Theodore Roosevelt's Hunting Knife

Lot 1020: Family Descendant Documented Historic J. Russell & Co. Hunting Knife Masterpiece Presented to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt by James W. Gerard with Elaborate Platinum Raised Relief and Gold Sculpted Eagle Head Handle by Dreicer & Co. A Nearly Priceless Piece of American History

To say that Teddy Roosevelt is a well-known, beloved, and important character in American history is an understatement. Though fame tends to find perspective when one's face has been immortalized with granite in the Badlands of South Dakota. TR was admired across the nation. He had a robust personality, gave profound speeches, lived his beliefs, and changed the face of this country forever with his efforts in wildlife and habitat conservation. Whether leading the legendary Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War, embarking on prolific hunting adventures, offering "Square Deals" to his constituents, surviving an assassination attempt on his life, winning the Nobel Peace Prize, or beginning construction of the Panama Canal, the tales of Teddy Roosevelt's life have become part of the fabric of this nation's great history.

Roosevelt in October 1910

It should come as no surprise that a knife once owned by President Roosevelt also has more than a few tales to tell. Its origin begins in 1909 when TR received this national treasure from his good friend New York Supreme Court Justice James W. Gerard. Both men served in the Spanish-American War, but upon leaving the service found opposite ends of the political spectrum. They likely became acquainted in the New York political scene when Roosevelt served as the New York governor for two years and Gerard sat on the Supreme Court bench. The story of the knife's presentation is recalled best in the words of U.S. Marshal Thomas D. McCarthy, whom Justice Gerard had asked present the hunting knife to Roosevelt with the following instructions, 

"'Be sure to get a coin, a penny from the President when you give him the knife,' the Justice told me. 'Remember the old superstition that a gift of that sort cuts friendship unless a small payment is made for it.'

     When I gave Colonel Roosevelt the knife I asked him for the penny. He didn't have one in his pocket, neither did his secretary Mr. Loeb, neither did Senator Chamberlain who was present. So I volunteered: 'Here, Mr. President. I'll lend you a cent.' He took it and put it in his vest pocket.

     After ten minutes of conversation during which time he gave me an autographed photograph for myself and a book for my father who always admired him, the President suddenly reached into his pocket, withdrew the coin and said: 'Mr. McCarthy, it gives me great pleasure to hand you in return for Judge Gerard's gift this one cent coin.' Ever since then I have prized the photograph and the book Mr. Roosevelt gave me is one of the most cherished possessions of my father. And I always have been proud of the fact that a President of the United States owed me a penny."

The knife was considered an extremely lavish gift and wore a 1909 price tag of $1,250, about $33,266 in 2016 dollars. It was such a send off to the nation's youngest president, that it warranted national news coverage. In Rock Island, Illinois, the city's newspaper at that time was the Rock Island Argus. On Thursday, March 10, 1909 they printed at article on the sixth page entitled, "Fine Knife for Roosevelt."  It reads as follows:

"Gem Studded Hunting Weapon Presented to Ex-President by a Friend.

One of the handsomest of the presents that have been pouring in upon former President Roosevelt from friends in every part of the United States who have wished to give him some token of their friendship to carry with him on his African hunting trip is a hunting knife given him by Justice James W. Gerard of the supreme bench of New York city, who is an old friend of the ex-president. The weapon is a masterpiece of jeweler's workmanship, the hilt being wrought in gold and platinum and ornamented with jewels. The top of the handle is carved in the shape of an eagle's head of solid gold. The eagle's eyes are garnets.

On one side of the hilt beneath the eagle's head is depicted a forest scene, with two American Indians behind a birch tree, one of them standing, rifle in hand, the other crouching. The tree is done in gold upon a platinum background. On the reverse side is set the arms of the United States, surmounting a wishbone and intertwining tree boughs in gold. Below is the monogram 'T.R.' The background on this side is also of platinum. Two bears' heads extending out from the handle form the guard at the base of the blade, which is of the finest steel and engraved as follows: 'Presented to Theodore Roosevelt by His Friend, James W. Gerard.' The knife is nearly a foot long and is said to have cost $1,250."

One item of note not covered in the Argus article is that of the knife's creator. That honor belongs to two separate companies: J. Russell and Co. of Green River, New York whose stamp is on the blade, and Dreicer & Co., whose name is printed on the handle's edge. It should be of significant note to collectors that Dreicer & Co, despite being in business only from 1904 - 1923, were a top jewelry retailer and a direct rival to such well-known names as Fabergé. With the split of duties for the blade and the highly ornamented handle, it is unknown which shop performed the acid etched inscription.

