Guns owned by famous people?

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Just out of curiosity, how many of us are fortunate enough to own a gun that was at one time owned by someone "famous."  Either because you happened to find a gun owned by someone like that, or you purchased it as a generic gun, abut then later discovered that it was once upon a time owed by someone of significance.

I guess I can say that I am lucky enough to have obtained such a firearm the second way.

A few years ago, I purchased a S&W New Model 3 target pistol in 38-44 cuz it was affordable and I wanted it.  When I lettered the gun, I discovered that it was originally purchased by Arthur Corbin Gould, a national pistol champion from the Boston area. (Being from the Boston area, this is kinda nifty)  Along with the factory letter, S&W set me a copy of the article about him that appeared in The American Rifleman a few years back.  He may not be super famous these days, but well, it sorta qualifies.  

Also, if you take the grips off, the grip frame is stamped RF Enewold, a one time gunsmith/collector from Nevada who had a habit of stamping his name on the guns he owned.   Don't really know anything else about him.   

But in any event, I can tie not one but two semi-famous names to one of my guns.

Can anyone else do the same?

[Boggus Deal #64218]

I have a Texas Longhorn Arms Grover’s Improved No 5 that was owned by Lynn Thompson of Cold Steel Knives and once owned Bowen Classic Arms .500 Magnum prototype built for the gun writer, Hal Swiggett. 

[watab kid]

i have a 1918 colt 1911 that was owned by a locally famous fellow in my home town that was a lieutenant in the army  in that era , i doubt it counts to anyone but me as i knew the man and he was an infuential individual in our town in the 40s to the 70s , ill not part with it as its been in my family since the 50s 

[Nimble Fingers SASS# 25439]

I am going to “cheat”!  I own a replica 2875 Remington in .44-40, similar to Frank James’s pistol. My great grandfather, a doctor in Union County Ohio was kidnapped one night by the James gang, taken to their hideout and took a bullet out of Frank James!!  Close as u will probably come and the reason for buying in the Remington. Saw the real pistol in West Palm Beach in 2011 when Bill Koch had an exhibit of a lot of his Western memorabilia, including the recently purchased Billy the Kid tintype. 

[Waimea]

I did own a pair of Rugers that were owned by a soap star.

Can't recall his name.

Apparently he did some adult films as well.

Still don't remember his name.

I believe he has passed on.

 

 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Intriguing stories!   

This was part of the reason why I started documenting my collection, as much as I could, with factory letters from where I could get them.   So far, the only one connected to a real historical person is the above mentioned Smith & Wesson, but other interesting data has shown up for a couple of items.   One of my Webley pistols was sold to Israel for example, not too long after the country came into existence.  Another Webley was apparently a commercial model sold in Ireland but was somehow "drafted" into service in the Royal Navy during WWII long before it would up on the US Surplus market.   It all adds up to at times interesting information.

Looking back, I wish I had snagged an SAA I saw on Gunbroker a few years ago being sold by Hank Williams Jr.  It was complete with a factory letter with his name on it!

But, while the price was good, it's 3rd Generation status put it beyond my legal reach.   Oh well.

[Griff]

Hmmm... I have an 1851 once owned by Gen'l Grant........... SASS#2! 😉

[Boggus Deal #64218]

Oooh! I also have some really rare guns for New Mexico. They were NOT owned by Billy the Kid!

[Jackalope]

I have a pair of .45 Colt revolvers that I purchased from Longshot Logan years and years ago.  Doubtful that many new folks ever heard of him but he was a pretty well known SASS personality once upon a time.

[J.S. Sooner, SASS #73526]

A local shooter has used a number of western movie guns at matches. A Winchester 92 and revolver most recently. An avid collector, he had costumes worn in movies, even had a documented, John Wayne hat. Didn't wear the hat at matches to my knowledge.  

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

Nothing for me. I've read examples of gun owners who have bought an 1800s Colt or Winchester a n d when getting them lettered found they were delivered to a hardware store in a town at a time when some historical event occurred.  Or when a famous lawman was in that town. Just knowing your gun was there at the same time would be pretty cool to me.

[tacobill]

I have an 870 shotgun that was owned by Joaquin Jackson a Texas  Ranger and my favorite is a Shiloh Sharps that was in the movie Crossfire Trail, it was originally made for Hank Williams Jr.

[Blackwater 53393]

I once owned a Marlin 24 exposed hammer pump shotgun that was said to have belonged to Marine General Craig Boddington. He was/is big in Boy Scout history and was involved as a Marine in the conflicts in Kuwait and the Gulf War. He’s a well known and respected author and hunter.

