September 26, 2018 O'Connor's Americana Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2018
Pair of flintlock holster pistols carried by actor Gary Cooper (1901-1961) as Christopher Holden in Cecil B. DeMille's production of "Unconquered", a 1947 Paramount Pictures release. At the time, the pair was in the personal collection of Mr. DeMille (1881-1959). He often drew on his collection of antique firearms in making his epic, historical films. The pistols were made by the famous Andreas Kuchenreiter of Regensburg, Bavaria who worked from 1740-1757, one of a long line of very accomplished gunmakers by that name that spanned 150 years. The pair was first sold on October 18th, 1988 at the dispersal of the DeMille estate by Christie's in their New York rooms, sale No. 6681, Lot 340, the final lot of the sale. Subsequently, they were sold again by Bonham's & Butterfield's on November 20th, 2005 in their Los Angeles rooms, sale No. 13312, Lot 2188. They are illustrated in both sale catalogs. At the latter sale, they were acquired by their present owner who was the underbidder 17 years earlier. Overall length is 16-1/16". Barrels are blued iron, full octagon tapered from breech to muzzle, approximately .48 caliber smoothbore. The tangs are engraved "1" and "2" respectively. Maker's name is inlaid in silver on the top flats accompanied by generous scrollwork in the same manner, reblued during period of use. The maker's personal mark, in sunken gold relief preceding his name, is a mounted horseman with sabre drawn, beneath which are his initials "IAK". Both barrels have swivel ramrods. Both locks are in their original state, 4-3/8" in length, English in form each bearing engraving of appropriate English style and the legend, "E.M. Reilly & Co / London". Gun (A) is missing its mainspring. Stocks are relief carved walnut with a checkered grip area and horn nosecaps. Gilt brass mountings, relief cast with floral patterns, deer and the figure of a woman reclining. The grip escutcheons are lesser quality than the other mountings and are probably old replacements. As the pistols presently appear is exactly how they appeared in the film. For the film's production each gun had a belt hook mounted on its reverse side allowing it to be carried in a specially designed holster with the pistols completely exposed, however the device is not easily discernible to the viewer. The belt hooks of steel, gold plated, still accompany the pistols but are not mounted. The wooden case, which housed the pistols while in Mr. DeMille's possession, can only be "associated" with them because of the Reilly on the lid's interior and the pistols may have been put in it by that gunmaking firm as a sales inducement. As originally stated, these are holster pistols and not dueling or target guns which did come cased with all accessories. The lid's escutcheon and that of the lock are missing, large crack across top. Interior is lined in green felt and an old "DeMille" label remains on the bottom, some minor wear and insect damage. Several movie stills are include, showing Gary Cooper holding the pistols in "Unconquered", as well as a framed photograph of Cecil DeMille. These pistols were on loan to the Fort Pitt Museum and Heinz History center between August of 2013 and October of 2014, as part of the "Cecil DeMille's Unconquered: History Meets Hollywood at Fort Pitt" Exhibit.
Caliber/Bore
.48 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
Johann Andre Kuchenreuter