The knife has been passed down through the Roosevelt family for the last 107 years. It has never been made available to the public prior to this sale. When Theodore died in 1919, the knife went to his second wife, Edith (his first wife, Alice, passed in 1884). Edith in turn bequeathed the knife to her eldest daughter Ethel Roosevelt Derby. Mrs. Derby intended to present the knife as a wedding gift to her granddaughter in 1976. To secure the knife during her cross-country travels from Oyster Bay to Seattle, Mrs. Derby kept the knife in her purse. However, this was cause for alarm at the security checkpoint in John F. Kennedy International Airport, in New York City. Upon seeing this incredible knife and hearing its story, security allowed the knife to be transported by the pilot in the cockpit for the duration of the flight. Upon landing, it was returned to Mrs. Derby who presented the knife to the couple several days later at their wedding. Thrilled with such a historic and beautiful gift rife with family history, the couple immediately used it to cut their wedding cake.

The stories this knife can tell after scant more than a century are enough to endear it to the heart of any collector or history enthusiast. Even without the tales that have truly given this item a personality all its own, its provenance alone elevates its status to that of National Treasure.  A hunting knife given to arguably the greatest conservationist and one of the most well-known hunters of the 20th century? What could be more perfect representation? Rock Island Auction Company is honored to present this perfect slice of American history to the public for the first time in its existence, and cannot wait to hear of the new adventures in which it partakes.

- Written by Joel R. Kolander

Sources:

"Fine Knife for Roosevelt." Rock Island Argus 11 Mar. 1909: 6. Print.

Herbert, Thomas. Theodore Roosevelt: Typical American, His Life and Work. United States: L.H. Walter, 1919. 341-42. Print.

The Golden Luger: A Gift Between Two Nazis Who Changed History

Lot 1489: Exceptional and Historic Nazi 1939 Mauser Factory Engraved and Gold Plated Presentation Luger Semi-Automatic Pistol Given to the Nazi Ambassador Franz von Papen by Foreign Minister of the Reich Joachim von Ribbentrop with Authentication from a Mauser Factory Consultant

History is a funny thing. As hard as we humans try to document it, the facts of the matter only occasionally prevail, rarely survive, and are often up to interpretation. Much like human memory itself, we often serve as storytellers, making our own omissions and exaggerations instead of acting as stern and fact-obsessed archivists. Each camp has its own validity. The "archivists" often state that the history speaks for itself and needs no embellishment, while the "storytellers" often excuse their inaccuracies by saying it makes the history approachable, relatable, and easier to imagine those fantastic moments that stitch together the tapestry of our past.

Knowing what we do about the human memory, and our suspect ability to accurately document history, it should come as no surprise that history is often told selectively. Things are attributed to more famous names in history, while lesser known names lie in their wake, largely forgotten. This is an article about two of those lesser known names and a brilliant Luger pistol that passed between them.





The Luger itself is a Mauser manufacture pistol that began its life rather uneventfully. According to accompanying documents written by Dr. Rolf Gminder, a consultant to the Mauser-Werkes factory who had personally viewed the pistol, it was originally one of any number of Lugers in the existing stock of police guns. However, this gun was selected for something more. It began with the highest quality engraving Germany had to offer. The typical "oak leaf and acorn" pattern takes on a distinct variation with more flowing vinous scroll work and geometric shapes than typically seen on the more deep relief engraved Walther PP and PPK pistols that often served as Nazi presentation pistols.

The dark walnut grips have also been carved with the oak and acorn pattern, but while the right grip shows fine checkering in its center, the left grip bears a presentation plaque that reads,

Seiner Exzellenz

Herrn Botshafter Franz von Papen

in tiefster Verehrung
am 11ten November 1940

überreicht von Joachim von Ribbentrop

Aussenminister 
des Deutchen Reiches

That translates to:

His Excellency

the Honorable Ambassador Franz von Papen

in deepest dedication
on 11th November 1940

given by Joachim von Ribbentrop

Foreign Minister of the German Reich

Many presentation arms leave a mystery about who presented the gun and who received it. Sometimes they are decorated with no inscription at all, while others only bear the cryptic monogram of their recipient. This pistol leaves no such riddles and instead offers us an excellent starting point to explore who these men were, what they did, and the background of this extravagant Luger.

