming, and worked on a ranch with his brother Bax before the two broke off and started one of their own in the town of Rongis near Long Creek. Even there he never stepped completely away from show business, serving as the superintendent for Denver's Cowboy Tournament and Wild West in 1890. In an unusual twist to any biography, while living in Rongis his death was incorrectly reported by the Ft. Worth Gazette on March 23, 1892. It was said he had been shot in a fight and that two other men had been stabbed, none of which was true. What was truly newsworthy that year was that Buck had started appearing in shows again.  He also found some time to meet a young lady that would eventually become his wife. On September 12, 1893 Buck married Emely Reynolds Allibone Laugton in Carbon, WY.

One of the shows Buck joined was the Wyoming Wild West, a curious name for a show located on the East Coast. The show had a nasty habit of allowing shell-game operators to follow their show and operate outside of it which caused no shortage of problems. In New Jersey swindled college students disrupted and eventually broke up the show. "Fire crackers and other fireworks were thrown under the orator's stand just as Buck was to make his appearance. The buffalo was set loose, steers were freed. Spectators fled the tent." Similar complaints arose from a show in Maine, and in Quebec the show folded so fast that many of the Native Americans working the show were left behind, causing a international question of who was going to pay to get them back home.

Little is known of any other shows, but they must not have been up to snuff for Buck because by 1894 he had started his own western show. Unfortunately, "Buck Taylor's Wild West" was one of no fewer than 242 other western shows that would ultimately attempt to replicate the success of Cody's legendary show. Buck's foray into the business would be a flop, and by 1897 he found himself briefly working in California before moving to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to assume duties as the superintendent  at the Betzwood Stock Farm. That same year, Buck's brother Baxter was killed when he was thrown from a wagon at their ranch in Rongis. For a man with little remaining family and who had partnered with his brother so frequently, the news must have been a tremendous blow.

The rest of Buck's life was surprisingly quiet, given how storied and exciting it had been to that point. The sole other occurrence in Buck's life that is documented is that he had his identity stolen by an impostor named Barry F. Tatum. A former actor, Tatum pretended to be Buck to the point where he gave a political speech endorsing Teddy Roosevelt, and even made some money by endorsing a 75 proof snake oil medicine called Peruna that claimed to help "catarrh, coughs, influenza, la grippe." Peruna withdrew Tatum's endorsements after he died in 1900 from tuberculosis. Of course, Tatum's death resulted in yet another false death report for the real Buck Taylor. In hindsight, all the identify theft and impersonation Buck endured in life seems an eerie foreshadowing of that which he would endure even after his death, thanks to the number of performers who not only assumed the title of "King of the Cowboys" but even used the Buck Taylor name for their own gains.

Buck Taylor would not pass away for another 24 years at 67 years of age. He died in Downington, Pennsylvania, still living on a ranch, albeit far from the American West he loved so dearly. While never taking part in the cowboy's rise to fame in the movies, Buck was one of the earliest faces of cowboys that the public could admire and embrace as a hero. He was the right man who came along at the right time. Hopefully he took some sort of personal satisfaction in that, though there is no way he could have anticipated the heights the Western genre would finally attain.

The Revolver

In September 2016, Rock Island Auction Company will be offering a Colt Single Action Army that has never left the descendants of Buck Taylor. The legendary cowboy acquired this revolver when he was 39-years of age. That puts it shipping date in 1896 - after his most colorful days in the western shows, but while he still had plenty of ranching and work to do.

The Colt letter for this beautiful sixgun confirms this shipment date and lists its original configuration, which it retains to this day: nickel plated, 5 1/2 in. barrel, and firing .45 caliber hunks of lead. While a true cowboy in every sense of the word, the flashy nature of the revolver likely appealed to Buck thanks to his time spent in the limelight. Judging by the condition of the revolver, it is likely not one that spent a lot of time bouncing around in a holster, but one that he treasured and saved for when the occasion called for some glitz.

