January 26, 2024 Brian Lebel's Old West Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/26/2024
This incredible, hefty, one-of-a-kind Bohlin belt and double-holster rig was crafted as part of Edward Bohlin’s famous “Big Saddle,” his 14-year masterpiece equestrian parade ensemble, which he designed and built (along with top Bohlin artists) for his own personal collection. In other words, it’s Ed Bohlin’s Bohlin gun rig. A pair of Bohlin mounted Colt Single Actions complete the remarkable piece.
Included with the lot is a letter from historian, and noted Bohlin scholar, James Nottage. The description below is excerpted from this letter, which gives a fascinating and detailed description and history of this custom rig, of which Nottage writes, “It is not going too far to state that, at least from this point of view, this is the most artistic and richly embellished Western-styled gunbelt and holster set ever made.”
Details from the Nottage letter: “As with the other parts of the outfit, Gabriel Diaz did the leather stamping on the holsters and belt while his son Angel Diaz stitched the edges with flat silver wire. Mounted on the bottom edge of the belt are fourteen number 533 square conchos, each attached with four silver poppy pins. The conchos have embossed rope edges surrounding floral repousse scroll designs. In the center of each is a gold creature of the west including buffalo, eagles, bears, raccoons, and burros. A highlight in the center of the belt is a large plaque of sterling silver with rope edges, poppy pins, and a gold calf being roped by a cowboy on horseback. The belt has a classic three-piece sterling silver buckle set with one loop and matching keeper. Overlays in red and yellow gold are engraved and a central oval on the buckle is engraved with the maker/owner’s initials, “EHB”. The skeleton-styled pockets of the holsters are stitched with flat sterling silver wire. The skirts each have fourteen 531 conchos with poppy pins and red gold four-petal flowers in the center. The pockets themselves were designed to hold Ed’s Colt Bisley revolvers with 5 1/2” barrels and are stitched with flat silver wire and edged with five petal flowers in silver with gold centers. The retaining strap on each holster has a small three-piece buckle set in silver with gold floral overlays and twisted wire gold rope edges.”
The added pair of Colts are a composed pair of first-generation Colt Single Action Armies, 1896 and 1903*, with blade front sights and strap notch rear sights. In typical configuration for 4 3/4" guns, with caliber designation on left side of barrels, two-line address on top of barrels, frame with two-line patents information on left side (one with encircled pony at rear, one with pony not encircled). The guns have been chromed for visual appeal, and mounted with a set of silver Bohlin grips, with mirrored panels to show off raised gold steer heads with ruby eyes and raised gold "S"s when holstered, panels have full coverage engraving of acanthus scroll, cleverly executed with rocker engraving and shading, enclosed within a rocker engraved border. Condition: Strong bores with some mild frosting throughout and minor oxidation, metal bright chrome throughout with some superficial scratches, minor clouding, and pinprick oxidation at muzzle. Grips are excellent with minor handling marks; legends good, somewhat soft from refinish.
In closing his letter, Nottage calls the rig an “Artistic Treasure” and writes, “Most of Ed Bohlin’s remarkable outfit, including saddle, boots, and one cased revolver was purchased by Gene Autry and is part of the collections of the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. Described by one writer as “massive”, this holster set is one of the finest and most important products of the Bohlin shop, made for the master himself, and is arguably the best and most artistic American revolver holster set of the mid-20th century.”
--James H. Nottage, November 1, 2023
*The 1903 Colt (serial number 249976) is classified as a modern firearm, and is Curio and Relic eligible.
Provenance
•Personal property of Edward H. Bohlin, 1940s to 1977.
•Purchased in 1977 from Bohlin by an attorney and sheriff in Houston, Texas.
•Acquired and later sold in 2003 by John Reedy, then owner of The Bohlin Company.
•Acquired 2003 by a distinguished California collector.
Exhibited
•Stockholm, Sweden, 1947, at the NK Department Store exhibition, “Ready California.” Personally examined by the king of Sweden at that time.
•The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967.
•Parade appearances: Worn by Ed Bohlin while riding in every annual Tournament of Roses Parade, at least from 1947 to 1973 and in each Santa Barbara Fiesta parade, Sheriff’s Rodeo in the Los Angeles Coliseum, and the Santa Claus Lane Parade in Hollywood, plus many more during the same range of years.
Published References to Ed Bohlin’s Personal outfit and holsters
•The American Swedish Monthly in July of 1939.
•Guns & Ammo, pictured in color on the front cover, November 1966.
•Western Outfitter, May 1976.
•Horse & Rider, February 1969.
•True West, August, 1971.
•Western Life, August, 1967.
•The Herald News, Wolf Point, Montana, July 3, 1975.
•Guns & Ammo Annual, 1972.
•Saddlemaker to the Stars: The Leather and Silver Art of Edward H. Bohlin, by James H. Nottage (1996, published by the Autry Museum and the University of Washington Press).
•Pictured being worn by Ed Bohlin on the cover of the 1949 and 1966 Bohlin catalogs.
James H. Nottage was founding Chief Curator of the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles from 1988 to 2000 and later Vice President and Chief Curatorial Officer at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis from 2001 until his retirement in 2018. He has curated or developed more than 100 special exhibitions and edited, authored or contributed essays to a dozen books, historical journals and magazines including the 1996 definitive Bohlin book “Saddlemaker to the Stars: The Leather and Silver Art of Edward H. Bohlin”.
View and read the James Nottage letter in its entirety online at MorphyAuctions.com