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LOT 1059
Incredibly Rare, Historic, Documented Factory Engraved Savage Model 1907 Semi-Automatic Pistol Inscribed to Famed Wild West Showman Pawnee Bill with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 47978, 32 ACP cal., 3 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. All Savage factory engraved pistols are rare. Those that are also inscribed
to famed American Wild West showmen are incredibly rare. Based on Daniel K. Stern’s research published in his book, “10 Shots Quick: The Fascinating Story of the Savage Pocket
Automatics,” the most famous of all Wild West showman, Buffalo Bill, ordered five Savage pistols engraved with the names of some of his friends (pages 82-83). RIAC had the pleasure of selling a pistol inscribed to Buffalo Bill himself (no. 33177) in the September 2021 Premier Firearms Auction No. 83. And now we once again have a Savage pistol inscribed to a famed Wild West showman: Gordon William “Pawnee Bill” Lillie (1860-1942). While this pistol is not
among the five listed by Stern as ordered by Buffalo Bill, it nevertheless stands as a historic and rare piece of Savage and Wild West memorabilia. At an early age Pawnee Bill was
captivated by anything Wild West. By his late teens he was working as an interpreter on the Pawnee Indian Agency in Indian Territory located in what is now the state
of Oklahoma. His work as a Pawnee interpreter earned him the nickname
“Pawnee Bill.” In 1883, his Pawnee language skills provided him the opportunity to become a cast member to the most famous of
the Wild West troupes, “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.”“Buffalo Bill’s Wild West” was a circus-like extravaganza that toured widely for
three decades in the United States and later throughout Europe. Besides Buffalo Bill himself, the Wild West show starred sharpshooter Annie Oakley, Chief Sitting Bull, and real Wild West cowboys and range hands as extras and stand-
ins. For the show, Pawnee Bill worked as an interpreter as well as a performer. In 1888, Pawnee Bill and his wife, May, started their own Wild West show called “Pawnee Bill’s Historic Wild West.” Within the first year it was a complete financial disaster that required them to reorganize and rename the troupe “Pawnee Bill’s Historical Wild West, Indian Museum and Encampment.” This time the show, which traveled throughout the United States and Europe, was a hit to the point of being a major competitor to “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.” The show consisted of a very diverse cast that included Mexican, Pawnee, Sioux, Japanese and Arab performers. To reflect the inclusiveness of its cast, the show was renamed “Pawnee Bill’s Wild West and Great Far East Show.” In 1908, Pawnee Bill joined with Buffalo Bill to create the “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and Pawnee Bill’s Great Far East,” often called the “Two Bills Show.” Pawnee Bill’s other successful business ventures included banking, real estate, oil, running the tourist attraction Pawnee Bill’s Old Town, and even a motion picture company that made films at his Arts & Crafts home on Blue Hawk Peak in Pawnee, Oklahoma, which exists today as a museum. His efforts to protect the American bison led to the establishment of Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge. The pistol features Savage A or Protector Grade factory engraving. The modest coverage clearly exhibits the English style scrollwork of Savage’s Master Engraver Enoch Tue.
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