Lot 3078: Documented Historic First Generation Colt Single Action Army Revolver Owned by the "King of the Cowboys" and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Performer Buck Taylor

The provenance of this gun was nearly lost forever. When Buck passed away in 1924, this Single Action Army came into the possession of his niece, Francis Taylor Hoffmeister, who was given the gun at Buck's funeral as part of her inheritance. She clearly was familiar with her famous uncle because she had kept many newspaper clippings about Buck's life events. Whether the two had any personal relationship is unknown. Francis Taylor had a twin sister, Ruth, who passed in 1926. When Francis passed away in 1984, just a year short of becoming a centenarian, the gun was not passed down her family, but down her twin sister's. Ruth's granddaughter has retained the pistol to this day. Francis was the last remaining relative who knew of the gun's remarkable provenance.  Had she not relayed this history to her grandniece, this might just be any other high condition Colt in our auction, its story permanently erased from memory.


History buffs and any number of knowledgeable Western enthusiasts owe these two ladies a debt for preserving the remarkable provenance behind this piece of irreplaceable Americana. The only other firearm in existence tied directly to Buck currently resides in the Autry Museum of the American West. The revolver at RIAC represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a classic piece of a bygone era and a connection to a man who forever changed the reputation of the American cowboy. It will be auctioned in Rock Island Auction Company's 2016 September Premiere Auction held September 9 - 11.

- Written by Joel R. Kolander







SOURCES:

Harris, Charles W., and Buck Rainey. The Cowboy: Six-Shooters, Songs, and Sex. Norman: U of Oklahoma, 1976. Print.
http://codyarchive.org/memorabilia/wfc.prog.1884.html

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cody4taylor.html

Murdoch, David Hamilton. The American West: The Invention of a Myth. N.p.: U of Nevada, 2001. Print.

Slatta, Richard W. The Cowboy Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1994. Print.

Museum Quality

Rock Island Auction Company is always offering some rather stunning arms: mint condition antiques, rare variations, gorgeous special order arms, classic military arms, unusual prototypes, and all kinds of items tied to important figures from bank robbers to presidents.  This considered, perhaps the large number of "museum grade" pieces in this auction should come as no surprise.  While I would personally love to have written about each one individually, the December 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction draws nigh and so we're forced to cover several of these incredible items in one go.

The best part is that, unlike a museum, these items do not rest behind glass, inaccessible to the collecting community.  Each and every one of these pieces will be sold to collectors and investors.  The items are spectacular in their own right, but the fact that they have somehow evaded curators' grasps for sometimes hundreds of years makes them all the more remarkable.  Take some time to look and judge for yourself.

Peter Knecht Solingen Production Gold and Niter Blue Accented French Presentation Sword with Scabbard Inscribed from the National Guard of France to the Marquis de Lafayette, Hero of the American Revolution

For those unfamiliar, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette, was a hero of the Revolutionary War.  He was not a man who led a single heroic charge or captured a single machine gun nest.  No, Lafayette fought in numerous battles, held many ranks, and even helped secure critical aid and troops from the French.  The United States has perhaps never had such a devoted and passionate ally since.  George Washington himself, upon the Marquis' departure for France at the end of the Revolution wrote him a letter stating,

"I owe it to your friendship and to my affectionate regard for you, my dear Marquis, not to let you leave this country without carrying with you fresh marks of my attachment to you, and new expressions of the high sense I entertain of your military conduct and other important services in the course of the last campaign, although the latter are too well known to need testimony of my approbation."

High praise indeed from the Father of Our Country.  Lafayette came from very wealthy roots, joined the military at 14, as was family tradition, and after the American Revolution held various roles helping to form the tumultuous French government.  The day after the Bastille was stormed, he would be made commander-in-chief of the National Guard of France - an order keeping force comprised of urban militia units throughout France.  Not long after he would propose the symbol of the French tricolor, essentially the French national flag of today.  He held numerous French military titles through those conflicts, would be taken as a prisoner of war by the Austrians and the Prussians for 5 years until 1897 when his release was secured by Napoleon Bonaparte.  The Emperor of France would go on to offer Lafayette several high-ranking positions, but he refused them all, stating that he might have accepted them had they come from a democratic government.

