These two fascinating items which are wonderfully cased together are documented as once being part of Hollywood legend John Wayne's personal gun collection. Born Marion Robert Morrison in 1907 in Winterset, Iowa, John "The Duke" Wayne needs little introduction. In 1916, Wayne's family moved to southern California, where he spent his childhood and would later attend college at USC. After breaking his collar bone during a bodysurfing incident, Wayne lost his football scholarship at the university, and being unable to pay his tuition, left college. As a favor to USC football coach Howard Jones, Wayne was hired as a prop boy and extra by Tom Mix and John Ford at the Fox Film Corporation. Wayne quickly moved into bit parts, before landing his first starring role in "The Big Trail" in 1930. In 1939, The Duke landed the lead role in "Stagecoach", making him a mainstream Hollywood star, going on to star in 142 films, Wayne cemented his legacy as one of Hollywood's legendary actors. John Wayne remains a household name to this day, having played a starring role in iconic films such as "Flying Leathernecks", "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", "The Longest Day", "Rio Bravo", "The Alamo", "The Green Berets", "The Comancheros", and "True Grit". There is a plaque inside the display case attributing the revolver and saber as worn by John Wayne in the movie "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", RKO 1949 (RKO marking is for RKO Pictures). This revolver and saber previously sold through Bonham & Butterfields in 2003, where they were also attributed to having been carried in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", and it is stated that Wayne likely also carried the saber in the final installment of John Ford's "Cavalry Trilogy" titled "Rio Grande", which released in 1950. Included with the lot are copies of a 1976 dated appraisal of John Wayne's personal gun collection, which was carried out by The Grant Boys, this saber as "Officer's Field Sword Cavalry Late 1800's" and the revolver is listed by serial number as "Army Revolver Circa 1865 .44 cal." Manufactured in 1861, the included factory letter confirms the configuration of the revolver as well as shipment to captain R.H.K. Whiteley of the U.S. War Department at the New York Arsenal on Governor's Island, New York on 27 August 1861 as part of a 500 gun shipment. It has renumbered serial numbers and an incorrect style added "US" on the trigger guard under the serial number and a faint cartouche on the left of the grip. It was a movie prop! The saber is of the typical French M1822 light cavalry pattern, very similar to the U.S. M1840 pattern that was widely used during the Civil War, and it has a nickeled scabbard. The spine of the sword is marked "RKO. 1949 J.WAYNE" over what remains of the faint French arsenal markings. Also included is a black leather cavalry style holster and belt rig with U.S. marked buckle and a few pouches, as well as a photograph of John Wayne in costume for "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon". Plus a photo of this Colt 1860 Army movie revolver alongside his Colt SAA used in the filming of "True Grit", which we sold in October 2021. The revolver and saber are mounted in an included display case, which measures 27 3/4 x 47 3/4 inches overall and is the same as the case containing John Wayne's "True Grit" vest which we sold in our August 2024 Premier Firearms Auction. Provenance: The John Wayne Collection; The Gary Hess Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Fair as modified for a movie prop, retains mostly a smooth grey patina, some scattered patches of light pitting, and the brass showing an attractively aged patina. The grip is good with mild wear and some minor handling marks. Mechanically untested as cased. The saber is very good with an attractively aged patina overall and the scabbard retains much of the nickel finish with some mild spotting and patina. The holster/belt rig is generally good or better. The case is excellent with very minimal handling/storage wear.