Nickel 57 & 66 with a John Wayne Connection (pics)

Dump1567 · #1 12-17-2011, 03:48 PM

This used to belong to a very close friend of John Wayne. This friend passed away in 1998 and left his daughter serveral guns. His daughter recently sold this model 57 along with several other guns. I purchased 3 guns from her.

This is a Nickel 4" 57 with presenatation target grips. Dates to the mid 70's (ser# N316xxx).

I also picked-up a 4" model 66 from the same owner that also dates to the mid 70's.

The third gun I purcased (shown below) was an Orange Co. Sheriffs' Dept (CA) commemerative. It Commemerates the first Orange Co. lawman killed in the line of duty in 1912 (OCSD Undersheriff Robert Squires). Yesterday marked the 99 year aniversary of the shooting, so here's a current story on it. Memorial born on date of long-ago shootout | county, squires, or - News - The Orange County Register
This gun is a 6" nickel engraved model 29 and was sold by the Orange Co. Sheriffs' dept. range store in the mid 80's. I'll get picks up later. But here's one from the internet.

I've requested a letter for both the 57 and 66 to see what shop they were shipped to and to determine if the presentation grips are original. This gun probably came in a display case, but who knows what happened to that. Both guns have been shot and enjoyed.

It would be great to find out if JW ever shot these, handle these, or even presented these to the original owner (as I've heard he was know for giving guns away).

But like all great internet stories, unless I have a picture of the gun in his hand, it's just a story.

Maybe member opoefc can add more to this, as I've read he was also friends with John Wayne.

Enjoy the pics.

rburg · #2 12-17-2011, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dump1567

Maybe member opoefc can add more to this, as I've read he was also friends with John Wayne.

Oh boy, this thread will degenerate fast. With that opener, we'll soon have suggestions they rode to school together (on a mule) in the 1800s!

jrm53 · #3 12-17-2011, 09:07 PM

You know the Duke may have held and sighted down the barrel on that one! Jeff

Dump1567 · #4 12-18-2011, 02:15 PM

Forgot the business card my dealer gave me from the seller.

Red Tex · #5 12-18-2011, 08:57 PM

That's dang near too cool for words...

therick · #6 12-19-2011, 03:09 PM

I'd be thrilled just to own the business card.....let alone one of his guns !

Hearsedriver · #7 12-19-2011, 04:03 PM

He handed those cards out in 1976 during his promotion of "The Shootist". They go for about $100.00 by themselves. I'd love to have one myself.

Dump1567 · #8 12-19-2011, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hearsedriver

He handed those cards out in 1976 during his promotion of "The Shootist". They go for about $100.00 by themselves. I'd love to have one myself.

Wow, I just had it laying around my gun room. Maybe I should put it in a card holder.

Hearsedriver · #9 12-19-2011, 05:36 PM

..or send it to me : )

Hondo44 · #10 12-19-2011, 06:10 PM

Do you know any thing about the friend's background? Was he in the Movie making business?

2ifbyC · #11 12-19-2011, 06:13 PM

There’s a pawn shop in Vegas waiting to authenticate your find and to offer you a stack of crisp $100 bills. Be sure and ask for Chumlee.

Dump1567 · #12 12-19-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Do you know any thing about the friend's background? Was he in the Movie making business?

Actually, there's plenty of info. on the net documenting there friendship. He wasn't in the industry. He use to be one of his business partners. I even found a picture of them together.

I'm not sure if I should put his info. out here.

AkRay · #13 12-19-2011, 06:59 PM

John Wayne had better penmanship than I do. Maybe there is something to the ruler across the knuckles stories the older guys tell because a lot of older guys seem to write in an attractive hand like this. And you know what, the elementary age kids compliment me on my handwriting sometimes.

Dump1567 · #14 12-19-2011, 11:50 PM

Picked-up the other two guns. 66 no dash and Nickel 29-3. It seems like both the 57 and 66 have had an action job, as both have a lighter trigger pull than they should.

Not the best pics, but here you go.
I love the detail in the grip medallion.

169 is also on the inside of the frame above the serial #. I may letter it and try to find out who did the engraving. Not sure if S&W would do it in house. The non-engraved side of the barrel has "Smith & Wesson" & ".44 Magnum" below it. They must have custom done the barrel rollmarks to leave the engraved side blank for engraving.

Dump1567 · #15 02-04-2012, 12:14 PM

I got my letters back from Roy on the 57 and 66.

The 57 was shipped on Dec. 14, 1975 to Monroe Hardware Co., New Orleans, LA.

The 66 was shipped June 16, 1976 to Cheshire & Perez Co., Monrovia, CA.

I'm still trying to figure out if these were distributors who sold to retail gun shops. There's a local shop near me that has been around since 1949 and may have originally sold these guns to John Wayne or his friend (both I've read frequented this shop). I think it would be awesome if I could trace these to originally being owned by John Wayne, but that may be just wishful thinking.