He would continue a long and close friendship with George Washington until Washington's death in 1800, even naming his son Georges-Washington Lafayette.  Eventually Lafayette would also form a solid friendship with Thomas Jefferson exchanging many letters and gifts over years of correspondence.  In 1824, Lafayette was invited by President Monroe and Congress to visit the United States in honor of its pending 50th birthday.  He was greeted like a modern rock star.  Revolutionary War veterans greeted him, citizens rightly recognized him as a national hero the likes of which might not be seen again in their lifetimes.  His initial arrival in new York was celebrated with four non-stop days and his trip to Boston was lined with well-wishers.  This set the tone for Lafayette's entire trip, with towns and cities bound and determined to show their respect, enthusiasm, and gratitude to a man who had been essential to their liberty.  It was on this trip that Lafayette of course visited his old friend George Washington's grave and took some soil from Bunker Hill so that when he died, as he would in 1834, it could be sprinkled on his Parisian grave.  A true American icon in his belief and commitment to representational government, this sword would have no problems finding a place of prominence in any museum.

Elaborate Cased Exhibition Grade Silver and Gold Inlaid LeFaucheux Pinfire Revolvers

Moving from the historic, to the aesthetic brings us to this incredible pair of exhibition grade LeFaucheux pinfire revolvers.  The craftsmanship and valuable materials used in its construction would easily place it in museums that appreciate such art, such as The Met in New York City.  This is truly high art with a revolver as the artist's medium.  They shine as if they were jeweled and not a single detail was spared in their creation by Parisian gunsmith LeFaucheux, whose notable contributions to firearms also include the pinfire cartridge in 1835, one of the first self-contained cartridges, which in turn assisted in the design of breech-loading firearms.

The pistols themselves are exquisite.  Perhaps most noticeable are the revolvers' high polish blue finish on the barrels, cylinders, frames, and butt caps.  Said finish provides a myriad of vibrant blue, aqua, indigo, purple, and royal blue shades that provide a striking backdrop for the ornate and superbly executed gold and silver inlays which cover a large percentage of the guns.  The delicate lines of precious metal intertwine to form geometric designs, floral scroll work, and elegant borders.  The two-piece grips are fine antique ivory and end in a lavish inlaid silver band and a high polish butt cap that also includes more gold and silver inlay.

Even the case of the pistols is extraordinary!  Constructed of ebony and lined with striking red velvet, it has brass handles on its sides and its lid bears a brass inlay and monogram.  The compliment of tools was designed to match the set of pistols: the cap container has a blued, silver & gold inlaid insert, the oiler also wears the same high polish blue and has a silver and gold inlaid  applicator handle, and even the screw drivers are silver inlaid.   While one could dedicate several pages to adequately describe this stunning pieces, we'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Abraham Lincoln Hand Signed 1864 Presidential Appointment

Certainly, Abraham Lincoln is a man who needs no introduction to American readers.  Largely considered the greatest American President, his presence in American history is huge.  This document signed by Lincoln and his Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, appointed Henry S. Williams as an Additional paymaster for the volunteer forces on June 3, 1864. Our official description succinctly details the position:

"During the Civil War, the U.S. president had the power to appoint paymasters at a rate of one paymaster to every two regiments. Paymasters served under the command of a paymaster general, an officer with the rank of colonel. Under the colonel were two deputy paymasters with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Under the deputy paymasters were 25 deputies with the rank of major. Deputies or additional paymasters were appointed to temporary duty only."


Given Lincoln's steering of American history, anything authentic associated with the man is nearly guaranteed to take on new and important significance.  This genuine, original, hand signed document was not only graced by the man, but also has strong and undeniable ties to that bloodiest of American conflicts - the Civil War.  This is not only an extraordinary document of pure Americana, but also a museum-worthy piece of history of these United States.

Documented Historically Significant One of A Kind Charter Arms Undercover Revolver Used In the Attempted Assassination of Governor George Wallace of Alabama

Many people my age have seen the movie "Taxi Driver" starring Robert DeNiro and Jodie Foster, but few are aware of the effect it had on a pair of psychopaths in previous decades.  Most notably is the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981 by a man obsessed with Jodie Foster and determined to get her attention by shooting the leader of the free world.  Lesser known to later generations is the assassination attempt of Alabama Gov. George Wallace by loner Arthur Bremmer.

The aspiring assassin had also been motivated by the final scenes of "Taxi Driver" and was determined to gain an infamy for himself after feeling overwhelmingly lonely and anonymous.  His "story" has been well told thanks to a detailed, rambling, and horribly misspelled diary he began keeping nearly two months after his first relationship ended.  It was only three dates, but it would be hard to argue that the event did not add to his feelings of loneliness.

