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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Large Chert Projectiles JMD-1511630260 - Large Chert Projectiles JMD-15116
Holabird Western Americana Collections
24 large projectiles ot possible spear points. Midwestern. Locations shown on several: Boone Co. Missouri; Beardstown, Ill; Pulaski Co, Mo.; Taney Co.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 600.00
Sold to j*****e for (475.00 + 118.75BP) = 593.75
 
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Large Chert Tools JMD-1515630261 - Large Chert Tools JMD-15156
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Two large midwestern brown chert tools, 9" long. Unknown use.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to d*******f for (140.00 + 35.00BP) = 175.00
 
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Large Collection of Nebo Hill Midwestern Projectile Points JMD-1520630262 - Large Collection of Nebo Hill Midwestern Projectile Points JMD-15206
Holabird Western Americana Collections
About 100 points from the Nebo Hill area of Missouri. Knowwn as Sedalia points, they date to 7000 years BP. Average is about 4" long.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to v*******v for (1,700.00 + 374.00BP) = 2,074.00
 
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Large stone knife group JMD-1518830263 - Large stone knife group JMD-15188
Holabird Western Americana Collections
About 60 large stone knives, varying from about 3 to 8".
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to d*******f for (900.00 + 225.00BP) = 1,125.00
 
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Light density stone tools JMD-1517130264 - Light density stone tools JMD-15171
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Seven hand carved stone tools made of diatomite, mudstone. Some are grooved, others carved for specific purposes, except here, the rock would break at
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 300.00
 
 
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Major Chert Knife and Projectile Point Collection JMD-1518330265 - Major Chert Knife and Projectile Point Collection JMD-15183
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Large collection of about 100 points averaging about 4" long. A significant number of them are labeled for the source, such as: Nebo Hill, Exce...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 4,000.00
Sold to d*******f for (3,100.00 + 775.00BP) = 3,875.00
 
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Middle Mississippi Period Grit Tempered Jar JMD-1522630266 - Middle Mississippi Period Grit Tempered Jar JMD-15226
Holabird Western Americana Collections
6" tall, 5" diameter. Choice jat about 1000 years old from the midwest.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to v*******v for (200.00 + 44.00BP) = 244.00
 
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Midwestern Clay Pots JMD-1517930267 - Midwestern Clay Pots JMD-15179
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Three midwestern clay pots. A) 1920's label from Jefferson Co., Missouri, 2", with small blue beadds inside, not known if this pairing was ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (140.00 + 35.00BP) = 175.00
 
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Mississippian Projectile Points JMD-1521330268 - Mississippian Projectile Points JMD-15213
Holabird Western Americana Collections
About 100-200 points labeled by the old museum curator as Mississippian.Many are small "bird" points. All are light colored chert.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to u********e.. for (750.00 + 165.00BP) = 915.00
 
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Modern Gray chert knives JMD-1519030269 - Modern Gray chert knives JMD-15190
Holabird Western Americana Collections
three fancy modern knapped chert knives, about 10"
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to J*******d for (60.00 + 15.00BP) = 75.00
 
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Modern Long Stone Knifes JMD-1518930270 - Modern Long Stone Knifes JMD-15189
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Five modern knapped black chert projectile points and knives, up to 12". Unknown maker, marked "modern" in the Museum archive.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 500.00
Sold to r*****c for (65.00 + 16.25BP) = 81.25
 
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Oklahoma Region Moccasins JMD-1506030271 - Oklahoma Region Moccasins JMD-15060
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Pair of beaded moccasins, nice bead work
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to d*******f for (200.00 + 50.00BP) = 250.00
 
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Old Pipes (3) JMD-1514530272 - Old Pipes (3) JMD-15145
Holabird Western Americana Collections
3 old pipes of unknown origin. 3"-6.5"
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 50.00 - 200.00
Sold to v*******v for (250.00 + 55.00BP) = 305.00
 
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Ovate Stone Knife Group JMD-1518730273 - Ovate Stone Knife Group JMD-15187
Holabird Western Americana Collections
About 12 ovate knives, including a rare perfectly round disc (the second we've seen in this collection). Chert from various locations, though no...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 400.00
Sold to f*********e for (80.00 + 17.60BP) = 97.60
 
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Pacific Island Grinding Stone JMD-1527930274 - Pacific Island Grinding Stone JMD-15279
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Spectacular Pacific Island grinding stone. 10 x 16 x 8" with mano.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 800.00
Sold to j*****e for (120.00 + 30.00BP) = 150.00
 
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Paint Cup Rocks JMD-1525830275 - Paint Cup Rocks JMD-15258
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Group of nine rock paint cups, all with slight ground out sink to hold the paint. Many with labels (mostly Illinois). 1.5 to 5" diameter. Also ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 1,000.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (400.00 + 100.00BP) = 500.00
 
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Panama Clay Pot JMD-1528130276 - Panama Clay Pot JMD-15281
Holabird Western Americana Collections
6" tall, 5" diameter clay pot from Panama. Old 1920's label.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (80.00 + 20.00BP) = 100.00
 
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Pattern Bowl, Mexico JMD-1522930277 - Pattern Bowl, Mexico JMD-15229
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Large bclay bowl 11.5" diamerter, 5" tall. Glue reapir. Red and purple patterns adorn the edge of the bowl while other geometric lines fil...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 700.00 - 2,500.00
Sold to v*******v for (200.00 + 44.00BP) = 244.00
 
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Patterned clay Bowl, Iron County. JMD-1525330278 - Patterned clay Bowl, Iron County. JMD-15253
Holabird Western Americana Collections
3.5" tall, 7" diameter, stippled pattern around rim area. Red clay, black interior. Old museum (1920's) label says "Indian Iron ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to v*******v for (200.00 + 44.00BP) = 244.00
 
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Peruvian Effigy Bottle JMD-1513530279 - Peruvian Effigy Bottle JMD-15135
Holabird Western Americana Collections
6.5" tall, 5" diameter. Red clay. Probably pre-Columbian.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 900.00
Sold to v*******v for (170.00 + 37.40BP) = 207.40
 
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