Franz von Papen

1936 portrait of Papen

Thankfully, Franz von Papen is not one of those names lost to time or a German military man of whom little information remains. That said, his deeds place him far from a spot of honor in history. In the simplest terms, Papen was a politician. Born in 1879  to a wealthy family, he entered the military early on, and by the Great War was already a military attaché in Washington. However, at the behest of the U.S. Government he was recalled in 1915 after being implicated as a spy and saboteur. After serving the rest of the war for Germany, he entered politics and found his true calling. He served in the Prussian Parliament for 11 years, before being surprisingly appointed Chancellor in 1932 by President Paul von Hindenburg, who had been undeniably influenced by General Kurt von Schleicher, an old friend of Papen's who had great influence with the German president.

Once in a position of power, Papen achieved some impressive feats considering the near-complete lack of support he had within the Reichstag. Instead he achieved his changes through authoritarian rule. In an effort to gain the support of the Nazi party, he repealed the ban on their paramilitary Sturmabteilung (SA). He also had Germany's debt under the Treaty of Versailles essentially erased. In this trend of removing previous laws, Papen also staged a coup and deposed the Social Democratic government of Prussia using police, and declared himself its leader. These authoritarian measures are marked by many as setting the stage for the rise of the Third Reich, a charge echoed in his Nuremberg trial.

Taken from a larger photo, Papen can be seen
sitting in the back seat of Hitler's vehicle.

After the coup, he called for a national election and was surprised when he still had no support from the Reichstag. Instead, the Nazis seized the moment and gained 123 seats, giving them a majority in the governing body. Papen planned to dissolve the democracy, and even had advance permission from Hindenburg. However, the Nazis had other ideas. Rolling with the tide, Papen then tried to work with the Nazis, but found them unbending and so resigned as chancellor after the November 1932 elections. After some major politicking and maneuvering between President Hindenburg, Gen. Schleicher, and Papen, with no one able to firm up support from the Nazis and the Social Democrats, Papen worked relentlessly to undermine his former friend Schleicher to give Adolf Hitler the chancellorship while he served as vice chancellor. It would not take long for Hitler and new Reichstag President Herman Göring to marginalize Papen and his office, eventually executing "The Night of Long Knives," a purging of opposing political and military ideologies that threatened Hitler's new found power. Papen would survive the event, later serving as an ambassador to Austria and Turkey before being captured by the Allies in April of 1945. He was prosecuted at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial, found not guilty of the charges of "conspiracy to prepare aggressive war" and "conspiracy to commit crimes against peace," served eight years hard labor by a West German court, and was finally released & fined in 1949 on appeal. His memoirs were published in 1952 and he died in 1969.

Largely due to his Nuremberg Trial, Papen is often remembered as paving the way for Nazi power, facilitating the annexation of Austria, and being well aware of Nazi ideology as he did so.

Joachim von Ribbentrop

If Papen paved the way for the Nazi party to take power in Germany, then Joachim von Ribbentrop turned that paved highway into the Autobahn. He too served in the Great War, as a hussar on the Eastern front, but afterward he resumed the relatively normal life of a sparkling wine (Sekt) salesman until he became independently wealthy by marriage. He met Hitler in 1932 as a businessman thanks to an introduction from a fellow former hussar, and shortly thereafter he and his wife joined the NSDAP (Nazi Party). He entered the political arena by offering to serve as a representative between Hitler and his old battle buddy, Papen. Ribbentrop was not liked by many Nazis: he was a flatterer, a yes man, had no political experience, married into his fortune, and even the nobility of his name (the "von") had come from an aunt that Ribbentrop had convinced to formally adopt him for that purpose alone. Despite his lack of the "proper" credentials in the eyes of many Nazis, Ribbentrop would serve as Hitler's chief adviser on foreign affairs, and would soon prove his worth.

In short, Ribbentrop would put into play numerous policies that placated the world and gave Nazi Germany numerous advantages in the years leading up to World War II. Here is a brief list of his diplomatic agreements and similar achievements.