The journal begins, "Now I start my diary of my personal plot to kill by pistol either Richard Nixon or George Wallace." Feeling that killing Nixon would make him more famous, he began attending events where Nixon would be featured. Bremmer would often attend armed, but could not get close enough or when we could, was thwarted by tight security. Bremmer had delusions of grandeur and would write things in his diary like, "I'm as important as the start of WWI. I just need the little opening and a second of time."

Gov. George Wallace

Making an attempt on Reagan's life was proving impossible, so Brenner switched his attentions to divisive Gov. George Wallace.  Wallace was a segregationist/populist Democrat, known famously for his inaugural speech in 1963 that included the line,

"In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever."

Later that year, Wallace made headlines by personally blocking the doors at the University of Alabama to prevent the entry of black students, and again at four separate elementary schools in Huntsville, Alabama.  By the time of his assassination attempt, he was making his third run for the U.S. presidency.  He was a national figure and his would-be assassin was going to try to exploit that.  During the Democratic presidential primaries in May 1972, Wallace would be approached by Bremmer while shaking hands in a crowd.  He fired all five shots of .38 special ammunition, twice hitting the Governor in the chest and the abdomen, and wounding three bystanders: a state trooper, a Secret Service agent, and a campaign volunteer.  All shot would survive, but one of the bullets that struck Wallace would lodge in his spinal cord, permanently paralyzing him from the waist down.

Nobody won.  Wallace's presidential bid was all but over, even though he easily retained his place in the Governor's mansion.  The assassination attempt also cast doubts on his health during fourth and final run at the presidency in 1976.  Bremmer also gained nothing.  For one, it would forever be known as an "attempt,"  not a an actual assassination.  He did not get the infamy of Lee Harvey Oswald, John Wilkes Booth, or even Sirhan Sirhan.  In fact, it is doubtful he even became more well known than the movie character he so desperately tried to emulate.  Instead, he spent 35 years of his life in prison, though he has been out on parole since 2007.

Wallace's assassination is reportedly at the root of his change of heart toward segregation. In the late 70's, he became a born-again Christian, apologizing to African-American civil rights leaders.  Of his "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door," in 1979 he recanted by saying, "I was wrong.  Those days are over, and they ought to be over."  In 1995, he even wrote to his would-be assassin offering forgiveness and seeking reconciliation.

An important political figure for decades in the 20th century, the assassination attempt rocked the nation and was an important event in the lives of many Americans.  The revolver for sale isn't just a link to the history that happened that day, it IS a part of that history.  This small, unassuming, 5-shot, blued, walnut gripped, snub nose changed U.S. history that day.  It is accompanied by small library of documentation, police reports, hospital records, a nine page Report of investigation by the Prince George County Police, and the original sales receipt when the gun was sold to Bremmer.  Any museum would love to have this behind glass in their collection, but we offer to the collecting public.

Honorable Mention

The following two guns are also significant, but have been already been discussed in previous articles.

Outstanding One-of-A-Kind Serial Number 1 Swiss Model 1908 Mexican Contract Mondragon Semi-Automatic Rifle

When the NRA Firearms Museum titles their video on this model of rifle, "A National Firearms Museum Treasure Gun," the item clearly has an important significance.  One of the earliest semi-automatic rifles ever made, it is largely accepted as being the first to see wide military use.  It was used by Mexico, Switzerland, and nearly a dozen other countries.  Particularly of note is its use by the Germans in their aircraft during the Great War.  Before the advent of machine guns in aviary use, the rear seated soldier or those in observation balloons would be armed with these rifles, then dubbed the "Flyers self loading carbine model of 1915."  We don't often associate rifles with aerial combat, but this gun has the unique honor of that distinction.  The NRA's 1st Vice President and avid tank collector Allan D. Cors puts it best in the above linked video when he says, "you're witnessing firearms history at its finest."

The best part is Mr. Cors is speaking of the rifle in the video, which is a fine specimen and appears to be serial number 2756.  The Mondragon to be sold by Rock Island Auction Company this December is in excellent condition and is serial number one.  The rifle itself in this condition would make any collector happy, but the possibility of owning the very first of these historic rifles should have the attention of collectors and investors from around the world.

