"COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER OWNED BY LOU GEHRIG. SN 355626. Cal. 38 WCF (38-40). Late first generation Colt (1937), blue & case colored with 5-1/2" bbl, 1-line address with caliber marking on left side and a thick front sight. It has 2-line patent dates & rampant Colt without a circle on left side of frame. Left front web of trigger guard has Colt's "VP" proof in a triangle and a small "X". Right side of front & back straps, under grip have serial number. Fitted with 2-pc real pearl grips with right side having a very deep relief carved Mexican eagle. Rear of cylinder has last two digits of serial number stamped between two chambers and there is a small "K" on face of cylinder. This revolver is reportedly the same single action that Lou Gehrig carried in his one & only movie, Rawhide, produced in 1938, a copy of which is included in this lot. Reportedly after the movie, Mr. Gehrig was given this revolver as a souvenir. It is this cataloguer's opinion, after having watched the movie, that Tom Mix, Lash LaRue, Buck Jones & the other cowboy stars of the late 30's had nothing to fear from Mr. Gehrig's acting abilities. His prowess as an actor certainly paled in comparison to his baseball abilities. In many scenes throughout movie Mr. Gehrig is wearing a very elaborate belt & holster rig containing a pearl handled revolver but was never observed to draw it. Accompanied by a certified copy of Mr. Gehrig's application for a pistol license in the State of New York, number 11774, which lists this revolver by serial number. Mr. Gehrig lists three character references, one of which is Ed Barrow, then President of the New York Yankees. At the time Mr. Gehrig was 34 years old and the picture of good health. He lists his employers as New York Yankees, place of business as Yankee Stadium and nature of business, baseball. Also included is a group of correspondence between consignor's daughter & several individuals who assisted her in obtaining the copy of license application. There is also a notarized statement from consignor wherein he states that his father was the Captain of Mrs. Gehrig's boat down in Florida and that Mrs. Gehrig had given this revolver to his father in the 1940's. It then passed to him upon his father's death in 1961. Also included is an old postcard of the Miami Beach Boat Storage with a hand written note on back from "Dad" stating that's where he keeps Mr. Howard Johnson's boat and also "Here is a story on Lou Gehrig. I guess I told you she gave me that 38 revolver." There is also a letter from Colt stating that they have no record on this revolver, only that it was produced in 1937. As previously noted, accompanied by a copy of movie Rawhide and a box of Western cartridges containing 38 rds. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Bbl & grip frame retain most of their orig glossy factory blue with slight muzzle edge and ejector rod housing end wear. Frame retains virtually all of its brilliant orig case colors, slightly darkened on left recoil shield. Cylinder retains about 95% strong orig blue. Grips have a chipped right heel & chipped left toe, otherwise are sound with great fire & color. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-32770 JR212 (25,000-35,000)"
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