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439
LOT 550
Well-Documented Historic Elvis Presley Commissioned
Joseph Condon Presentation Engraved and Gold Inlaid
Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 Double Action Revolver
with Oak Leaf Carved Grips Presented to Presley’s
Friend Lamar Fike - Serial no. S237347, 44 Magnum cal.,
4 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, carved grips. Here at Rock
Island Auction Company, we have had the honor of offering
multiple items that belonged to “The King”, particularly his
firearms. In 2017, we offered to the public a Smith & Wesson
Model 19-2 revolver and a Colt Python revolver, both of
which were highly embellished and sold for $195,500 and
$172,500 respectively. Then in 2023, RIAC was pleased to
offer Presley’s exhibition quality master engraved, gold
and silver inlaid Smith & Wesson Model 53 United States
Bicentennial revolver, which fetched $199,750. We have
even had the pleasure of offering one of Presley’s guitars
that sold for $48,875. It is clear that firearms associated with
“The King” remain extremely desirable and collectible to
this day. Rock Island Action Company is once again please
to present another Elvis Presley firearm, a Smith & Wesson
Model 29-2 revolver highly embellished by “engraver of the
stars” Joseph Condon of Las Vegas. In the accompanying
1989 dated letter, Condon confirms he engraved the gun
for Elvis and Elvis gave the gun to his friend Lamar Fike:
“The revolver you have, Smith & Wesson Mod. 29 .44 Mag. 4”
Barrel Ser. # S237347, was engraved for Elvis Presley which
he gave as a gift to his long time friend Lamar Fike.” In his
own words written in an included letter, Fike stated that
Elvis gave him the gun as a birthday present. These two
letters are addressed to Bob Pope. A copy of a letter from
Ray Judge of Judge’s Gun Shop in Winchester, Tennessee,
stated that Fike sold the revolver to Judge. A copy of Judge’s
Gun Shop federal bound book clearly showed that the gun
was acquired from Fike and later sold to Bob Pope in 1977.
The revolver was purchased by our consignor in 2012.
As confirmed by the aforementioned documents, Elvis
Presley commissioned the revolver and presented it to his
lifelong friend and Memphis Mafia member Lamar Fike.
Presley and Fike were friends nearly their entire adult lives;
first meeting in 1954 at the famed recording studio Sun
Studio where a 19 year old Fike was learning to be a disc
jockey under the tutelage of Elvis’ friend and classmate
George Kein. Founded in 1952 by Sam Phillips, Sun Records
label business, which shared the same building with Sun
Studio, was the first label to record Elvis Presley as well as
other music giants such as Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis,
and Johnny Cash to name just a few. Fike started working
for Elvis in 1957, and the two men stayed close friends
until Elvis’ death in 1977. Fike died in 2011. Fike would go
on to be assigned to various roles assisting Presley such
as a lighting director, bodyguard, and managing Presley’s
music publishing group. While filming a dance scene to
Jailhouse Rock in 1958, Elvis was hospitalized for a cap to
his tooth getting caught in his lung. He spent a night at a
Hollywood hospital. Fike flew out to California to be with
his friend, and when production to the film wrapped, Fike
accompanied Elvis back to Graceland. Fike was one of
the earliest members of Elvis’ inner circle later called The
Memphis Mafia. He would generally work for Elvis without
pay as The King of Rock & Roll preferred to tip his entourage
with lavish gifts like cars and houses. Fike introduced Elvis to
Anita Wood, one of the singer’s more passionate love affairs
as well as to Pricilla Beaulieu, The King’s future wife. In 1958,
Elvis was drafted into the U.S. Army, and Fike attempted to
enlist in order to remain close to his friend but was denied
due to his physical bulk. While stationed in Germany, Elvis
requested Fike to fly out with his father and grandmother.
Fike had become an extended member of the Presley family.
When Elvis returned to touring in the 1970s, Fike was his
lighting director. In the closing 1973 show in Las Vegas
came a photo of Fike giving Elvis a piggyback ride out onto
the stage.