Documented "National Treasure" Factory Engraved and Inscribed Savage Model 1907 Semi-Automatic Pistol Presented To Buffalo Bill Cody By The Factory

We spoke at length in last week's article about this once-in-a-lifetime pistol, so we won't beat a dead horse.  However, to speak of museum quality pieces and omit this historic and direct tie to the prairie, Westward Expansion, and the Old West would be borderline unforgivable.  To read last week's article on the Model 1907 Savage pistol presented to Buffalo Bill Cody by the Savage factory, please click here.

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Each and every one of these guns could unquestionably placed be in a museum. They deserve it.  Their craftsmanship, innovation, history, and remarkable preservation have earned them that right.  While these are extraordinary examples of the quality in our December 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction, they are far from all-inclusive.  Give our online catalog a search today to see for yourselves.  Or, for more educational content on some incredible firearms, head over to our YouTube Channel and sit back while you hear all about them.

-written by Joel Kolander

Guns Close to Buffalo Bill

Few names conjure up images of the Wild West quicker than that of Buffalo Bill Cody.  Born less than 30 miles from where I sit,  Buffalo Bill needs no introduction to those familiar with the history of the Old West.  The Union scout, Pony Express rider, Civil War soldier, Medal of Honor recipient, and buffalo hunter, turned showman in 1883, founding his "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" show and taking it on tour across the country and even into Britain and Europe on several occasions.  It is speculated by several historians that he was one of, if not the most, recognizable celebrity at the end of very end of the 1800s.

At his shows he brought all the romance and violence of the West to life.  There were horsemen from numerous cultures, shooters of incomparable skill such as Annie Oakley, riding roping, races, and reenactments of scenes depicting the Pony Express, stagecoach robberies, and Indian attacks on a pioneer's cabin.  Other big names helped draw the crowds too, such as Sitting Bull and around 20 of his braves.  All of these activities were performed by people with real skills and to audiences in urban environments, it must have seemed as if the West had come to life right before their eyes.  When it was all said and done, Buffalo Bill  owned a massive ranch in Nebraska with an 18-room mansion, had performed for royalty of several nations and in the Roman amphitheater, helped found the city of Cody, Wyoming, supported the rights of women and Native Americans, and eventually had a football team named after him.  Not too shabby.


With a man so associated with hunting, scouting, the plains, the Old West, Native Americans, sharp shots, and the Civil War, it should come as no surprise that there were more than few guns in the man's life and in the lives of those around him.  In fact, the book "The Peacemakers" by R.L. Wilson is dedicated to detailing Cody's collection.  Guns of Buffalo Bill and one of his performers are coming up for auction in Rock Island Auction Company's December 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction.  Here's a look at what will be crossing the auction block.

Documented "National Treasure" Factory Engraved and Inscribed Savage Model 1907 Semi-Automatic Pistol Presented To Buffalo Bill Cody By The Factory

Given to Cody in 1911, this Special Grade M1907 Savage in .32 caliber is certainly a switch from the high-use, rough and tumble revolver one may have pictured Buffalo Bill using.  However, much publicity was gained by Savage thanks to Cody's endorsement and praise of the little shooter.  In fact, Cody went on to purchase several more of the pistols engraved and gave them as gifts.  The pistol's provenance is well-known and can be impeccably traced all the way back to its 1911 Savage factory ledger.  It has been featured in numerous publications and was once on loan to the Buffalo Bill Museum inside the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming.  Given Buffalo Bill's place in American history, one would expect to find any gun with his association to be on exhibit.  Finding one available for public sale, just may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The pistol, like most of Buffalo Bill's guns, shows some signs of wear and use, but they are minuscule compared to some of his other firearms which saw hard use.  It still wears 95% of its original factory blue finish and still shows signs of bright casehardening on the trigger.  The engraving, which Wilson calls, "superbly done," is crisp and sharp, as is the ever important inscription on the backstrap that reads, "COL. W.F. CODY."  Setting this gun even further apart are the mother-of-pearl grips that still glimmer with iridescence.

The historical significance of this pistol is difficult to overestimate.  First of all, Buffalo Bill Cody is a staple of American history and folk lore.  He introduced literally millions of Americans and Europeans to the adventure and hardships of the West through his showmanship, talent, and hard work.  Also, as mentioned earlier, most firearms owned by Buffalo Bill have found their way into museums and are not available on the private market.  Furthermore, even those pistols that are in museums, R.L. Wilson in his post-examination letter writes, "...Cody owned very few automatic pistols, and Savage no. 33177 is the only one known to the writer in any collection or museum."  Add to those rarities, its excellent condition, and you have a combination of traits that sends collectors scrambling: rarity, originality, historical significance, and high condition.