• 1934 - Helped quell France's protests against Germany's request to re-arm itself after the Great War. He also visited England and Rome to hasten any sanctions from those countries. In turn, Hitler promotes him to "Reich Minister Ambassador-Plenipotentiary at Large."
• 1935 - Negotiates the Anglo-German Naval Agreement (AGNA), which permanently limited the Kriegsmarine to 35% of the total tonnage of the Royal Navy, far beyond the limits set in the Versailles Treaty. The British expectation was that this would limit German military capacity, while the Germans expected it to strengthen a desired alliance between the two countries and against France and the Soviet Union. Britain did not consult with France or Italy prior ratifying the AGNA.
• 1935 - Arranges for good will visits between groups of World War I veterans. By sending German veterans abroad and accepting foreign veterans on German soil, a "never again" spirit was portrayed and did much to alleviate suspicions against Germany and its wish to re-arm itself.
• 1936 - The Anti-Comintern Pact is signed with Japan, essentially forming an alliance between the two countries should one of them be attacked by the Soviet Union. Italy would join the pact in 1937, while Poland declined. This alliance was especially unusual given Germany's previous policies of allying itself with China and its general distrust of Japan.
• 1936-1938 - Spent time unintentionally and permanently fouling German relations with England. He was called by various Britains: pompous, conceited, stupid, impossible, not too intelligent, insufferable, absent (which also earned him the nickname "The Wandering Aryan"), a stupid ass, and also managed to personally insult King George VI.
• 1938 - Ribbentrop promoted to Foreign Minister, symbolizing a German shift from cautious diplomacy seeker toward an aggressive war-time nation.
• 1939 - Pact of Steel is made with Italy. The two will come to one another's aid in case of war.
• 1939 - The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Also known as the German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact, it assured non-aggression between the USSR and Germany. but broke the Anti-Comintern Pact of 1936 by signing a deal with the communists. In no uncertain terms, this was Ribbentrop's crowning achievement and left little standing in the way for Hitler to attack Poland. This was handy since Ribbentrop's extreme bullying of Polish foreign diplomats all but ensured that Poland would have to be conquered to relinquish the territories that Germany desired.
• 1940 - German-Japanese Pact is signed to replace the Anti-Comintern Pact. Ribbentrop sends a telegram to Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet Foreign Minister, stating that the alliance was for protection against the United States and from not the Soviet Union.

Despite being hated by his fellow Nazis and nearly every foreign diplomat he ever met, Ribbentrop
almost single-handedly managed to stall the entire world from acting against Germany as they prepared to conquer Europe. This is quite an accomplishment considering that the ink on the Versailles Treaty had only dried 20 years prior and the memory of the Great War still hung fresh in the mind of every nation it touched. After the war, Ribbertrop also was a defendant at the Nuremberg Trials, but unlike Papen, he was convicted on four counts and sentenced to death. He had been charged with crimes against peace, deliberately planning a war of aggression, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Because Göring had committed suicide before he could be hung, Ribbentrop was the first of the defendants to have his death sentence carried out.

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One aspect of the relationship between these two comrades in arms remains for a dedicated collector or historian to investigate. This pistol is dated on the grip as presented on the November 11, 1940. However, there is a documented squabble between the two men that took place sometime in, or just after, April 1939, when Papen was the newly appointed Ambassador to Turkey. It turns out that Papen, the former Chancellor, felt he should be able to take his communications directly to Hitler instead of through Ribbentrop, something he was accustomed to when he served as Ambassador to Austria. It has been written that this spat ended the friendship that extended back nearly two decades.

Had the two men reconciled by 1940, even if only out of political necessity? Was their falling out misrepresented as more serious than it was? It is possible, though not entirely plausible, that the pistol was already in the works when Papen was Ambassador to Austria. After all, even though he was dismissed as the Austrian Ambassador on February 4, 1938, he had arranged the February 12 meeting at Berchtesgaden between Hitler and Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg that eventually led to the Anschluss, the annexation of Austria by Germany, which was signed into law on March 13. This event pleased Hitler greatly.

However, from just prior to the 1938 Anschluss until the 1940 presentation seems like an exceptionally long turnaround time for a standard police pistol that had only to be embellished. It is perhaps more likely that the pistol was ordered to commemorate Papen's new position as the Ambassador to Turkey which he assumed on April 29, 1939. This makes much more sense since it is also known that Ribbentrop had been lobbying for Papen to receive that position since losing the Austrian ambassadorship. Given the dates between Papen's new position and timeframe of the fight, he could not have held the position long prior to their rift.  Six months is a much more plausible timeframe for a finely embellished, presentation Luger.

Despite being two men rarely heard of outside of German history or World War II educational settings, they had quite a profound impact on their country and the world. One paved the way for the Nazis to come to power, while the other pacified country after country in the name of peace, all the while preparing for war. The fact that these two men were brothers in arms who went on to be high ranking Nazis is fascinating enough. When you consider that these same individuals played huge roles in amplifying the power of Nazi Germany, and are both listed on the same classic German pistol, a true treasure of history exists. Their names may not be as infamous, but their significance cannot be discounted.

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This historic well-preserved German artifact is just one of the dozens of incredible German military pieces in our April Premiere Firearms Auction. From the incredible rarities, prototypes, and high condition arms from The Robert "The Bear" Bretherton Collection (please see below video), to the incredibly well preserved uniforms and helmets in the Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection, this auction will have it all.  Other highlights include a Krieghoff Second model FG42 machine gun, an extremely rare M.Kb.42(H) assault rifle - a predecessor to the StG44, a cased presentation copy of Mein Kampf covered completely in Amber tile and silver furniture, an authentic, original uniform from the Fallschirm-Panzer "Herman Göring" Division, a Nazi Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (with oak leaves) war medal, the entire evolution of the Walther P38, and a presentation Walther PP given to SS Untersturmfuhrer Maximilian Grabner. It's a fantastic time to be a collector!








