Bonhams 12/03-Antique Arms, Armor, Militaria, Guns

Bonhams & Butterfields, San Francisco, Antique Arms and Armor, Militaria and Sporting Guns. San Francisco, Tuesday and Wednesday, December 9 and 10, 2003. Softcover, 1,105 Lots (Lots 1000-2105), 232 pp. Illustrated in Color.

You are bidding on a catalog of Arms and Armor from a two day auction held at Bonhams & Butterfields, San Francisco in December 2003. The catalog features pieces from a number of distinguished collections, including those of Gary Hess and The Old Guard of New York City. Although not fully illustrated, the majority of the lots are illustrated with high-quality color plates, printed on heavy stock paper.

Among the highlights of the catalog, which are also illustrated, are: A Gustave Young Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Rimfire Conversion Revolver (Serial No. 85608 for 1857), A Rare Model of 1911 Semi-Automatic .45 Caliber Pistol by North American Arms Company (Not Serialized), A Customized Colt Single Action Army Revolver and Western Rig Owned by John Wayne and Used in "The Cowboys," "True Grit," "Rooster Cogburn," and Other Films, The Costume Worn by John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn in the Films "True Grit" and "Rooster Cogburn," A Persian Miquelet Rifle from the Second Half of the 18th Century, A Saxon Half-Stock Percussion Sporting Rifle by Gmeiner & Sohn, Altenburg, from c. 1860, A German Black and White Three-Quarter Suit of Armor from c. 1590-1610, A Deluxe Civil War Gold-Plated Presentation Model 1850 Staff and Field Officer's Sword Belonging to Major Ackber O. Mitchell, 44th Ohio Volunteer (Mounted) Infantry, An Imperial Russian St. George Presentation Bugle of Honor Awarded for the Defense of Port Arthur in the Russo-Japanese War, An Imperial Russian Model 1798 Miter Cap for the Pavloski Grenadiers, A Historic Banner from the German Airship LZ-129, The Hindenburg, A Cased Pair of Lightweight 12 Gauge Watson Brothers Sidelock Ejector Double Barrel Shotguns, A Customized 20 Gauge Winchester Model 21 Double Barrel Shotgun by Paul Jaeger.

The catalog also features: Russian Orders and Medals, Japanese Swords, Flags, Paintings, Helmets, Uniforms, Photographs. And there is much, much more.

Condition: My copy of this catalog is new and in excellent condition. The binding is very tight, both covers and all interior pages are intact. The interior pages have no tears, creases or writing on them. The exterior of the catalog is also in great shape, with very, very minor evidence of wear to the edges and ends of the covers and spine.

Note: It would have been impossible for me to scan any of the interior pages without altering the condition of the catalog. The image I have used in my listing is from the front cover and shows: A Historic Gustave Young Engraved Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver Presented to General George B. McClellan by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company (Lot # 1028).