*HISTORIC ALVIN WHITE ENGRAVED & GOLD INLAID J. EDGAR HOOVER PRESENTATION SMITH & WESSON MODEL 19 COMBAT MAGNUM DA REVOLVER.

*HISTORIC ALVIN WHITE ENGRAVED & GOLD INLAID J. EDGAR HOOVER PRESENTATION SMITH & WESSON MODEL 19 COMBAT MAGNUM DA REVOLVER. SN K333333. Cal. 357 Mag. Rare special production Model 19 with blue finish, 4″ ribbed bbl, ramp front sight and adjustable rear sight with rnd butt grip frame. Mounted with orig Smith & Wesson custom, very fine checkered rosewood magna grips with silver S&W logo medallions. Revolver is spectacularly engraved by Master Engraver Alvin A. White in absolute full coverage deep foliate arabesque patterns with stippled background. The entire revolver has gold wire inlays as part of the engraving patterns and gold wire borders around most of the frame & cylinder. Left side of frame, below thumb latch, is an exquisite, deep relief reproduction of the FBI seal, executed in 2-color gold & silver. Sideplate is inlaid with a deep relief gold bust of J. Edgar Hoover under which are three small rectangular cut precious stones set in gold. Stones are red, white & blue, ruby, diamond & sapphire with raised gold leaves at each end of the panel. Right front side of frame is inlaid in flat gold “1917 / 1924” which corresponds to the years of the first “Red Scare”. Top of back strap is inlaid with a large flat gold “1” and the back strap is inlaid in gold “FIDELITY BRAVERY INTEGRITY” in a 3-ribbon panel along with 20 very detailed raised gold leaves along with 21 small gold dots. Butt strap has a gold wire border with a rectangular flat gold panel across the entire butt strap engraved with the SN “K-333333”. The trigger bow is inlaid in flat gold with a facsimile of Mr. Hoover’s signature. Right side of front strap, under the grip, is inlaid with engraver Alvin White’s gold cartouche. The area on each side of the hammer slot is inlaid with a deep relief gold chain. SN was observed on butt strap, as noted, on rear face of cyl and inside the ejector rod slot in the bbl lug. Accompanied by a beautiful custom rosewood casing lined in purple velvet and French fitted in bottom for the revolver. In the left rear corner is a small rectangular gold plaque 1-1/2″ x 1″ which is engraved, probably by Alvin White also “TO / J. EDGAR HOOVER / DIRECTOR-F.B.I. / FROM / BILL SWEET / JULY 26, 1958”. Front of case is fitted with a mortised brass lock that is also engraved on top edge in foliate & floral patterns. Also has the original functioning key. Additionally accompanied by a Smith & Wesson factory letter over the signature of Roy G. Jinks, Historian, which gives substantial background detail on special rnd butt Model 19 revolvers with 4″ bbls. He identifies this revolver as a special order variation shipped on May 19, 1958 to William O. Sweet, Sweet Mfg. Co., Attleboro, MA. Letter states that it was shipped with 4″ bbl and polished but not blued and fit with plain rosewood grips. It was prepared for engraving and provided on a “not charge” basis, charged to the advertising account. The letter states that it was for Mr. Sweet to present to Mr. J. Edgar Hoover and that Mr. Sweet was a well known gun collector although the records do not show his relationship to Mr. Hoover. Mr. Jinks also furnished a copy of the advertising account invoice and a copy of a picture of Mr. Sweet presenting the revolver to Mr. Hoover. Copies of the invoice & photograph accompany this revolver. The invoice is dated May 5, 1958 and that it was ordered on April 28, 1958. This time in U.S. history coincides with the end of the “Second Red Scare” and a rise anti-Communist sentiment. Both the invoice and copy of the photograph are authenticated in a handwritten note on each “Copy from S&W Records” and signed “Roy Jinks”. Also accompanying is a copy of a 3-page hand written letter over the signature of John P. Mohr wherein he identifies this revolver, by SN and description and states that he personally witnessed this revolver in Mr. Hoover’s home and possession and that upon Mr. Hoover’s death, the heir to Mr. Hoover’s estate was Clyde A. Tolson, the former Associate Director of the FBI and Mr. Mohr’s superior. Mr. Mohr states that Mr. Tolson did not wish to have firearms in the house so he gave them directly to Mr. Mohr who was Assistant to the Director of the FBI and is the consignor’s late Father-in-Law. Mr. Hoover, over his career, was the recipient of numerous gifts & favors with several firearms having surfaced in the ensuing years since his demise that have been linked directly to him. J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1972) was instrumental in forming the Bureau of Investigation, the predecessor to the FBI and was its director from 1924 to 1935 when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was formed and he became its first director in which office he remained until his death in 1972. Mr. Hoover was instrumental in establishing the FBI Crime Laboratory in 1932 and was the moving force behind organized crime fighting in the 1930s which was his lifelong passion. There is no indication of what event prompted the presentation of this revolver but it must have been significant to warrant such a presentation during the austere times of the Great Depression. PROVENANCE: Bill Sweet; J. Edgar Hoover; Clyde A. Tolson; John P. Mohr; Consignor. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching except grips which are unnumbered. Revolver appears to be unfired retaining all of its fine custom blue. Grips are crisp with no visible flaws. Presentation case is sound with a couple of minor scratches in the lid and overall retains virtually all of its orig finish. Interior is crisp & clean. 