J.F.K.'s Chief Special Presentation piece

[model3sw]

It has been about 30 years since I was shown a engraved Chief's Special, gold inlaid with the Presidential Seal, however, I cannot accurately recall whether his entire name was engraved in the gun or just his initials "J.F.K." As Chief's Special does not lend kindly to elaborate or large inlays because of the limited areas that could be artistically enhanced, and, the Presidential Seal encompassed most of the clean area on the sideplate, it likely just had his initials. It was in an elaborate presentation case very similar of a craftsman like Marvin Huey (who I had not yet met at that time).

It was shown to me by a dealer and author to many gun publications, Ron Ogan (RIP), at his house, by special invite.

This was approximately 1988. At that time, he offered it to me for $25,000.00 which was an extremely large sum of money then but a pittance for it today. In this same time frame the nicest RM you could find wouldn't cost you much more than $1,000.00, if that much and about that same amount for the nicest Schofield you could find.

It was not the $25K that scared me, it was that I had no possible way to authenticate the piece, not yet knowing about Roy Jinks' factory records nor the S&W Collectors Assn. And remember, NO INTERNET BACK THEN.

The "story" went that it was a Presentation piece made for J.F.K. (not knowing whether from S&W or someone else to J.F.K) and that it either had actually "been" presented to him, or was "intended to be presented" to him just prior to his assassination.

I have searched, re-searched and inquired over the years to determine:
1. who owns in now ?
2. was it "truly" (and would it letter) as a presentation piece for J.F.K.

I cannot find "it", nor any mention of it ... ANYWHERE !!

I don't know if it was "real" or a showpiece made after his death as a Homage to J.F.K. but I can say it was stunning.

Anyone out there know more about this piece ?

[DWalt]

Interesting, but I have no idea as to its background or source. A letter might or might not confirm it, especially if it was first sent to somewhere in normal commercial channels and then sold to someone else who had it embellished. At least it would be a starting point.

[S&W ucla]

There is a model 19 owned by a member here.(not me, lol) It was made for JFK but not presented before his death. It was at show and tell in Tulsa several years ago and I took a bad cell phone pic. Hoover also had a similar model 19 with FBI seal that may have been auctioned in the last year or two.

[Green Frog]

If it was made for JFK outside the factory, there may be a chance (if it can be found and examined) that the engraver may have signed his work (either overtly or covertly.) Knowing the engraver might help the search somewhat. I would tend to doubt that the Kennedys, even with the anti-gun stance Teddy's branch took in later years, would have let such a historical piece get away, rather keeping it for one of the museums or other displays to honor his memory. It's not like Jackie needed the money and had to pawn it or have a garage sale.

It seems I've heard about an M-1 (Garand? Carbine?) that was ordered from a well-known address on Pennsylvania Ave in DC. When the folks at the old DCM saw the order, a very nice "presentation grade" version of the rifle was sent along forthwith. I'm not sure where that gun ended up, but I'm guessing there is a well documented trail for it. Anything that is reliably connected to JFK commands attention wherever it ends up!

Froggie

[kwill1911]

See this: My S&WCA Display

[DWalt]

Originally Posted by Green Frog

It seems I've heard about an M-1 (Garand? Carbine?) that was ordered from a well-known address on Pennsylvania Ave in DC. When the folks at the old DCM saw the order, a very nice "presentation grade" version of the rifle was sent along forthwith. I'm not sure where that gun ended up, but I'm guessing there is a well documented trail for it. Anything that is reliably connected to JFK commands attention wherever it ends up!

Froggie

It was an M1 Garand. See: Springfield Armory National Match 1959 M1 Garand John F. Kennedy-Rifle Firearms Auction Lot-1807

[italiansport]

Back when President Kennedy was in office he wrote a very positive article regarding the 2nd Amendment and the NRA as I remember it. It appeared in the American Rifleman magazine around that time! Perhaps someone on here still has a copy!
Jim

[TomkinsSP]

I just don't know. Seems fishy. He was a Lt-jg, not a Chief.

Emmily Latella

[mh51]

I was told in 1986 by a senior National Park Service Ranger that at the time of Kennedy's death, he had one of the finest collections of Civil War weapons in the world. Springfield Armory had even built a Spencer carbine for presentation to him.
After his death, the NPS tried to acquire the collection, but the Kennedy family refused to acknowledge that it existed.
I suspect that most of this collection is still sitting in a vault somewhere, and will eventually surface over time.
Mike

[Texas Star]

Anyone know what became of his Victory Model .38, from PT-109?

He supposedly chose it over a Colt.45 auto because he wanted a gun made in his home state.

After his PT boat was sunk, he allegedly wore this .38 on a lanyard as he swam to an island seeking help for his crew.

When George Bush's Avenger was shot down and his gunner killed, Bush gave his .38 to an officer on the sub that rescued him. It's still in the possession of that man's family, last I heard. Barbara Bush reportedly wouldn't allow George to keep a handgun, and his interest in them seems to have been low.

I think the Bushes mainly hunted birds with shotguns. Haven't read anything else on guns they may have.

[2152hq]

I'd guess, and it's just a guess of course, that any factory piece that was done for a sitting President of the US would have some pretty good paperwork to back it up. Even if the provenance is not with the actual gun, the guns existance would be well known.

Colt's engraved SAA that was in the process of being finished up for JFK when he was murdered was left just as that, in the unfinished state but it was near completion.
It's well known factory piece, well documented and pictured. Same as the other factory pieces presented to the other Presidents.
I kind of doubt S&W would let a photo-op like a presentation to the POTUS go by the wayside.
If done and not presented because of the events in Dallas, the gun would still have factory record as the 19 above.

Many engraved pieces are and were done aftermarket in homage to persons or events in our history.
There are also many that have been done with the idea to fake a connection betw the recipient and the mgf'r of the piece.
Let's make another Czar of Russia Parker shotgun. He never received that one either.
Or how many FE Special AH Fox shotguns with the same ser# can show up at the same large G/Show,,all with a factory letterof course,,answ..3

A common come-back for an good engraver when offered a 'rare' presentation piece is,,,'How many would you like?'

I do hope the revolver turns out to be something of factory work and presentation to JFK.
But without absolute ironclad provenance (I love that word!), I'd look at it as another nicely done revolver with an interesting story that is probably worth digging in to.
What do the collectors always say?,,Buy the gun not the story....

Just my .02

[DWalt]

Note the earlier mentioned JFK M1 Garand auction listing for a lesson in provenance. I wonder how it found its way to auction?