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Rock Island Auction Company

Rock Island Auction Company

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/Auctions...
/Premier Firearms Auction #82

Premier Firearms Auction #82

May 14, 2021 to May 16, 2021

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/Auctions...
/Premier Firearms Auction #82

Premier Firearms Auction #82

May 14, 2021 to May 16, 2021

This auction has ended.

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Auction Time Summary

Preview DayThursday, May 13th10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

SESSION IFriday, May 14th9 AMLots 1 through 726

SESSION IISaturday, May 15th9 AMLots 1000 through 1718

SESSION IIISunday, May 16th9 AMLots 3000 through 3758

To Be Sold At Auction

Preview Day Thursday May 13th
Open at 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

SESSION I - Friday, May 14th
TIME: Commencing at 9 a.m. selling between Lots 1 and 726
SESSION II - Saturday, May 15th
TIME: Commencing at 9 a.m. selling between Lots 1000 and 1718
SESSION III - Sunday, May 16th
TIME: Commencing at 9 a.m. selling between Lots 3000 and 3758

Phone: 1-309-797-1500

Email: [email protected]

Rock Island Auction Company
7819 42 Street West
Rock Island, Illinois, 61201, USA

Phone: 1-309-797-1500

Toll-Free: 1-800-238-8022

Email: [email protected]

Rock Island Auction Company - Rock Island

7819 42nd Street West

Rock Island, IL, 61201, USA

Page 1 of 1

Showing 1-4 of 4 results

Exceptionally Rare, Iconic, Inscribed, Deluxe Tiffany & Co. Embellished Smith & Wesson .32 Double Action Third Model Revolver with Factory Letter

Tiffany Smith & Wesson .32 Double Action Revolver

From the 1880s to the early 1900s, the self-described “American multinational luxury jewelry and specialty retailer” Tiffany & Co. created spectacular and expensive highly embellished deluxe handguns and rifles for America’s leading firearms manufacturers such as Colt, Winchester and Smith & Wesson. The “rich and elaborate decorations” on handguns alone set a customer back $50.00 to $300.00 or about $1,400.00 to $8,600.00 in today’s money. The number of surviving Tiffany firearms remains unknown, but studies clearly show that S&W benefited the most from Tiffany’s world renowned master craftsmanship. Tiffany S&Ws are arguably the rarest and most desirable of the late 19th century American high art firearms, and offered here is one of those rare prizes in firearms art collecting that help define a private or public collection. The largest public display of Tiffany embellished 19th century arms can be viewed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Gallery 372. The lion’s share of the display was donated and/or sold by Dr. Gerald Klaz. Tiffany marked each piece they made on special order. This grip is signed “TIFFANY CO/STERLING/M.” The letter “M” denotes Tiffany products which were made from 1873 to 1891. The hand hammered silver one piece grip features relief inscriptions and relief swirl patterns. The inscription is the following: the number “21” on the butt and the date “NOV. 30th/1883” in the finger grooves, possibly noting the milestone 21st birthday of the original owner. The serial number “36365” appears on the cylinder, barrel and barrel latch. The accompanying factory letter lists this fine and highly sought after piece of 19th century firearms art with a 3 ½ inch barrel, nickel finish and checkered hard rubber grips when shipped on October 6, 1882 and delivered to M.W. Robinson Co. of New York City. Provenance: The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection

Documentation

Antique

Caliber / Gauge: 32 S&W

Price Realized:

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Spectacular, Documented Cased Horacio Acevedo Relief Chiseled, Engraved, and Gold Inlaid Exhibition Quality Post-War Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Magnificent Sterling Silver Tiffany Style Grip

Horacio Acevedo Embellished Colt Single Action Army Revolver

Manufactured in 1968 and subsequently highly embellished by Horacio Acevedo. Throughout the years Acevedo worked for multiple firms including for Colt through special commission projects and owning his own family operated business. This "extremely elaborate example of metal worker's art" is pictured and identified in R.L. Wilson's "The Book of Colt Firearms" on page 277 and "The Colt Engraving Book Volume II" on pages 706 and 707" and on the covers of the December 1971 issue of "Guns" and the July 1972 issue of "Gun World." Included is a copy of a letter from R.L. Wilson indicating the revolver was to be showcased in "the Colt Engraving Book." According to Wilson, "Grips and engraving by Horacio Acevedo, and the complete project was produced by Thomas Haas. The Tiffany revolver is recognized as one of the finest achievements of Acevedo, a versatile craftsman of considerable talent and experience. Reportedly 1200 hours were devoted to creating this distinctive revolver" (see "The Colt Engraving Book Vol. II" page 706). By far the most stunning feature is the Tiffany style grip. Made of solid silver and featuring "over ten ounces of nearly pure gold," the grip is simply a marvel of post-war firearms artistry. The grip is decorated with gold overlays of a Native American on horseback on the left side and a U.S. cavalry officer riding a rearing horse on the right side, and a three dimensional buttcap depicting a gold eagle clutching an enameled Federal shield. At the top of the grip is a relief Statue of Liberty. The remainder of the revolver is highly decorated with elaborate chiseled floral scrollwork in gold along with magnificent chiseled Western themed panels adorning the barrel, cylinder, recoil shield and loading gate. These panels include wolves chasing cattle and a Native American stalking a wagon train on the barrel, Native American scenes on the recoil shield and loading gate, and various Western frontier animals on the cylinder flats. Ahead of the flush gold Colt Hartford barrel address is a relief gold eagle. According to Wilson, Acevedo used three quarters of a pound of 24 karat gold for the inlays. Comes with an older leather bound case that is refitted with gold tooled leather and rose velvet lining. Provenance: R.Q. Sutherland, J.B. Solley III and Enrique Guerra collections