4-42243 JR99 (35,000-55,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1168	$34,500.00	HISTORIC ALVIN WHITE ENGRAVED & GOLD INLAID J. EDGAR HOOVER PRESENTATION SMITH & WESSON MODEL 19 COMBAT MAGNUM DA REVOLVER. SN K333333. Cal. 357 Mag. Rare special production Model 19 with blue finish, 4″ ribbed bbl, ramp front sight and adjustable rear sight with rnd butt grip frame. Mounted with orig Smith & Wesson custom, very fine checkered rosewood magna grips with silver S&W logo medallions. Revolver is spectacularly engraved by Master Engraver Alvin A. White in absolute full coverage deep foliate arabesque patterns with stippled background. The entire revolver has gold wire inlays as part of the engraving patterns and gold wire borders around most of the frame & cylinder. Left side of frame, below thumb latch, is an exquisite, deep relief reproduction of the FBI seal, executed in 2-color gold & silver. Sideplate is inlaid with a deep relief gold bust of J. Edgar Hoover under which are three small rectangular cut precious stones set in gold. Stones are red, white & blue, ruby, diamond & sapphire with raised gold leaves at each end of the panel. Right front side of frame is inlaid in flat gold “1917 / 1924” which corresponds to the years of the first “Red Scare”. Top of back strap is inlaid with a large flat gold “1” and the back strap is inlaid in gold “FIDELITY BRAVERY INTEGRITY” in a 3-ribbon panel along with 20 very detailed raised gold leaves along with 21 small gold dots. Butt strap has a gold wire border with a rectangular flat gold panel across the entire butt strap engraved with the SN “K-333333”. The trigger bow is inlaid in flat gold with a facsimile of Mr. Hoover’s signature. Right side of front strap, under the grip, is inlaid with engraver Alvin White’s gold cartouche. The area on each side of the hammer slot is inlaid with a deep relief gold chain. SN was observed on butt strap, as noted, on rear face of cyl and inside the ejector rod slot in the bbl lug. Accompanied by a beautiful custom rosewood casing lined in purple velvet and French fitted in bottom for the revolver. In the left rear corner is a small rectangular gold plaque 1-1/2″ x 1″ which is engraved, probably by Alvin White also “TO / J. EDGAR HOOVER / DIRECTOR-F.B.I. / FROM / BILL SWEET / JULY 26, 1958”. Front of case is fitted with a mortised brass lock that is also engraved on top edge in foliate & floral patterns. Also has the original functioning key. Additionally accompanied by a Smith & Wesson factory letter over the signature of Roy G. Jinks, Historian, which gives substantial background detail on special rnd butt Model 19 revolvers with 4″ bbls. He identifies this revolver as a special order variation shipped on May 19, 1958 to William O. Sweet, Sweet Mfg. Co., Attleboro, MA. Letter states that it was shipped with 4″ bbl and polished but not blued and fit with plain rosewood grips. It was prepared for engraving and provided on a “not charge” basis, charged to the advertising account. The letter states that it was for Mr. Sweet to present to Mr. J. Edgar Hoover and that Mr. Sweet was a well known gun collector although the records do not show his relationship to Mr. Hoover. Mr. Jinks also furnished a copy of the advertising account invoice and a copy of a picture of Mr. Sweet presenting the revolver to Mr. Hoover. Copies of the invoice & photograph accompany this revolver. The invoice is dated May 5, 1958 and that it was ordered on April 28, 1958. This time in U.S. history coincides with the end of the “Second Red Scare” and a rise anti-Communist sentiment. Both the invoice and copy of the photograph are authenticated in a handwritten note on each “Copy from S&W Records” and signed “Roy Jinks”. Also accompanying is a copy of a 3-page hand written letter over the signature of John P. Mohr wherein he identifies this revolver, by SN and description and states that he personally witnessed this revolver in Mr. Hoover’s home and possession and that upon Mr. Hoover’s death, the heir to Mr. Hoover’s estate was Clyde A. Tolson, the former Associate Director of the FBI and Mr. Mohr’s superior. Mr. Mohr states that Mr. Tolson did not wish to have firearms in the house so he gave them directly to Mr. Mohr who was Assistant to the Director of the FBI and is the consignor’s late Father-in-Law. Mr. Hoover, over his career, was the recipient of numerous gifts & favors with several firearms having surfaced in the ensuing years since his demise that have been linked directly to him. J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1972) was instrumental in forming the Bureau of Investigation, the predecessor to the FBI and was its director from 1924 to 1935 when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was formed and he became its first director in which office he remained until his death in 1972. Mr. Hoover was instrumental in establishing the FBI Crime Laboratory in 1932 and was the moving force behind organized crime fighting in the 1930s which was his lifelong passion. There is no indication of what event prompted the presentation of this revolver but it must have been significant to warrant such a presentation during the austere times of the Great Depression. PROVENANCE: Bill Sweet; J. Edgar Hoover; Clyde A. Tolson; John P. Mohr; Consignor. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching except grips which are unnumbered. Revolver appears to be unfired retaining all of its fine custom blue. Grips are crisp with no visible flaws. Presentation case is sound with a couple of minor scratches in the lid and overall retains virtually all of its orig finish. Interior is crisp & clean. 4-42243 JR99 (35,000-55,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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