Two Sequentially Numbered Smith & Wesson Victory Model Double Action Revolvers with Ken Maynard Inscriptions, Belt, and Holsters 

One man that was featured in "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" show was Ken Maynard.  His career started as a young man working in circuses and carnivals training to become a horseman.  It wouldn't take long for his skill to receive notice.  Soon he was working in rodeos, becoming a rodeo champion, and eventually earning a spot performing horse riding tricks and feats that were a staple of the Buffalo Bill shows.  Horse riders from a vast array of cultures would often parade to start each show showing their uniforms and weapons, and giving audiences a taste of some "exotic" customs.  Trick riding and racing were also important parts of the show, so a man of Maynard's talents would have been a valuable addition.  Look at the following posters for Buffalo Bill's Wild West to whether or not horsemanship would have been critical to the show and to audiences.

Maynard's career would then take him to Hollywood to be a "singing cowboy," earn him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and return to him work at circuses, state fairs, and rodeos before alcoholism shortened his career and ruined his finances.

The revolvers are a pair of consecutively numbered Smith & Wesson Victory Model DA revolvers.  The Victory models are the 5-screw variety and they have been highly customized.  Perhaps most noticeably are the jeweled polish applied to the hammer and trigger.  Also distinct are the added raised ribs with their checkerboard engraving and blade front sights, the smooth grips, a small "P" stamped into the left side of the frame between the cylinder and the hammer, and of course the inscriptions of "KEN - MAYNARD" on each butt.

The pair of revolvers also come with an exceptional holster rig made by G.S. Garcia Company, one of most notable leather shops in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Guadalupe S. Garcia was a master saddler, leather carver, silversmith, and engraver.  His vision of quality involved him at all stages of the business and creative processes.  Even as a burgeoning business man at the age of 19, he quickly gained a reputation as a master craftsman, in part thanks to his previous apprenticeships.

Business would grow and expand as demand for his beautiful and quality products increased.  Eventually Garcia would hire on only the most talented of craftsmen to help make his saddles, spurs, bridles, bits and mouthpieces, chaps, rope, and other assorted leather and horse hair goods.  In 1904 Garcia made a masterpiece saddle for the World's Fair in St. Louis.  It was unimaginable and hands down took the gold medal.  That same year, it was placed in the Lewis & Clark Exposition in Portland, OR, where it won its second gold medal - a feat never before accomplished or matched since.  It is best described in the words of Howard Hickson,

"He decided to craft a saddle to take to the World's Fair. He and his workers assembled the finest saddle ever made. Using flawless leather, they dyed it black, carved in American Beauty roses, and then adorned it with gold, silver, and diamonds. It was truly a leather throne.  Across the rear of the fork were several $20 gold pieces with likenesses of President Theodore Roosevelt and two governors of Nevada, John Sparks and William Nye. Other gold pieces were carved with the famous three fairy horses with diamonds set in their eyes. An engraved eagle was set into the back of the cantle. It was a leather masterpiece and it lived up to its creator's expectation by winning two gold medals. It was the best in world."

Does his quality, craftsmanship, skill, and artistic touch need any further endorsement?  The man was a master and this holster rig is no exception to his work.

The rig has space for twelve cartridges and carries two highly decorated "Mexican loop" holsters.  Also bearing Maynard's name, "KEN" has been tooled into the leather on the belt above each of one of the holsters.  This is some beautiful leatherwork that is just begging to be worn again.




There you have it friends. Each item is an exciting collectible in its own right and associated to someone considered "the best of the best" at what they do.  Both also have ties to William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, one of the most recognizable figures of the Old West and a international symbol of the era.  If items like this get your heart pumping be sure to search the rest of our catalog for all sorts of fascinating, historic, beautiful, and expertly created firearms, bladed weapons, and much more.  It can be found at www.rockislandauction.com




-Written by Joel Kolander









SOURCES:

http://www.gbcnv.edu/hickson/Garcia.html

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0562770/bio

http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/63/lid/1064

http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/63/lid/3504