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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Two Ammunition Displays JMD-1001130030 - Two Ammunition Displays JMD-10011
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Lot of two framed ammo displays. 1) Speer Bullets, 1864-1964. No glass. 11 x 21" 2) Hornady Bullets. Grand Island, Nebraska. 14 x 22" No g...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 75.00 | Estimate : 150.00 - 250.00
 
 
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Winchester Big Game Rifles & Ammunition Poster JMD-1000330031 - Winchester Big Game Rifles & Ammunition Poster JMD-10003
Holabird Western Americana Collections
As originally framed. Possibly post-1930. Sharp colors. 19 x 29" We did not remove from frame.
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to h********h.. for (225.00 + 49.50BP) = 274.50
 
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1902 Model US Officers Sword JMD-1238530032 - 1902 Model US Officers Sword JMD-12385
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Wolfson Trading Co., NY.; etched blade with military patterns, 33" blade, slight curve, with metal scabbard. JMD Tag: s322
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 600.00
Sold to a******a for (225.00 + 56.25BP) = 281.25
 
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African Knife Pair JMD-1234230033 - African Knife Pair JMD-12342
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Pair of African (?) origin knives with hand crafted sheaths.Leather taassel ends, blade length 9". No makers. JMD Tag: s464, s465
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 50.00 | Estimate : 100.00 - 300.00
 
 
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American Fraternal Swords JMD-1239330034 - American Fraternal Swords JMD-12393
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Five different Fraternal swords. Some unmarked. A)Brass scaled pattern handle, made by Henderson Ames, Kalamazoo, Mich, no scabbard; b)no maker, no in
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 400.00 - 600.00
Sold to a******a for (600.00 + 150.00BP) = 750.00
 
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Asian Swords (3) JMD-1218730035 - Asian Swords (3) JMD-12187
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Three Asian swords with hand carved bone scabbards. While these might be conside may represent something else. Two have small brass hand protection pi
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 900.00
Sold to c********Z for (375.00 + 93.75BP) = 468.75
 
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Asian Vintage Swords JMD-1231530036 - Asian Vintage Swords JMD-12315
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Two vintage Asian origin(?) swords. One with srude reed wrapped scabbard with carved heqad, 23" blade, the other very crude carved wood handle ...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 100.00 - 400.00
Sold to a******a for (250.00 + 62.50BP) = 312.50
 
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Bayonet Group JMD-1212530037 - Bayonet Group JMD-12125
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Three different bayonets. A) no maker, possibly Korean war, 6.5" blade, no sheath; b) sesmi-modern, Viet Nam? With sheath; c)wood handle, 16&qu...
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to a********o.. for (100.00 + 25.00BP) = 125.00
 
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Bayonet Swords JMD-1219630038 - Bayonet Swords JMD-12196
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Two bayonet swords, with metal sheaths, identical design, on the top of the blade: "Mre de Ormes de Tulle Novembre 1877", second "Mre...
Bidding Has Concluded
Start Price : 100.00 | Estimate : 200.00 - 600.00
 
 
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Bayonets JMD-1219730039 - Bayonets JMD-12197
Holabird Western Americana Collections
Three bayonets with brass handles, all three different, though similar appeaering. A) F S hallmarks, broken blade end; b) no marks, heavy construction
Bidding Has Concluded
Estimate : 300.00 - 900.00
Sold to 8********l.. for (170.00 + 42.50BP) = 212.50
 
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