I didn't letter the 29-3, but a member here did provide further detail about the history of these commemeratives.

I also picked-up a non import stamped Inland M1 Carbine that belonged to the same owner of these three S&W's (my local shop had taken in about 10 guns from the same owner).

Some of you have inquired about who this friend of John Wayne's was.

His name was Chick Iverson. Here's an LA Times newpaper article I found with some comments he made in 1985 about John Wayne in an interview.

Quote:

Newport Beach car dealer Chick Iverson was one of Wayne's closest friends.

"He was the dearest friend and greatest influence I ever had in my life," said
Iverson. "To me, he was just plain Duke. He was just the greatest human being
who ever lived. (His death) left a great void in my life."

Iverson often accompanied Wayne on film locations and took family vacations with
the Waynes on the Duke's yacht Wild Goose, a 136-foot, converted World War II
minesweeper. Iverson said he met the star in the early '60s "and we palled
around from then on, until the end.

"There was hardly a day that went by that I didn't see him. His friendship was
really what was important, not the fact that he was a celebrity. He was just my
pal, that's all."

Iverson, whose office is filled with guns, cowboy boots and other memorabilia
Wayne gave him, offered his thoughts on what made his old pal such a beloved
figure to many Americans.

"His morals and values and his love of his country and fellow man certainly came
across on the screen," he said. "And he was no different in person. I've seen
him miss planes to sign things for people. He was probably the most gracious man
in the world."

Another thing: Duke was not just a big cowboy, he was a very articulate man, and
with wit beyond belief.

"He was such a marvelous man, none of us should lose memory of him."

Some more history I found:

Quote:

Chick Iverson and John Wayne were best friends. That’s why John Wayne was the
best man at his wedding to Mrs. Iverson. Mr. Iverson has since passed away and
is actually buried next to John Wayne.

John Wayne and Chick were like Oprah and Gail. John Wayne was the Godfather to
Chick’s son, who died at the age of 21 when he took a used Jaguar of the lot and
ran off the cliff on his way to Laguna. Chick introduced John Wayne to his wife
who worked on his ranch in South America. Chick Iverson was the executor to John
Wayne’s Estate and controlled all the money for his children.

And a pic I actually found of them together on e-bay. I't amazing what you can find on a google search.

Sportsterguy · #16 02-05-2012, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2ifbyC

There’s a pawn shop in Vegas waiting to authenticate your find and to offer you a stack of crisp $100 bills. Be sure and ask for Chumlee.

******* crooks! You have two neat revolvers there sir. Love the history I'm reading about. Loved "The Shootist" and most of JW's movies. Would love to know the story on where his ivory handled Colt ,45 ended up at. I'm not big on engraved weapons but love .41 mags and have a twin to your's. Great revolver made even better with your's journey

Owner told me it was once owned by Michelle Obama

. Don't have her card and am not going to ask for it!

Dump1567 · #17 02-05-2012, 11:51 AM

I spoke to the owner of the local shop where these guns might have been sold. Seemed like a really great guy and told me some interesting stories. They've had several celebrity customers over the years including John Wayne, Joey Bishop, and (IIRC) I think he said Jon Bon Jovi. He's also involved with Ethan Wayne (John's son) over licensing of JW products.

The best he could do was tell me that if he had the time, he'd have an employee check the A&D log books from the mid seventies for the two guns I had. It's really like looking for a needle in a haystack, as there's no guarantee that either of these guns went through the shop.

He did recall getting guns from Cheshire & Perez Co. back in the day.

He said the shop actually had one of the Robert Squirres Project 999 Commemerative guns on display for awhile when they first came out. He told me an intersting story on how someone tried to steal it & actually pointed the unloaded gun at him.

Here's a few better pics of the Commemerative.

Hondo44 · #18 02-06-2012, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sportsterguy

Would love to know the story on where his ivory handled Colt ,45 ended up at.

He actually had two:
The 1st was a 1st generation Colt SAA, 44-40 5 1/2" with imitation ivory grips soaked in tea to look aged and was used in all his B westerns.

The 2nd was kind of a 'mixmaster' that started life as a 4 3/4" Colt Bisley Model. The Bisley backstrap was removed and replaced with a standard plow handle backstrap but the large Bisley trigger guard and forestrap was retained, which was apparently to accomodate the Duke's large fingers.
The serial numbers do not match and the back of the frame around the hammer was not re-contoured to match the back grip strap. Again, the imitation ivory grips were tea stained to appear like aged ivory.

It is speculated that the work was done by Yakima Canutt, his famous stunt double and protaganist in the B westerns, who also modified the lever and shortened the barrel on the Duke's famous hoop levered 38-40 '92 Win carbine. Although Duke owned that Colt, like the movie rental guns it was severely used, abused and rebuilt many times.

The Colt was written up in Guns of the Old West within the last two years when sold at auction and its whereabouts are documented. The auther actually built a copy of it. You can probably find the story by Googling it.

