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Rock Island Auction Company Proudly Presents
A National Treasure
Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt's Special Order Rough Rider Revolver
LOT 84
Historic “National Treasure” Factory Documented Spanish- American War Rough Rider Colonel Theodore Roosevelt Shipped Factory Engraved Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Single Action Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 32661, 38 Long Colt cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. This revolver is one of the most iconic Smith & Wesson firearms in existence and is factory documented as shipped to one of the most beloved and influential men in American history: Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. The included factory letter confirms this New Model No. 3 was shipped
to “Colonel Roosevelt” on May 12, 1898, the same day
Roosevelt left for San Antonio, Texas, and the same day as the bombardment of San Juan during the Spanish-American War. On May 6th, Roosevelt had been officially sworn in as a lieutenant colonel in the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry. He was previously expected to be in San Antonio around the 10th but was delayed, so the revolver was likely Texas shipped and was intended to
be Roosevelt’s personal sidearm for the campaign in Cuba. On July 2, 1898, Theodore Roosevelt famously led the Rough Riders in their charge up Kettle Hill during the Battle of San Juan Hill. The event became one of the most famous events in Roosevelt’s life and helped propel him to the governorship of New York, then the vice presidency, and ultimately the presidency in
short order. He has remained one of the most iconic statesmen in our nation’s history, seen as the physical embodiment of American masculine values at the turn of the century, and
was a highly influential leader during a significant transitional period in American history on many fronts. For firearms collectors, veterans, and sportsmen, he is often remembered
for his collection of beautiful firearms like this Smith & Wesson, his tough stance against foreign adversaries, his courage in combat, the sacrifice he and his family made for the country,
his epic hunts both in the U.S. and abroad, his conservation of more than 230 million acres of public land for all Americans, the establishment of the Boone & Crockett Club and the American Bison Society, and so much more. For historians, we can proudly call him one of our own; he published numerous books in his lifetime, including “History of the Naval War of 1812,”“The Rough Riders,” and the multi-volume “The Winning of the West.” He is the only American to be awarded both the Nobel Peace Prize (1906) and the Medal of Honor (2001). There is something about Roosevelt for every American to admire. His contributions to this country are simply too immense to compile here.
Roosevelt had many firearms, and they were often highly personalized special order pieces that fit his specific tastes and needs. This revolver is chambered in .38 Long Colt, the standard U.S. service cartridge of the period. This caliber is very rare
in the New Model No. 3 but makes perfect sense as a choice
for Roosevelt as he was heading off to fight in the Spanish- American War. The factory engraving by the Youngs is also fitting given Roosevelt’s other engraved firearms. The embellishment
is elegant and fairly understated rather than flashy, again fitting for an officer headed off to war. It consists of flourishes of scroll engraving with beaded backgrounds on the barrel, cylinder,
and frame. The revolver has a pinned rounded blade front
sight, notch rear sight on the barrel latch, “+SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD, MASS. U.S.A.+” on top of the rib, Matching serial numbers are on the barrel, latch, cylinder, butt, and inside of
the right grip. An early 20th century Rock Island Arsenal brown leather holster for a Colt double action service revolver with an “E.H.S.” inspector mark below the arsenal marking on the flap and “US” embossed on the body is included. These holsters were designed for the Colt Model 1892 and subsequent double action revolvers. A Model 1892 recovered from the USS Maine was famously carried by Roosevelt in the Battle of San Juan Hill.
This iconic revolver won silver medal 352 for the Ten Best Arms Award at the NRA Annual Meeting in 1996 (medal and plaque included). It was on loan to the NRA National Firearms Museum c. 1998-2013 and then the National Sporting Arms Museum from 2013-2022. The revolver has been featured in multiple publications. It has been featured in multiple editions of the “Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson” by Jim Supica and Richard Nahas, including on the cover in 1996; in “Smith & Wesson Engraving” by Michael Kennelly on page 10; on page 277 of “Theodore Roosevelt: Outdoorsman” by R.L. Wilson; on page 4
of “Theodore Roosevelt: Hunter-Conservationist” by R.L. Wilson and discussed on page 111; in “Firearms, Freedom, and the American Experience Guidebook to the NRA Museum;”“Guns of the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum” by Supica, Wicklund, and Schreier on page 90 which notes “Roosevelt received this factory engraved revolver in May of 1898 just as he left New York for San Antonio to train the Rough Riders. It is one of only a handful of this model chambered for the then new .38 U.S. Service cartridge.
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