-Written by Joel R. Kolander




SOURCES:


Bloch, Michael. Ribbentrop. New York: Crown, 1992. Print.

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Franz-von-Papen

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Joachim-von-Ribbentrop

http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/67/lid/1489

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

An Unveiling

You made it.

You waited the week for the Unveiling and now your patience will be rewarded.  Appropriate for this time of year filled with harvest and fruition, prepare to feast your eyes on a absolute bounty of Colts.  Revolvers, long guns, and early semi-autos are all here in spectacular form.  Pre-Civil War revolvers mingle with rare cutaway pistols.  Remarkable cased and engraved special order pieces compete with presentation arms to be the most exquisite.  It's all here.  You've been patient.  Now enjoy.

First we'll show you the guns that you've seen sneak peeks of all this week on our social media pages.

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9.23.2014

Preview photo

Lot 1274: Rare and Extraordinary London Cased Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver

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9.26.2014

Preview Photo

Lot 3200: Exceptional Post-Civil War Civilian Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver

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9.27.2014

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Lot 3278: Extraordinary 1885 Production U.S. Colt Single Action Cavalry Model Revolver with Factory Letter

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9.28.2014

Preview Photo

Lot 1273: Exceptionally Rare Squareback Colt Texas Holster Model No. 5 Paterson Revolver with a More Astonishing Rare and Significant Paterson Holster

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9.29.2014

Preview Photo

Lot 3180: Extremely Rare Factory Engraved Colt Paterson No. 2 Belt Model Revolver with Eight Inlaid Silver Bands

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9.30.2014 (also shown on 9.23)

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Rare and Extraordinary London Cased Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver

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10.1.2014

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Lot 3186: Ultra-Rare Documented Colonel Colt Presentation Triple Cased Set of Percussion Revolvers

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10.2.2014 (also shown on 9.30)

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Rare and Extraordinary London Cased Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver

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10.3.2014

Lot 3179: Extremely Rare and Desirable Colt D Company Walker Model Percussion Revolver

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Also on 10.3.2014

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Lot 3176: Near New Civil War U.S. Contract Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver

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10.4.2014

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Lot 1311: Outstanding Henry Nettleton Sub-Inspected U.S. Colt Single Action Cavalry Model Revolver with Factory Letter

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10.5.2014 (also 9.26)

Photo preview

Exceptional Post-Civil War Civilian Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver

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Now for some of the pieces NOT used as teasers. 

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better.

Lot 1278: Deluxe London Cased Set of Colt Deluxe Gustave Young Engraved Model 1855 Sidehammer Pocket Revolvers -A) Engraved Colt Model 2 1855 Root Percussion Revolver

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Lot 3192: Spectacular Cased Colonel Samuel Colt Presentation Colt Model 1862 Police Percussion Revolver

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Lot 1540: Rare Documented Colt Factory Engraved Officers Model Double Action Target .22 Revolver with Pearl Grips and Box

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Lot 3523: Outstanding Very Early 1913 Production Colt Government Model Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter

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Lot 1323: Outstanding Pre-War Factory Engraved Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Carved Pearl Grips and Factory Letter

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Lot 1277: Magnificent and Historically Significant Recently Discovered Deluxe Panel Scene Factory Engraved Presentation Colt Model 1855 Revolving Shotgun with Extraordinary Relief Carved Stocks and Presentation Case

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Lot 1547: Extraordinary Historic Colt Factory Engraved Presentation Grade Officers Model Target Revolver Dedicated to NRA President Lt. Colonel L. M. Rumsey Jr. with Extraordinary Shooting Medal Display

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Would you believe it if we said that wasn't all of them?  The assemblage of Colts in RIAC's December 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction is simply stunning and goes far beyond the handful of guns shown throughout the last week and in today's post.  Already there are nearly 600 Colts in this sale, over 230 Winchesters, and excellent selections of Henry rifles, Savages, Walthers, swords and other edged weapons, Parker Bros shotguns, Smith & Wessons, Springfields, Lugers, and more.

Want to see more?  Head over to the RIAC webpage and see our Photo Preview, which will grow steadily until the Online Catalog is available.  If you're as serious as we are about collecting, we know these Colts will have your tongue wagging.  They were definitely worth the wait.