Sportsterguy · #19 02-06-2012, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

He actually had two:
The 1st was a 1st generation Colt SAA, 44-40 5 1/2" with imitation ivory grips soaked in tea to look aged and was used in all his B westerns.

The 2nd was kind of a 'mixmaster' that started life as a 4 3/4" Colt Bisley Model. The Bisley backstrap was removed and replaced with a standard plow handle backstrap but the large Bisley trigger guard and forestrap was retained, which was apparently to accomodate the Duke's large fingers.
The serial numbers do not match and the back of the frame around the hammer was not re-contoured to match the back grip strap. Again, the imitation ivory grips were tea stained to appear like aged ivory.

It is speculated that the work was done by Yakima Canute, his famous stunt double and protaganist in the B westerns, who also modified the lever and shortened the barrel on the Duke's famous hoop levered 38-40 '92 Win carbine. Although Duke owned that Colt, like the movie rental guns it was severely used, abused and rebuilt many times.

The Colt was written up in Guns of the Old West within the last two years when sold at auction and its whereabouts are documented. The auther actually built a copy of it. You can probably find the story by Googling it.

Sir, Thank you for the history lesson. I will Google it after work. Can't imagine what it went for at auction. LOVED most of his movies and would have loved to have met him along with Clint Eastwood. He's my other favorite actor who kicked butt last night with his SB commercial. Made me proud to be an American and he still looks great for his age! Also thought the Colt had real ivory on it. Visited the Buffalo Bill museum in Cody, Wy. years ago and saw many famous weapons. Too bad one of his isn't in the collection that had me drooling and my wife a little ticked off as I was in disbelief

. Me and a good friend are headed out to Sturgis again this summer and we're headed to see the museum. Hope there's still camping allowed at the cities lawn, but going to see if an KOA is in the area. Beautiful country and great MC riding

!

Thanks again sir!

Hondo44 · #20 02-06-2012, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sportsterguy

Sir, Thank you for the history lesson. I will Google it after work. Can't imagine what it went for at auction. LOVED most of his movies and would have loved to have met him along with Clint Eastwood. He's my other favorite actor who kicked butt last night with his SB commercial. Made me proud to be an American and he still looks great for his age! Also thought the Colt had real ivory on it. Visited the Buffalo Bill museum in Cody, Wy. years ago and saw many famous weapons. Too bad one of his isn't in the collection that had me drooling and my wife a little ticked off as I was in disbelief

. Me and a good friend are headed out to Sturgis again this summer and we're headed to see the museum. Hope there's still camping allowed at the cities lawn, but going to see if an KOA is in the area. Beautiful country and great MC riding

!

Thanks again sir!

Hi again, after posting I found this by Googling:
John Wayne - American - One Colt Became A Trademark

It pretty much parrallels the story I read with greater detail and includes the present owners of both guns. There's info of the first movie rented gun Duke used that I mentioned, which is pictured on the cover of the Guns & Ammo Sept '81 issue I just pulled from my file.

The "mystery" of the first holster rig maker is just that. I recall it's 1st use in "Hondo" from 1957. John Bianchi of Bianchi holster fame (now owner of Frontier Gunleather) has original correspondence with sketches made by Duke and sent to Bianchi 2/78 when the 1st holster of the style pictured was re-created. Some changes were ordered until the correct angle and mounting height were acceptable to the Duke.

Bianchi celebrated this event with their 3000 commemorative John Wayne holster sets in 1981 and featured in the same G&A issue. Although Bianchi made and still makes a rendition of the Duke's holster, only the holster in the 3000 limited edition sets of which I have three, truly exactly match those made for the Duke.

Well I'm just full of useless trivia and I'm sure that's way more BS than anyone wanted to hear.

All the best,

Green Frog · #21 08-28-2013, 05:03 PM

Apropos of nothing S&W, but I'm wondering why there was an effort to change the cylinder of any SAA between 44-40 and 45 if it was going to be used in movies firing blanks. AFAIK, the prevailing practice is to use "Five-in-One" blanks that are designed specifically to operate in 45 revolvers, 44-40 revolvers and carbines, and 38-40 revolvers and carbines. Unlike military quartermasters, movie prop masters just had to make the guns "go bang" so exact caliber and chambering of the blanks was less important than ease of supply.

I'm sure there are lots of good blanks out there for 38 Special for use in movie Model 10s and Chief Specials (to come back to the theme of our forum.

) Can you visualize the Duke in one of his modern detective movies with a Chief Special in that big paw of his... the bad guy might be amused... very briefly!

Froggie

larry21556 · #22 08-29-2013, 06:43 PM

Cheshire and Perez were the west cost distributor/ warranty repair facility for Smith. They were located in Monrovia, California. They were a S&W LE distributor

Warren Sear · #23 08-29-2013, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvin Gardens

I heard it was a prarie schooner pulled by two oxen.

Regards.

Bob

With MIM rims on the wheels.