November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/16/2022
Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, had an effect on popular culture as no one had done before. Attached to his rising star was a team of dedicated friends and family that aided and helped guide Presley. Lamar Fike was one of these individuals, meeting Elvis in 1954. Fike began his stint with Elvis in 1957 and, with the exception of a brief hiatus as Brenda Lee’s road manager, was involved with Elvis throughout his whole career. Fike was known as one of the “Memphis Mafia”, Elvis’s inner circle. Their friendship was such that Fike attempted to follow Elvis into the Army, but was denied due to his weight. He did move to Germany along with members of Elvis's family and another long term friend to support Elvis. It was in Germany, in 1959, that Fike introduced Elvis to Priscilla Beaulieu, Elvis’s future wife. One of the most famous moments between Presley and Fike was on stage at the 1973 Closing show where Fike piggybacked Elvis on stage while Elvis piggybacked a toy monkey. In 1977, Fike was a pallbearer at Elvis’s funeral. By all accounts, Elvis was a fun-loving and generous person known for his extravagant gifts. It was to this beloved friend that Elvis presented a Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 revolver, a scarce gift, not only for its rarity, as the gun was extremely difficult for civilians to acquire (one account indicates that Elvis had to call in a favor from the Los Angeles Sheriff to acquire the gun), nor for its exhibition level engraving, but because Elvis had the gun made especially for Fike with "LF" inlaid in gold wire. The gun was engraved by Joseph Condon, the famed Las Vegas engraver who also did work for Sammy Davis Jr., Buddy Hackett, and other notable contemporaries, with approximately 80% coverage of finely cut scroll on a stippled ground with hatched shading throughout, accented by gold wire work, and an elaborate scene of a relief gold bighorn sheep on a mountain range on right side. The trigger guard is signed "ENGR. BY J. CONDON" in a gold wire oval. The finely carved ivory grips have the S&W logo, and relief carved oak leaves. The barrel has the normal Smith & Wesson marks with simple lined panels accenting them, red ramp front sight, and white outline adjustable rear sight. This incredible revolver is accompanied by a binder of provenance, including a notarized letter signed by Lamar Fike and addressed to Bob Pope indicating that the gun was given by Elvis Presley as a birthday present, engraved by Joseph Condon, and remarking on the fine condition before hoping to see Bob at the next gun show; a signed letter from Joseph Condon, dated October 28th, 1989, outlining his work and indicating that he engraved this gun, identified by serial number, for Elvis to present to Lamar Fike; photo of Lamar with the gun; a letter from Judge's Gun Shop, dated March 5th 1987, detailing how they purchased the gun from Lamar Fike, information on the gun and Condon, and indicating that they offered the gun to Bob Pope, who purchased the gun almost immediately; a copy of the FFL bound book indicating that the gun was purchased from Fike on 3/26/1979, and sold to Pope the same day; copies of pages from "Elvis and Me" by Priscilla, detailing some of her interactions with Fike; copies and printouts of various photos of Fike and Elvis together, including the 1973 piggyback ride; copies of pages from "Colt Engraving" by Wilson, detailing Condon's work; copies of a Google Group discussing this gun; descriptions of this and related Elvis guns; and copies of Fike's obituary from 2011. CONDITION: Overall excellent, retaining virtually all of the custom finished by Condon with some very light handling marks, possibly only fired a scant few times. Engraving is crisp throughout. Gold wire is excellent, with only a small 1.5mm piece missing from muzzle band, and somewhat muted case colors, with some very minor silvering marks at reciprocating areas areas. Some minute loss is visible at highest points, such as cylinder release and muzzle. Ivory grips are solid but have a few black lines common to ivory. Mechanically fine, bore is excellent with strong rifling. Fike was one of Elvis's closest compatriots, from his rise as a superstar to being a pallbearer at his funeral, and the opportunity to buy a physical representation of one of the singer's most important relationships is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. EMW
Manufacturer
Smith and Wesson