Teddy Roosevelt And James Bond Pistols Sell At Auction

by
posted on January 5, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
roosevelt-revolver.jpg

A revolver owned by President Theodore Roosevelt sold during Rock Island Auction Company’s Dec. 5 event. The Colt Single Action Army was ordered as a gift for his 54th birthday and it shipped slightly more than a week before the election of 1912—10 days before an attempt on his life in Milwaukee, WI, while he campaigned for a third term in the White House.

Roosevelt’s Colt is chambered in .38 Long Colt, a suitable choice for the former head of San Juan Hill-charging Rough Riders. The pistol, however, is anything but field grade. The auction catalog explains, “…this Colt Single Action Army revolver is a recent discovery poised to become a new icon, as it is perhaps the most highly embellished firearm owned by the 26th President still in private circulation.”

Metalwork on the 4.75" barreled revolver has silver plating, grips are carved ivory and it wears what the company at the time termed “Level 2” engraving. The web page for the handgun’s auction states, “In terms of Colt Single Action Army Revolvers, it doesn’t get any better than a revolver ordered for the president that wore a Colt on his hip on the frontier and recorded as actively using a Colt in combat during the Spanish-American War.”

Even plain Jane handguns used sparingly on the silver screen commanded lofty sums last month. The Walther PP used by Sean Connery in his first Bond movie, “Dr. No,” sold through Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills for more than a quarter of a million dollars. In the film, “M” (Bernard Lee) introduced the gun as the Walther PPK. In reality Connery carried the Walther PP, which became standard equipment for many Bond heroes who followed.

Carl Walther introduced the Walther PP—Police Pistol—to the public in 1929. The company mainly manufactured the PP in caliber 7.65 mm (.32 ACP) and approximately one million have been produced. The Walther PPK has attained more notoriety among moviegoing MI6 fans. That pistol’s commercial production began in 1931 and 500,000 pieces have been manufactured since.

Latest

Taurus 817 01
Taurus 817 01

The Taurus 817 Is Back

The Taurus 817 revolver hasn't been available since the early 2000s, but now, it's back and features several notable updates.

NRA To Hold World Shooting Championship In Indiana

Registration is now open for the eighth NRA World Shooting Championship, which is sponsored by Walther Arms and will be held at Camp Atterbury, Ind., from September 30 to October 4.

Gun Of The Week: Springfield Armory Prodigy Compact 3.5” AOS

For this episode, we’re on the range with a double-stack, M1911-style handgun that’s more compact and lightweight than we’re used to seeing. This is the Springfield Armory Prodigy Compact 3.5” AOS chambered for 9 mm Luger.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 1, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Budget Pistol Rigs With AIM Surplus

It's still possible to pull together a budget-friendly, name-brand pistol rig for $300 to $400, if you play your cards right.

Nextorch Celebrating 20th Anniversary—A Timely Preparedness Reminder

Nextorch North America is celebrating the company’s 20 years of providing lighting solutions for consumers, law enforcement professionals and military forces around the world.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.