September 26, 2018 O'Connor's Americana Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2018
Once the property of Stembridge Studios, the largest firearms prop house in Hollywood, this revolver is photo documented to having been used by Van Heflin in the movie "Shane" produced in 1952, starring Jack Palance, Alan Ladd, Van Heflin and Gene Arthur. Van Heflin is seen with this revolver just prior to the big fight scene with Alan Ladd. The movie "Shane" is included in most of the top 20 Best Western Movie of All Time lists. Because these were rentals, they were returned after production ceased and re-rented several times. This revolver made its first documented movie appearance in the movie "The Plainsman" produced in 1936 starring Gary Cooper and Gene Arthur as Calamity Jane. The right pistol grip of this revolver is made of bone and is stamped "CALAMITY". The second documented movie appearance of this gun is in the 1939 film "Union Pacific" starring Joel McCrea, Barbara Stanwick and Robert Preston. In this motion picture, this is the main handgun used by Anthony Quinn, who portrayed the villain, Jack Cordray. Revolver is accompanied by several movie stills showing Anthony Quinn with this exact revolver with the name "CALAMITY" plainly visible. The revolver itself is a Belgian copy of a Colt Single Action Army. Stamped "COWBOY RANGER" on top strap. While it is patterned after a Colt Single Action Army, it is actually a double action, six shot revolver with all grey finish, bone grips. Right panel of bone grips is stamped "CALAMITY" and has a chip in toe. Stamped with Stembridge Studio ID No. S225 on frame. Like most guns used in Hollywood before the war, it is period incorrect for the movie "Union Pacific" which dealt with the merging of the Union and Central Pacific railroads in 1869. The double action style was never used during the time frame of the other two movies as well. It is the revolver used in all three early blockbuster Western motion pictures. An extremely well documented revolver.