December 17, 2026 The Estate Of Whitefoord Cole II: Firearms & Militaria
The live portion of this session begins on Thursday, December 17, 2026.
Lot #1023:
(C) R.F. SEDGLEY MK II "FIST GUN" GLOVE PISTOL, U.S. NAVY PROPERTY MARKED
While many believe that these guns were intended for clandestine operations like the OSS and ONI (in fact, the ATF C&R list refers to these as "OSS Glove Pistol"), and made famous in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds [sic] as an assassination tool, the original patent for Sedgley's "Fist Gun" was more oriented to "provide the wearer with a lethal weapon which he may keep attached to his person at all times without undue difficulty", citing the increasingly common surprise attacks that pervaded modern combat. Build on a thick work glove, a plate is mounted to inside the glove and provides an anchor point for the exterior mechanism. The mechanism utilizes a plunger that extends approximately 1" ahead of the end of the barrel, and when a fist is made, the user withdraws their fingers from the line of fire, and can deliver a punch that depresses the plunger and fires the cartridge. Other features include a checkered release for the pivoting mechanism, a manual cartridge extractor (amusingly, the patent notes that while it is not quick to reload, the gun does makes an effective "brass knuckle" should the .38 Special not incapacitate), and a checkered safety tab. When opened, there is an "R.F. SEDGLEY. INC." Stamp, "U.S. NAVY PROPERTY" marking that appears individually stamped, Sedgley enclosed "S", and "7". CONDITION: Very good. The pistol retains somewhat less than half of the bluing, balance turning a soft plum-brown, with evidence of rough machining and manufacture throughout. Needs mechanical attention as plunger does not trip sear, but other mechanisms appear to function correctly. One screw missing that affixes mechanism to interior plate. Glove with crazing, leather is starting to freeze but is still solid and whole. A very interesting piece of World War II curiosa.