J.M. Davis Private Collection Firearm and Artifact Auction

Auction Details

Introduction to the J.M. Davis Private Collection Firearm and Artifact Auction

J.M. Davis ran the Mason Hotel in Claremore, Oklahoma, for his entire career, from 1917 onward. From the age of seven in 1901 until 1965, he was an inveterate collector of all firearms, as well as artifacts reflecting history in Oklahoma and the Mississippi Valley region. To preserve his collection in perpetuity, he created the 40,000-square-foot J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum in Claremore, which is today managed by the State of Oklahoma. It is the largest firearms Museum in North America.

The museum is a must-see for any weapons collector, displaying an incredible amount and variety of weaponry and famous felon, outlaw, and law enforcement personality items from history.

Proceeds of this sale directly benefit the long-term care and maintenance of the Collection. None of the items in this sale are out of the current museum exhibit displays. Nearly all of the items have been stored away, out of public view, since at least 1965 (54 years!), long before the modern era when most of the well-written and researched reference and table-top books on antique firearms were published. As an example, none of these weapons were known to R. Larry Wilson, a prolific firearms writer and author of approximately 60 books on antique firearms, who as a young man and budding firearms scholar, worked for Colt about the time this part of the collection went into storage.

The sale hosts more than 2200, antique to modern (probably none more recent than 1965) firearms, swords, crossbows and knives. In addition, there is a large section of Americana, featuring Native American stone and pottery items, primarily from Oklahoma and the Mississippi Valley. Items of cultural significance that are not in the sale are designated for, or already transferred to, the Oklahoma State Museum.

Davis was also a button, badge, medal and pinback collector, and there are more than a thousand items in this category, mostly in like-kind groups.

The two-day preview prior to the sale is a must for any serious collector.
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SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping and Handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing, based on the size and weight of your purchase. All shipping is subject to a minimum charge of $19.00. If additional shipping and handling costs are required, the buyer will be reinvoiced for the balance due. Items are not shipped until the invoice is completely paid. Many buyers purchase a number of lots. Every effort will be made to include all lots in a single shipping charge calculated to cover the weight and size of the package(s). NOTE: Some shipments (of unusual size, dimension, or weight) may require sp...
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Chinese Good Luck Money Swords (2) JMD-1508030218Chinese Good Luck Money Swords (2) JMD-15080
Holabird Western Americana Collections
2 19th century money sword used by Chinese immigrants. Usually found near Nevada or California mining regions. Loose coins
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to a******a for 137.50
German Ceramic Pictorial Pipes JMD-1507530219German Ceramic Pictorial Pipes JMD-15075
Holabird Western Americana Collections
10 pieces, largest 30"
Estimate : 100.00 - 400.00
Sold to a******a for 187.50
Military Grab Bag JMD-1504630220Military Grab Bag JMD-15046
Holabird Western Americana Collections
German belt buckles and WW2 era items
Estimate : 50.00 - 200.00
Sold to 3***6 for 562.50
Military Patches JMD-1503930221Military Patches JMD-15039
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Approx 20 military patches and shoulderboards? Some German
Estimate : 50.00 - 200.00
Sold to 8********l.. for 137.50
US Military Insignias JMD-1504730222US Military Insignias JMD-15047
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Approx 30 US military insignia pins
Estimate : 50.00 - 200.00
Sold to 8********l.. for 75.00
WW 2 German War Stuff JMD-1505630223WW 2 German War Stuff JMD-15056
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Approx 30 German WW 2 buckles, pins, booklets etc
Estimate : 50.00 - 200.00
Sold to 3***6 for 625.00
WW2 Patches JMD-1505130224WW2 Patches JMD-15051
Holabird Western Americana Collections
12 US, France and German WW2 Military patches
Estimate : 50.00 - 200.00
Sold to d*******f for 281.25
Mining Pins JMD-1501130225Mining Pins JMD-15011
Holabird Western Americana Collections
2 mining pins/badges. Baker Mining Jubilee and Rodeo, 1911 Missouri School of Mines
Estimate : 50.00 - 200.00
Sold to f*****E for 15.00
Buggy/Hand Held Carbide Lamps JMD-1506530226Buggy/Hand Held Carbide Lamps JMD-15065
Holabird Western Americana Collections
c. 1910 pair of carbides by Suzuki, Tokyo. 7" plus handle
Estimate : 160.00 - 300.00
Sold to 5******t for 122.00
Mining Survey Chain JMD-1507230227Mining Survey Chain JMD-15072
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Metal mining survey chain, not measured, links 11"
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to a*****r for 125.00
Modern Bright Red Stone Knives JMD-1211730228Modern Bright Red Stone Knives JMD-12117
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Red jasper, possibly artificial, 10" knives by an unknown knapper.
Estimate : 100.00 - 300.00
Sold to f*********e for 48.80
Modern Large white chert Projectile Points JMD-1212230229Modern Large white chert Projectile Points JMD-12122
Holabird Western Americana Collections
About nine points varying in size and style by a modern Knapper, found in box marked Modern in Museum archive.
Estimate : 100.00 - 500.00
Sold to d*******f for 93.75
Modern White Chert Points and Kinves JMD-1211630230Modern White Chert Points and Kinves JMD-12116
Holabird Western Americana Collections
14 long buff colored chert projectiles and knives, from a box marked "modern" in Museum archive. Unknown knapper. 9-12" long.
Estimate : 100.00 - 700.00
Sold to d*******f for 112.50
Ancient Clay Artifacts and Carved Bone JMD-1511430231Ancient Clay Artifacts and Carved Bone JMD-15114
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Clay tube and head 2.5", carved bone 1"
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to v*******v for 67.10
Arizona Pueblo Clay Pot JMD-1518030232Arizona Pueblo Clay Pot JMD-15180
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Small 3" clay pot, pieces glued together, no patterns, incomplete.
Estimate : 80.00 - 150.00
Sold to k*****f for 61.00
Ax Collection JMD-1513230233Ax Collection JMD-15132
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Nineteen axes from differing locales composed of differing rocks, from grantics to other porphyrys. Generally 4-9"
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 1,000.00
Banner Stone group JMD-1525930234Banner Stone group JMD-15259
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Five carved banner stones, used for weights for the Atlatl most with labels (missouri)
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 700.00
Bark Peeling Stone JMD-1572630235Bark Peeling Stone JMD-15726
Holabird Western Americana Collections
A large well used long sstone for "bark peeling" , from Orangeville, Ohio (1920's label). 22" long
Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to f*********e for 305.00
Black Clay Human Effigy JMD-1525630236Black Clay Human Effigy JMD-15256
Holabird Western Americana Collections
4.5" tall. Old museum label says "Human effigy found excavating for Panama canal" xxxsthmus
Estimate : 500.00 - 1,500.00
Sold to n********d.. for 312.50
Broken Indian Large Hammer JMD-1505930237Broken Indian Large Hammer JMD-15059
Holabird Western Americana Collections
6" stone head, 21" detached wood handle
Estimate : 100.00 - 150.00
Sold to a******a for 68.75