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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Pestels and Manos Grinding Stones JMD-1528030280 - Pestels and Manos Grinding Stones JMD-15280
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Seven stones, many with locations: Posey Co., Ind.; Warwick Co. Ind.; Eden, Kan.; generally 6"
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 600.00
Sold to f*********e for (100.00 + 22.00BP) = 122.00
 
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Polished Axes JMD-1511730281 - Polished Axes JMD-15117
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Threee polished grooved axes, 4-8". Midwestern
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (85.00 + 21.25BP) = 106.25
 
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Pottery Cup JMD-1525230282 - Pottery Cup JMD-15252
Holabird Western Americana Collections
St Francis County, Mo (1920's label), 3.5", painted patters surround.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to v*******v for (120.00 + 26.40BP) = 146.40
 
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Prehistoric stone awl and deer bone JMD-1527330283 - Prehistoric stone awl and deer bone JMD-15273
Holabird Western Americana Collections
5" long. 1920's label "Cliff dwellers"
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to d*******f for (75.00 + 18.75BP) = 93.75
 
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Projectile Group JMD-1518430284 - Projectile Group JMD-15184
Holabird Western Americana Collections
About 40 large projectiles and knives. Various rock types. Generally about 4" long. Locations shown: Dixon, Sedalia.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to d*******f for (850.00 + 212.50BP) = 1,062.50
 
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Projectile Group JMD-1518530285 - Projectile Group JMD-15185
Holabird Western Americana Collections
About 40 large knife and projectile points, olny location shown is Wyandott Co. OK. Mostly chert. Includes five drills.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 500.00
Sold to d*******f for (500.00 + 125.00BP) = 625.00
 
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Projectile Point Collection JMD-1522130286 - Projectile Point Collection JMD-15221
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Major projectile point collection, all labeled by the old museum curator to style and palce of location. Perhaps 500-1000 points. This is a major midw
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 3,000.00
Sold to d*******f for (1,500.00 + 375.00BP) = 1,875.00
 
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Projectile Point Group JMD-1515230287 - Projectile Point Group JMD-15152
Holabird Western Americana Collections
About 50 projectile points of white chert, grey and red chert. Many different styles, please inspect. One is labelled from Renz Co. NY. Also contains
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 700.00
Sold to d*******f for (550.00 + 137.50BP) = 687.50
 
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Projectile Point, Knife Collection JMD-15206.130288 - Projectile Point, Knife Collection JMD-15206.1
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Major projectile point and stone knife collection. Most are labeled to style and place of origin, but not all. It is a significant colelction. Probabl
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 1,000.00 - 5,000.00
Sold to d*******f for (6,250.00 + 1,562.50BP) = 7,812.50
 
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Projectile Points, "Filed Grade" JMD-1521730289 - Projectile Points, "Filed Grade" JMD-15217
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Very large group of "field grade" labeled projectile points. Many are identified for source aqnd this lot desrves your attention and inspe...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 3,000.00
Sold to s********b.. for (450.00 + 112.50BP) = 562.50
 
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Projectile Points, Museum Mounted JMD-1522230290 - Projectile Points, Museum Mounted JMD-15222
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Three museum mounted projectile point displays. "These projectiles served a dual purpose, some were used as arrow points, others were used as a...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 500.00 - 2,000.00
Sold to s********b.. for (550.00 + 137.50BP) = 687.50
 
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Pueblo Pot JMD-1525430291 - Pueblo Pot JMD-15254
Holabird Western Americana Collections
red clay, 6" diameter, 3" tall. Coiled clay, like a basket.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 900.00
Sold to j*****e for (55.00 + 13.75BP) = 68.75
 
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Red Clay Pipes (2) JMD-1514430292 - Red Clay Pipes (2) JMD-15144
Holabird Western Americana Collections
2 red clay pipes, 1 repaired, mid 20th century, 23 and 28"
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 150.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 400.00
 
 
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Round Stone Tools JMD-1515730293 - Round Stone Tools JMD-15157
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Eleven round stone tools. Two show cross marks where the stone wa tied to a post for use as a weapon or hammer. Another is a very caerfully rounded bl
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to f*********e for (70.00 + 15.40BP) = 85.40
 
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Slingshot War Clubs (2) JMD-1514830294 - Slingshot War Clubs (2) JMD-15148
Holabird Western Americana Collections
2 leather covered rocks on wood handles, big one has nailed leather, 11 and 20"
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 300.00
Sold to a******a for (225.00 + 56.25BP) = 281.25
 
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Some Figural Carved Pipes JMD-1505530295 - Some Figural Carved Pipes JMD-15055
Holabird Western Americana Collections
4 pipes, 2 frogs, bird and fish. 2.5 to 6"
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 600.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (160.00 + 40.00BP) = 200.00
 
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South American pottery figures JMD-1527530296 - South American pottery figures JMD-15275
Holabird Western Americana Collections
About five pieces, all under 4", except thee large 5" figure. Pre-Columbian.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to d*******f for (110.00 + 27.50BP) = 137.50
 
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Stone Axes (2) JMD-1514730297 - Stone Axes (2) JMD-15147
Holabird Western Americana Collections
2 stone axes, 7.5 to 18" long, big one has modern handle
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to d*******f for (75.00 + 18.75BP) = 93.75
 
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Stone Axes, Labeled JMD-1513430298 - Stone Axes, Labeled JMD-15134
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Stone axes, five, from two locations in Kansas: Eden, Atchion County, and Doniphan. Other labels in the collection refernce a collection date of 1929.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 300.00
Sold to d*******f for (325.00 + 81.25BP) = 406.25
 
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Stone Beads and spindle whorls.  JMD-1527230299 - Stone Beads and spindle whorls. JMD-15272
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Group of about eight pieces, mostly with old 1920's labels, but location not often shown. Generally 1" and less.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to f*********e for (60.00 + 13.20BP) = 73.20
 
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