Here at Rock Island Auction Company, we have had the honor of offering multiple items that belonged to "The King", particularly his firearms. In 2017, we offered to the public a Smith & Wesson Model 19-2 revolver and a Colt Python revolver, both of which were highly embellished and sold for $195,500 and $172,500 respectively. Then in 2023, RIAC was pleased to offer Presley's exhibition quality master engraved, gold and silver inlaid Smith & Wesson Model 53 United States Bicentennial revolver, which fetched $199,750. We have even had the pleasure of offering one of Presley’s guitars that sold for $48,875. It is clear that firearms associated with "The King" remain extremely desirable and collectible to this day. Rock Island Action Company is once again pleased to present another Elvis Presley firearm, a Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 revolver highly embellished by “engraver of the stars” Joseph Condon of Las Vegas. In the accompanying 1989 dated letter, Condon confirms he engraved the gun for Elvis and Elvis gave the gun to his friend Lamar Fike: “The revolver you have, Smith & Wesson Mod. 29 .44 Mag. 4” Barrel Ser. # S237347, was engraved for Elvis Presley which he gave as a gift to his long time friend Lamar Fike.” In his own words written in an included letter, Fike stated that Elvis gave him the gun as a birthday present. These two letters are addressed to Bob Pope. A copy of a letter from Ray Judge of Judge’s Gun Shop in Winchester, Tennessee, stated that Fike sold the revolver to Judge. A copy of Judge’s Gun Shop federal bound book clearly showed that the gun was acquired from Fike and later sold to Bob Pope in 1977. The revolver was purchased by our consignor in 2012. As confirmed by the aforementioned documents, Elvis Presley commissioned the revolver and presented it to his lifelong friend and Memphis Mafia member Lamar Fike. Presley and Fike were friends nearly their entire adult lives; first meeting in 1954 at the famed recording studio Sun Studio where a 19 year old Fike was learning to be a disc jockey under the tutelage of Elvis’ friend and classmate George Kein. Founded in 1952 by Sam Phillips, Sun Records label business, which shared the same building with Sun Studio, was the first label to record Elvis Presley as well as other music giants such as Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash to name just a few. Fike started working for Elvis in 1957, and the two men stayed close friends until Elvis’ death in 1977. Fike died in 2011. Fike would go on to be assigned to various roles assisting Presley such as a lighting director, bodyguard, and managing Presley’s music publishing group. While filming a dance scene to Jailhouse Rock in 1958, Elvis was hospitalized for a cap to his tooth getting caught in his lung. He spent a night at a Hollywood hospital. Fike flew out to California to be with his friend, and when production to the film wrapped, Fike accompanied Elvis back to Graceland. Fike was one of the earliest members of Elvis’ inner circle later called The Memphis Mafia. He would generally work for Elvis without pay as The King of Rock & Roll preferred to tip his entourage with lavish gifts like cars and houses. Fike introduced Elvis to Anita Wood, one of the singer’s more passionate love affairs as well as to Pricilla Beaulieu, The King’s future wife. In 1958, Elvis was drafted into the U.S. Army, and Fike attempted to enlist in order to remain close to his friend but was denied due to his physical bulk. While stationed in Germany, Elvis requested Fike to fly out with his father and grandmother. Fike had become an extended member of the Presley family. When Elvis returned to touring in the 1970s, Fike was his lighting director. In the closing 1973 show in Las Vegas came a photo of Fike giving Elvis a piggyback ride out onto the stage. The revolver was manufactured in 1964/65, around the time Elvis was heavily focused on making films. Condon’s beautiful scrollwork features fine stippled background enhanced with profuse gold inlaid accents, bands, and borders. A wonderful depiction of a bighorn sheep in a mountain scene covers most of the side plate and is on a fine stippled background. The sheep is done in relief gold inlay, and the mountain scene has inlaid platinum and gold accents. Lamar Fike’s “LF” initials are inlaid in gold under the gold plated cylinder release. Additional gold plating appears on the ejector rod and cylinder latch screw with the frame screws and strains screw on the front strap appearing to have also been plated in gold. Condon also executed the work on the grips. Each grip panel is decorated with relief carved oak leaf and acorn pattern on fine stippled background. In the center of the grip panels is a flared band which the grip screws passes through on the left panel and a S&W medallion is inlaid in the center on the right panel. Condon signed his masterpiece on the trigger guard. The revolver is fitted with a front sight blade with red insert and an elevation adjustable square notch rear sight. Joseph Condon’s work is well-known to the gun collecting fraternity. R.L. Wilson, for instance, showcases several works by Condon in “Colt Engraving.” Includes a hardwood display case featuring an empty cartridge block. Provenance: Elvis Presley; Lamar Fike; Ray Judge (Judge’s Gun Shop); Robert Pope; Property of a Gentleman