Documentation

Has Box

Curio and Relic

Caliber / Gauge: 357 magnum

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Extremely Rare Tiffany Shipped and Deluxe Embellished Smith & Wesson .32 Safety Hammerless 1st Model Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter

Tiffany Smith & Wesson 32 Safety Hammerless Revolver

From the 1880s to the early 1900s, the self-described “American multinational luxury jewelry and specialty retailer” Tiffany & Co. created spectacular and expensive highly embellished deluxe handguns and rifles for America’s leading firearms manufacturers such as Colt, Winchester and Smith & Wesson. The “rich and elaborate decorations” on handguns alone set a customer back $50.00 to $300.00 or about $1,400.00 to $8,600.00 in today’s money. The number of surviving Tiffany firearms remain unknown, but studies clearly show that S&W benefited the most from Tiffany’s world renowned master craftsmanship. Tiffany S&Ws are arguably the rarest and most desirable of the late 19th century American high art firearms, and offered here is one of those rare prizes in firearms art collecting that help define a private or public collection. The largest public display of Tiffany embellished 19th century arms can be viewed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Gallery 372. The lion’s share of the display was donated and/or sold by Dr. Gerald Klaz. Tiffany marked each piece they made on special order. The sterling silver grip on this revolver features fine etched Art Nouveau style floral scrollwork. The grip is signed “TIFFANY & CO./10076M7806/STERLING.” The numbers refer to the pattern and order and the letter “M” denotes Tiffany products which were made from 1873 to 1891. The etching extends to the rear of the frame with the original owners initials “P.D.O.” amongst the embellishment on the left side. The serial number “23990” appears on the cylinder and barrel. The accompanying factory letter lists this fine and highly sought after piece of 19th century firearms art with a 3 ½ inch barrel, nickel finish and checkered black hard rubber grips when shipped on October 30, 1889 and delivered directly to Tiffany & Co. of New York City. Provenance: The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection

Documentation

Antique

Caliber / Gauge: 32 S&W

Price Realized:

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Exceptionally Rare, Iconic, Documented Deluxe Tiffany & Co. Embellished Smith & Wesson .38 Safety Hammerless 3rd Model Double Action Revolver Exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago with Factory Letter

1893 World's Fair Tiffany S&W 38 Safety Hammerless Revolver

Self-described as an “American multinational luxury jewelry and specialty retailer,” Tiffany & Co. created some the most spectacular and expensive highly embellished deluxe handguns and rifles from the late 1880s to the early 1900s for American’s leading firearms manufacturers including Colt, Winchester and most notably Smith & Wesson. Often intended to be showpieces for the World's Columbian Expedition of 1893, such as this example, the Exposition Universelle in Paris of 1900 and the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY in 1901, these highly stylized arms fully embodied the classic Art Nouveau style, as clearly demonstrated on this S&W revolver. “Revolvers of the most improved types, mounted in silver, carved ivory, gold, etc. with rich and elaborate decorations,” proclaimed the Tiffany Blue Book catalog, would set a customer back $50.00 to $300.00. Although the number of surviving Tiffany S&Ws remains unknown, they are arguably the rarest and most desirable of the late 19th century American high art firearms. The largest public display of Tiffany embellished 19th century arms can be viewed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Gallery 372. The lion’s share of the display was donated and/or sold by Dr. Gerald Klaz. This Tiffany masterpiece was exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago as confirmed in S&W’s period publication “Description and Prices of Finely Decorated Revolvers Prepared for World’s Fair at Chicago, 1893.” Among the 5 page list of the numerous S&Ws displayed at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair S&Ws, this revolver is described as “Safety Hammerless Revolver, 38 calibre, heavy silver scroll and flowers, No. 83748” at a price of $160.00. The sterling silver Tiffany grip covers the frame and recoil shield and features masterful full coverage relief scroll and floral pattern. The silver plated barrel and cylinder have an etched pattern on a matte background that matches the grip. Tiffany normally marked each piece they made on special order. However, this example lacks such a visible marking. The serial number “83748” appears on the cylinder and barrel. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver with a 4 inch barrel, nickel finish and checkered black hard rubber grips when shipped on August 31, 1894 and delivered to Hartley & Graham Co. of New York City. Provenance: The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection

Documentation

Antique

Caliber / Gauge: 38 S&W

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