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LOT 3197
Historic Ray “Crash” Corrigan’s Screen Worn Pair of Colt First Generation Single
Action Army Revolvers with Gold Inlaid Silver Bohlin Grips, Silver Mounted Bohlin
Holster Rig, and Vanity Case -A) Colt Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 255755,
45 Long Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, silver grips. This pair of classic Colt Single
Action Army revolvers’ grips and their silver mounted holster and cartridge belt rig came
from Edward H. Bohlin’s shop. They were owned by Ray “Crash” Corrigan (1902-1976, born
Raymond Benitz) and worn by him during his career as a stuntman and actor on the silver
screen in the 1930s to 1950s. The revolvers and holster rig were worn in various roles and
can be clearly seen in a number of promotional images. In addition to his western roles,
he starred in “The Undersea Kingdom” and wore his gorilla/ape suits in several films. His
Corriganville Movie Ranch was also used to film hundreds of movies and thousands of
television episodes, including “The Lone Ranger”. Many notable silver screen cowboys were
frequently filmed at his ranch, including Roy Rogers and John Wayne, two of Corrigan’s
fellow cast members in the film series “The Three Mequiteers.”
The revolvers were manufactured in 1904 and 1909 and were refinished in full-blue and
fitted with silver grips with full-coverage scroll and wavy line engraving, gold longhorn steer
heads with pink eyes on left grip of “A” and right grip of “B”, a rider on a bucking bronco as
well as a floral bloom in gold on the opposite sides, and “RAY” in gold towards the top of
each grip. The inside of the grips are marked “STERLING” and “10-K” flanking the “BOHLIN
MADE/CALIF./HOLLYWOOD” maker’s marks. The holsters and belt rig are mounted with
numerous silver conchos primarily featuring horse heads and floral designs. There are also
gold floral blooms with pink stone inlays accenting the buckles and straps as well as “RAY” in
gold on the buckles, and the leather features flowing scroll tooling. There are Bolin maker’s
marks on various components. Edward Bohlin became famous making silver grips, silver
mounted holster rigs, and silver mounted saddles for many stars during the Golden Age
of Hollywood. His wares are seen worn by the heroes of many of the era’s iconic westerns,
including characters played by Corrigan, Tom Mix, Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Roy Rogers, and
Clayton Moore. The set is also complete with a leather vanity case marked “RAY CORRIGAN”
in gilt lettering at the front. The case has a mirror inside the lid, makeup items, brushes, a
bottle of “Rexall Compound Cherry Bark Flavored Cough Syrup”, and a container for “Max
Factor’s Satin Smooth Make-Up Panchromatic Face Powder.”
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