The Great April Fools Day Hoax:Confederate General Basil W Duke’s .22/32 HFT revolver

[22hipower]

Perhaps we should have a thread or two about "bad provenance" or perhaps "the lengths some will go to make a profit." I'll give one humorous, or sorry depending on your perspective, example and perhaps others will have stories too.

As most here know, RK Mesa is quite the engraved gun enthusiast and I've asked him more than a few times for advice and counsel and he's always willing to oblige. I came across a very nicely engraved gun a couple years ago supposedly completed by a master engraver in the 1960s. It was for sale for the princely sum of $25k as I remember and was signed by the master engraver.

RK Mesa warned me away from it and linked me to an auction ad from some years before where the gun was shown as attributed to the engraver but there was no signature or engraver's mark. The engraver died in 1970 but amazingly had managed to sign his name to the piece 45 years or so after he died. I surely liked the work but knowing the signature on it was faked would have bothered me every time I looked at it. . . .not that I would have paid $25k for it anyway.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Heinz]

Wonderful prank! I used to collect a few Lugers, so wild tales of provenance are not strangers to me but this was extremely well done, but you are still going to have to stay after school

 

[22hipower]

Wonderful prank! I used to collect a few Lugers, so wild tales of provenance are not strangers to me but this was extremely well done, but you are still going to have to stay after school

And write "I will not create false provenance again" on the blackboard (do we still have blackboards? White board?) one thousand times.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Llance]

Gentlemen, Ladies, there should be no punishment levied against the preparator of this wonderfully laid prank. He has masterfully drawn in some well-read and well positioned readers like myself. While I am no great scholar I am well versed in the American Civil War (no war is civil) and General Duke was known to me, it seemed entirely possible he did or would have owned such a fine firearm. That an honoured general would mark an event such as the end of his battle years with a salute to the states and beliefs he held dear, would not surprise me one bit.

Though I was only an E-3 upon my return from Southeast Asia, still to this day I celebrate my return with a salute of fine old scotch whisky on the date I once again set foot on American soil. That first bottle is long empty as are several others for that fine whisky is also used to celebrate other significant events in my life, such as my first marriage then the divorce, the birth of my first son, and later, his brother, and so on.

Therefore who among us who have experienced the heat of battle and survived, have forgotten the day and date of our return to the land of the big PX, the welcoming open arms of loved one following a safe return to the home hearth after an encounter with people of the general public who did not see us as friends, or after a great fire when others suffered health issues. Every survival is cause for celebration, and a salute of one kind or another.

Even now, as I type this, I am raising a toast in salute to those who stand ready to protect me and my countrymen and women from the evil intent of others. God bless each and every one of you. And may you, at the end of your shift, when you are safe again within the confines of your home, be welcomed by those who know you best.

Llance

Those persons who are without core principles have no basis for honor, to such a person nothing is sacred.

 

[mrcvs]

Gentlemen, Ladies, there should be no punishment levied against the preparator of this wonderfully laid prank. He has masterfully drawn in some well-read and well positioned readers like myself. While I am no great scholar I am well versed in the American Civil War (no war is civil) and General Duke was known to me, it seemed entirely possible he did or would have owned such a fine firearm. That an honoured general would mark an event such as the end of his battle years with a salute to the states and beliefs he held dear, would not surprise me one bit.

Though I was only an E-3 upon my return from Southeast Asia, still to this day I celebrate my return with a salute of fine old scotch whisky on the date I once again set foot on American soil. That first bottle is long empty as are several others for that fine whisky is also used to celebrate other significant events in my life, such as my first marriage then the divorce, the birth of my first son, and later, his brother, and so on.

Therefore who among us who have experienced the heat of battle and survived, have forgotten the day and date of our return to the land of the big PX, the welcoming open arms of loved one following a safe return to the home hearth after an encounter with people of the general public who did not see us as friends, or after a great fire when others suffered health issues. Every survival is cause for celebration, and a salute of one kind or another.

Even now, as I type this, I am raising a toast in salute to those who stand ready to protect me and my countrymen and women from the evil intent of others. God bless each and every one of you. And may you, at the end of your shift, when you are safe again within the confines of your home, be welcomed by those who know you best.

Llance

Those persons who are without core principles have no basis for honor, to such a person nothing is sacred.

This is a very touching post and I thank you for your service!

 

[Buford57]

Um, ok, thanks for letting us know...

Great story. Great hoax. Great confession.

Ego te absolvo.