 

Sold the gun to a LEO friend of mine a few years ago.

[Horace Patootie, SASS #35798]

I have an '86 Winchester that once belonged to Sixgun Shorty, then Goatneck Clem.  Two famous people.

Horace

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

I have some formerly owned by the US Gov't. They are famous. 

[Timothy]

Theres been some great names dropped in this thread!

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

I have a few 1st Gen Colts but have not lettered them and doubt they have provenance.  However, I have had been able to fondle some of Mike Harvey's guns including Texas Jack Omohundro's S&W American, and an SAA that belonged to King Fisher  that was supposedly buried with him and apparently liberated when the cemetery was moved for highway construction.

[Rye Miles #13621]

All my guns are owned by a famous person………..ME ! 

[Grumpy Old Man]

6 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

All my guns are owned by a famous person………..ME ! 

A legend in your own mind!!!!

[Sandhills Slim, SASS #22998]

My wife, Ms. Jewel, is shooting a pair of stainless steel Ruger .32 cal. single sixes that were owned by cowboy gun coach and performer Joe Bowman who performed at many SASS shooting events prior to his death years ago.  Joe sold the revolvers to a friend of his who at his passing willed them to his nephew. We purchased them from his nephew several years ago. They appeared to be unfired at the time we obtained them. The labels on the boxes have Joe Bowman’s name written on them. 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

19 hours ago, Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L said:

I have some formerly owned by the US Gov't. They are famous. 

 

Well, yeah.   I gotta buncha stuff they used to own.  But, that's more of a famous group than a famous person.   And it's a BIG group.

I suppose there is a remote possibility that one of those US Gov't pieces may have been used by someone whose name we would recognize, there is really no way to know.   Still, it is fun to speculate!  

[watab kid]

On 8/2/2025 at 10:23 PM, Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L said:

I have some formerly owned by the US Gov't. They are famous. 

me too - quite a few m but im not letting any go anytime soon , i enjoy them too much 

[Griff]

12 hours ago, watab kid said:

me too - quite a few m but im not letting any go anytime soon , i enjoy them too much 

Heck, there's one or two.. or 3, or 4 or... ad nauseam, that I plan on taking with me!  Wherever or whenever I go!

[July Smith]

On 8/3/2025 at 10:01 AM, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said:

SAA that belonged to King Fisher  that was supposedly buried with him and apparently liberated when the cemetery was moved for highway construction.

That's really cool!  I go by his grave and historical marker several times a week on my way to work.

[watab kid]

10 hours ago, Griff said:

Heck, there's one or two.. or 3, or 4 or... ad nauseam, that I plan on taking with me!  Wherever or whenever I go!

im getting cremated - no need to destroy perfectly good SAAs that others will enjoy in the future , ill make sure they go somewhere good - just not yet 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I have a Remington Rand 1911a1 .

It was carried by my Grandfather threw out WWll.

He come home with it .

My Uncle had it .

Then My Father had it .

Then my cousin had it .

Now I have had it for about the last 15 years .

Im saving in for my Grandson .

He will one day Own his Great Great Grandfathers gun that has saved his life several times. 

And every time he shoots it .

He will know .

He would have never been born if not for that very 

Remington Rand 1911a1 .

I think that's about as famous of a gun as you could ever own .

God bless. 

Rooster. 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

1 minute ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

I have a Remington Rand 1911a1 .

Believe it or not, you can get a Colt letter for it.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

On 8/3/2025 at 10:41 AM, Rye Miles #13621 said:

All my guns are owned by a famous person………..ME ! 

You misspelled infamous. 

[watab kid]

i misspell all the time - itsd cause i cant relly type - im a one finger plinker on the keypad but then id have been better with a telegraph key but my morris code is real =rusty 

[Widder, SASS #59054]

18 hours ago, watab kid said:

i misspell all the time - itsd cause i cant relly type - im a one finger plinker on the keypad but then id have been better with a telegraph key but my morris code is real =rusty 

 

It took me less than 8 seconds to type this sentence.

Of course, I'm Ambidextroutous.

 

..........Widder

 

[watab kid]

3 hours ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

 

It took me less than 8 seconds to type this sentence.

Of course, I'm Ambidextroutous.

 

..........Widder

 

im not but once in a while i can type with two fingers - i got a D in typing in high school , i couldnt see the need for it the sexist young me thought my secratary would do the typing - my first wife was a wiz at it and did what i needed in college - before we needed much typing , most of my classmates had to pay professional typists to do their papers back then , 

 

only when i saw my first computer did it dawn on me why i needed to know it , there are some other things i needed to know as well , but i made it through my working life without some and adding some ,