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Military Governor of Cuba
Chief of Staff of the
US Army
Governor General of the Philippines
During the lead up to World War I, Wood was an outspoken advocate for military preparedness and was instrumental in the organization of civilian officer training camps,
which became the model for some 30 divisional camps scattered throughout the U.S. He was a primary candidate to command the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during the First World War but was passed over due to his criticism of the Wilson administration. Nonetheless, Wood was influential in the training of the U.S. 89th and 10th Infantry Divisions and received the Army Distinguished Service Medal and recognition as a Grand Officer in the French Legion of Honor. In 1919, his friend Theodore Roosevelt died, and Wood was widely considered to be
his natural successor. While serving as the commander
of the 6th Corps Area, he made a run for the Republican presidential nomination but narrowly lost out to Warren Harding. President Harding appointed the recently retired Wood to the Wood-Forbes Mission to the Philippines, and Wood, likely taking his trusty side arm with him, was soon appointed governor general, a post he held until forced to resign due to the recurrence of his brain tumor in 1927. After returning to the states, he died in surgery. The well- known Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri is named for him.
Letters of provenance are included that trace the ownership of this revolver after Wood’s death. Although they erroneously state the revolver was carried by General Wood during the Geronimo and San Juan Hill campaigns, these letters indicate the revolver remained with Wood’s family until it was sold by his grandson. In his notarized letter from July 1962, auctioneer and appraiser Herbert F. Cole states this revolver (listed by serial number) along with a S&W .38 caliber revolver no. 399155 (incorrectly listed in .32 caliber) came from the General Wood family collection and were consigned by Wood’s grandson.
By 1965, the .44 DA revolver was in the possession of Norman Brigham Pemberton of Milton, Massachusetts. Pemberton’s April 1965 letter addressed to S&W asking
for information pertaining to the revolver is included
as well as the factory letter S&W sent to Pemberton. As
with the factory letter from 2000, the 1965 factory letter confirms this .44 DA Revolver was shipped to General
Wood. Additional information is obtained from Pemberton’s included June 1997 dated notarized letter (copy) when he transferred ownership of the revolver to Antonio Croce of Hackettstown, New Jersey. In the letter, Pemberton states he purchased the revolver directly from Herbert Cole.
CONDITION: Very good plus, displaying honest use and wear for a revolver owned by Indian Wars Medal of
Honor recipient and Spanish-American War Rough Riders commander Major General Leonard Wood and shipped
to him during his service in the Philippines. 30% original blue finish remains and the grips have defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. Don’t miss your opportunity to acquire a well-documented Smith & Wesson revolver owned by one of the most influential military leaders of his day. From chasing Geronimo in the Southwest deserts to riding alongside Theodore Roosevelt in the famed Rough Riders
to fighting an insurgency in the Filipino jungles, General Wood had a front row seat to American military operations that defined the late 19th and early 20th centuries. General Wood’s Smith & Wesson .44 DA First Model Revolver will make for a great addition to any Smith & Wesson or U.S. militaria collection.
Provenance: General Leonard Wood; The Wood Family Collection; The Norman Pemberton Collection; The Antonio Croce Collection: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000
Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt and Colonel Wood
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