RARE CASED PAIR OF BELGIAN SINGLE SHOT TARGET PISTOLS GIFTED TO FBI DIRECTOR, J. EDGAR HOOVER.

RARE CASED PAIR OF BELGIAN SINGLE SHOT TARGET PISTOLS GIFTED TO FBI DIRECTOR, J. EDGAR HOOVER. Cal. 44 Russian. Fine pair of target pistols with 10-7/8″ oct bbls, fixed target sights and small flat sided frames with side levers. They are mounted with very fine checkered tiny walnut forearms that have lever locks and long curved grips with raised side panels and oval fluted butt caps with hat-shaped finials. They have finger rest trigger guards and standard triggers with an unusual square flat bracket and knurled thumb screws for mounting the heart-shaped blued steel shields that accompany this pair of pistols. Also accompanying these pistols is their orig black leatherette covered casing with brass handle in the lid. Interior is divided with a gold oil cloth lined upper portion for the two shields separated from the bottom by a hinged full size cover that is lined with gold colored felt on the divider and burgundy colored velvet in the bottom with gold felt edging. Hinge area is covered with gold satin. 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. Mohr states that Mr. Tolson did not wish to have firearms in the house so he gave them directly to Mohr who was Assistant to the Director of the FBI and is the consignor’s late Father-in-Law. He states that this pair of pistols were a gift to Mr. Hoover from Dr. Arturo Sansores of Havana, Cuba in about 1959. No additional regarding these pistols is contained in the letter. 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. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Pistols appear to be new & unfired retaining virtually all of their orig factory finish with glossy bright blue and brilliant case colors. Wood is sound showing very minor diamond point wear. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bores. Shields are equally new retaining virtually all of their orig blue. Case is very fine with a few minor nicks & scratches with normal handling & storage wear. Bottom of interior is lightly soiled with minor wear spots from the pistols. 4-42245 JR100 (3,000-5,000)

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
	1170	$5,462.50	RARE CASED PAIR OF BELGIAN SINGLE SHOT TARGET PISTOLS GIFTED TO FBI DIRECTOR, J. EDGAR HOOVER. Cal. 44 Russian. Fine pair of target pistols with 10-7/8″ oct bbls, fixed target sights and small flat sided frames with side levers. They are mounted with very fine checkered tiny walnut forearms that have lever locks and long curved grips with raised side panels and oval fluted butt caps with hat-shaped finials. They have finger rest trigger guards and standard triggers with an unusual square flat bracket and knurled thumb screws for mounting the heart-shaped blued steel shields that accompany this pair of pistols. Also accompanying these pistols is their orig black leatherette covered casing with brass handle in the lid. Interior is divided with a gold oil cloth lined upper portion for the two shields separated from the bottom by a hinged full size cover that is lined with gold colored felt on the divider and burgundy colored velvet in the bottom with gold felt edging. Hinge area is covered with gold satin. 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. Mohr states that Mr. Tolson did not wish to have firearms in the house so he gave them directly to Mohr who was Assistant to the Director of the FBI and is the consignor’s late Father-in-Law. He states that this pair of pistols were a gift to Mr. Hoover from Dr. Arturo Sansores of Havana, Cuba in about 1959. No additional regarding these pistols is contained in the letter. 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. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Pistols appear to be new & unfired retaining virtually all of their orig factory finish with glossy bright blue and brilliant case colors. Wood is sound showing very minor diamond point wear. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bores. Shields are equally new retaining virtually all of their orig blue. Case is very fine with a few minor nicks & scratches with normal handling & storage wear. Bottom of interior is lightly soiled with minor wear spots from the pistols. 4-42245 JR100 (3,000-5,000) 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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