Davy Crockett’s Bowie Knife, Once in Charles Peale’s Museum, Caps Heritage Auctions’ Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Event

Historic Winchester 1 of 1,000 rifle, made famous by Jimmy Stewart film, also among top targets in June 19 auction DOWNLOAD DIGITAL PRESS KIT DALLAS, Texas (May 26, 2023) — A rare knife once presented to and owned by legendary soldier and frontiersman Davy Crockett will carve out a spot in a new collection when it crosses the block in Heritage Auctions' Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction June 19. The Historic David "Davy" Crockett's Bowie Knife Deposited to the Peale's Museum (opening bid: $25,000) is accompanied by a leather scabbard adorned with a (replacement) card that reads, "THIS KNIFE WAS PRESENTED TO AND LONG IN THE POSSESSION OF DAVID CROCKETT. IT WAS IN PEAL'S PHIL(ADEPHIA) MUSEUM AND MARKED "DEPOSITED BY &C: [ORIGINAL LABEL LOST]." As legendary frontiersman and Alamo martyr, Crockett certainly ranks in the top tier of historic American personalities. This magnificent knife not only once belonged to Crockett, but it also captures its one-time owner's spirit, and knives owned by Crockett are exceptionally rare. "Davy Crockett is one of the most well-known and popular frontiersmen in American history," says David Carde, Arms & Armor Consignment Director at Heritage Auctions. "This knife is both an extraordinary piece of historic art, which only adds to its desirability." A Historic Winchester Model 1873 Deluxe 1 of 1000 Rifle with the Factory Presentation Winchester Model 94 Carbine (opening bid: $100,000) was one of the first 20 rifles reported to Universal Pictures and Winchester during the Winchester '73 picture search. This gun is pictured on pages 31 and 32 of The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles, by Edmund E. Lewis — a copy of which is included with the lot. According to the book, this rifle was purchased by Fred Mills in 1935 from the Iver Johnson Sporting Goods Store in Boston. This 1 of 1000 and the prize 94' gun also are mentioned in the book, Winchester: The Golden Age of American Gunmaking and the Winchester 1 of 1000 by R.L. Wilson, which is not included with the lot. The Winchester Model 1873 was made famous among collectors when Universal Pictures was filming and made Winchester '73, starring Jimmy Stewart as a man intent on recovering his prized 1 of 1000 Winchester rifle from thief Stephen McNally. According to factory records, approximately 133 Winchester 1873, 1 of 1000 rifles were produced and during the Universal Studios search, about 20 were found. There are four 1 of 1000 rifles in the auction. A Historic Sword Attributed to Jean Lafitte (opening bid: $50,000) is attributed to the French pirate and privateer who operated in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century and distributed goods smuggled by his older brother, Pierre Lafitte, from a warehouse in New Orleans. The sword's provenance includes a copy a 1957 article from The Times-Picayune that features an image of four executives holding the sword, as well as a photocopy of the original bill of sale from the Armand Hawkins Company in New Orleans to Mrs. Larz Anderson. Historical collectors will want to set their sights on a Smith and Wesson Frontier Double Action Revolver with Documentation Pertaining to Virgil and Wyatt Earp Ownership (opening bid: $50,000). Research into the backstory of this historically significant weapon revealed that, according to a 1979 article in Texas Gun Collector magazine, the serial number (12863) is that of Virgil Earp's Smith & Wesson. "This gun was given to Virgil by his brother, Wyatt and it was the last gun that Virgil used as a law officer during his long career." It originally was purchased in early 1905 from Simmons Hardware Company by Wyatt Earp's wife, Josephine, as a gift for her husband's 57th birthday. Wyatt and Virgil Earp will forever be associated and romanticized with the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881. Although Wyatt often is referred to as the central figure in the O.K. Corral shootout, it was his brother Virgil, the Tombstone City and Deputy U.S. Marshall that day, that had more experience as a sheriff, constable and marshal. It has been speculated that an Exceptional A. Harrington New York Flintlock Rifle, German Silver Mounted and Marked "OLD HICKORY" (opening bid: $20,000) may have been created for "Old Hickory" himself: Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. The maker, A.A. Harrington, was active in the early 1830s, which overlaps with Jackson's (1829-37) presidency. Jackson was enormously important during the 1830s, meaning the plate inscribed "Old Hickory" very well could be a tribute to him. The other inscribed plate, Latin for "No one provokes me with impunity," also could have been to honor Jackson, who was notorious for his irascible temperament. Jackson lived until 1845, and could well have received such a presentation late in life. Other top lots include, but are not limited to: A Rare Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle, Engraved and Signed by Thomas F. O'Connell (opening bid: $25,000) A Clip Point Knife by Schively, Philadelphia (opening bid: $20,000) A Cased and L.D. Nimschke New York Engraved Pair of Colt 1861 Navy Percussion Revolvers with New Orleans Retailer Markings (opening bid: $20,000) A Rare L.D. Nimschke Signed and Engraved Winchester Model 1866 Saddle Ring Carbine (opening bid: $20,000) A Spectacular and Stunning Civil War Gold Presentation Cavalry Sword for Captain James F. Dwight  (opening bid: $15,000) General Omar Bradley's Map Showing Patton's Third Army Relief of Bastogne, Dec. 30, 1944 (opening bid: $2,500) Images and information about all lots in the auction can be found at HA.com/6271. Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world's largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam and Hong Kong. Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet's most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 1,600,000 registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of 6,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit. For breaking stories, follow us: HA.com/Facebook and HA.com/Twitter . Link to this release or view prior press releases . Hi-Res images available: Steve Lansdale, Public Relations Specialist 214-409-1699 or SteveL@HA.com