RARE AND EXTRAORDINARY BULLET IMPACTED POCKET WATCH ATTRIBUTED TO W. F. “BUFFALO BILL” CODY.

RARE AND EXTRAORDINARY BULLET IMPACTED POCKET WATCH ATTRIBUTED TO W. F. “BUFFALO BILL” CODY. Small silver cased Montandon key wind hunter case pocket watch with lightly engraved covers and an 11″ square braided leather “chain”. This watch and chain has had a long and historic attribution to Buffalo Bill Cody substantially prior to 1954. This watch, with its bullet dented cover which has severely deformed the entire watch, was part of the Parker Lyon Pony Express Collection which was apparently purchased by famous Nevada entrepreneur Bill Harrah in 1954 and was then incorporated into his Pony Express Museum in Reno, NV. Prior to 1954 this watch held a special prominence in Mr. Lyon’s Pony Express Museum in Arcadia, CA and was one of the items selected for display in Mr. Lyon’s traveling exhibit. When Mr. Harrah purchased the Lyon Museum he only selected the most important items for his own museum in Reno, one of which was this watch and it is pictured on pg. 182 of THE PONY EXPRESS book. Accompanying this lot is a letter on Greg Martin letterhead dated June 25, 1990 detailing the above information over the signature of Mr. Martin. He states “In doing research for my book on the Parker Lyon Collection, I learned that Lyon knew William Cody as far back as 1900. It is most likely that he received this watch along with Cody’s saddle, portrait on glass, and several other items as personal gifts from the great Scout himself”. CONDITION: What can one say about a watch that has taken a bullet for the boss? Not much. Were it not for the fact that it has been attributed to Buffalo Bill over these years it probably would have been relegated to the junk box 100 yrs ago. The front cover, at about what would be the one o’clock position, is an approx. 1/2″ diameter bullet dent that has completely deformed the cover, all the internal workings and back cover. Lifting the front cover discloses the enamel faced copper dial which has nearly all the enamel broken away. Opening the back cover and inside cover discloses massive damage to the internal parts. Braided leather “chain” is dark with old patina but supple and soft. 4-39949 JR408 (1,000-5,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

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
	2365	$4,715.00	RARE AND EXTRAORDINARY BULLET IMPACTED POCKET WATCH ATTRIBUTED TO W. F. “BUFFALO BILL” CODY. Small silver cased Montandon key wind hunter case pocket watch with lightly engraved covers and an 11″ square braided leather “chain”. This watch and chain has had a long and historic attribution to Buffalo Bill Cody substantially prior to 1954. This watch, with its bullet dented cover which has severely deformed the entire watch, was part of the Parker Lyon Pony Express Collection which was apparently purchased by famous Nevada entrepreneur Bill Harrah in 1954 and was then incorporated into his Pony Express Museum in Reno, NV. Prior to 1954 this watch held a special prominence in Mr. Lyon’s Pony Express Museum in Arcadia, CA and was one of the items selected for display in Mr. Lyon’s traveling exhibit. When Mr. Harrah purchased the Lyon Museum he only selected the most important items for his own museum in Reno, one of which was this watch and it is pictured on pg. 182 of THE PONY EXPRESS book. Accompanying this lot is a letter on Greg Martin letterhead dated June 25, 1990 detailing the above information over the signature of Mr. Martin. He states “In doing research for my book on the Parker Lyon Collection, I learned that Lyon knew William Cody as far back as 1900. It is most likely that he received this watch along with Cody’s saddle, portrait on glass, and several other items as personal gifts from the great Scout himself”. CONDITION: What can one say about a watch that has taken a bullet for the boss? Not much. Were it not for the fact that it has been attributed to Buffalo Bill over these years it probably would have been relegated to the junk box 100 yrs ago. The front cover, at about what would be the one o’clock position, is an approx. 1/2″ diameter bullet dent that has completely deformed the cover, all the internal workings and back cover. Lifting the front cover discloses the enamel faced copper dial which has nearly all the enamel broken away. Opening the back cover and inside cover discloses massive damage to the internal parts. Braided leather “chain” is dark with old patina but supple and soft. 4-39949 JR408 (1,000-5,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 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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