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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30312 - Unusual Awls and Points JMD-15153Holabird Western Americana Collections
About 35 pieces. Clearly from multi sources. Note the differing styles of the awls. The backs of many of the points have an adhesive from museum mount
Bidding Has ConcludedEstimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to d*******f for 281.25
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30313 - Unusual Ax Heads JMD-15112Holabird Western Americana Collections
Four pieces, one from Eden, Kansas collected 1929; another labeled Cherokee Co., OK. Largest about 6"
Bidding Has ConcludedEstimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to j*****e for 118.75
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30314 - Unusual Clay Water Jug JMD-15255Holabird Western Americana Collections
The musseum label was missing from this unique piece, that has red and black painted portions, We suspect South American, but do not know. 10" ...
Bidding Has ConcludedEstimate : 300.00 - 1,500.00
Sold to v*******v for 195.20
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30316 - Water Basket JMD-15181Holabird Western Americana Collections
Paiute water basket. Single loop handle, 8" tall, 8" diameter. Red pine pitch seal. Classic.
Bidding Has ConcludedEstimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to a******a for 343.75
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30318 - Woodland Projectile Points JMD-15211Holabird Western Americana Collections
Large group of "woodland" points as identified by the old curator. Perhaps 150 points here, not counted. This is a classic Missouri point....
Bidding Has ConcludedEstimate : 300.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to s********b.. for 593.75
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