A cousin of mine told me recently that he was at a gunshow in Pennsylvania and that someone was selling a revolver that the seller claimed was owned by the movie actor Jimmie Stewart. The seller had a certificate attesting to the truth of the claim. My thought was that it would be just as easy to print up a fake certificate as to make the fake claim itself. For me it doesn't much matter who owned a gun, although I guess it would be interesting, say, to own a gun that Teddy Roosevelt used at San Juan Hill or something like that. But how would anyone know if they are being conned or if the claim was legitimate? I once read that over 90% of sports related items claiming special status, like a baseball that supposedly was used in an actual World Series game, etc, were frauds and that the documents "proving" the history of the item were frauds themselves. I wonder how many folks have treasured guns that they believe belonged to historical figures that really didn't, or for that matter how many museum firearms are not what the little placard in the case says they are.
Fake celebrity firearms?
- Thread starter vito
- Start date
gasbag
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2011
- Messages
- 783
I was at my inlaws house last week and he showed me his collection of firearms
and he said the rifle he was showing me once belonged to Buffalo Bill.
Said one of his relatives great grandmother's sister who married Buffalo Bills
14th cousin twice removed etc etc etc. worked with Buffalo Bill and was given the rifle.
He was very proud of it and it certainly looked like it could have been authentic.
As for me I could have cared less but he was happy and loved the old rifle.
He kept telling me how valuable it was and that may be true, I have no idea.
Old things don't excite me. I am old and no one ever gets excited when they see me....... :roll:
Personally, I think I'll keep my AR............. :mrgreen:
and he said the rifle he was showing me once belonged to Buffalo Bill.
Said one of his relatives great grandmother's sister who married Buffalo Bills
14th cousin twice removed etc etc etc. worked with Buffalo Bill and was given the rifle.
He was very proud of it and it certainly looked like it could have been authentic.
As for me I could have cared less but he was happy and loved the old rifle.
He kept telling me how valuable it was and that may be true, I have no idea.
Old things don't excite me. I am old and no one ever gets excited when they see me....... :roll:
Personally, I think I'll keep my AR............. :mrgreen:
MADDOG 521
Single-Sixer
Buy the gun, not the story.
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2012
- Messages
- 10,877
Provenance is a funny thing. True or not? Who really knows. Like evidence, I'd have to see the chain of custody.
Bob Wright
Hawkeye
When I think of celebrity guns, or anything else for that matter, I'm always reminded of the flea market and George Washington's hatchet.
"Since he owned it, it has had eight handles and four heads."
Bob Wright
"Since he owned it, it has had eight handles and four heads."
Bob Wright
Bob Wright
Hawkeye
Bob Wright
Just who are these fake celebrities?
Ask the "seller" (I use quotation marks because many of these people are scammers) if you can tale a picture of the certificate so you can verify the company that issued the certificate (or at least get the info, especially the certificate serial number). It should have the companies pertinent data and a serial number. Then get in touch with that company to see what they say. A legitimate collectibles company will have all the traceability that led them to issue the certificate. Legitimate collectibles company takes pride in having all the info to back their claims or they go out of business very fast.
I bet the "seller" would not let you.
I bet the "seller" would not let you.
blackhawknj
Buckeye
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2010
- Messages
- 1,945
Bat Masterson ( my mother met him) "authenticated" a number of Colts SAAs. In the 1960s a lucky collector did buy a genuine Bat Masterson Colt-got the factory letter.
Here ya go. Want to sell an "Authentic whatever" go here and download. Make it as historic as you want.
http://mycertificatetemplates.com/download/certificate-of-authenticity/
http://mycertificatetemplates.com/download/certificate-of-authenticity/
RSIno1
Hunter
My only celebrity gun is a Ruger Standard auto I bought from stunt pilot Art Scholl. Picture? Nope. Bill of sale? Nope. Certificate? Nope. But the $25 went from my hand to his and he handed me the gun.
Dan in MI said:
Similar to my thoughts. Clearly there are a great many celebrities that are not really normal humans. I suspect most of them wouldn't own a gun as it is so icky and would surely run off and cause mass shootings on its own.
That is not "fake CELEBRITY, firearms" it is "FAKE, celebrity firearms"
ElToro
Single-Sixer
some celebrities have died and had their collections auctioned off. i know a guy that has a gun from Clark Gable's ( well known gun nut) estate auction done through Christies or Sothebys in the late 70s. all documented up. Elmer Keith just had his collection auctioned off last year and he's been dead 35 years or so ? that was a well publicized and documented auction.
guns that are 120+ years old and the old west gunslinger that allegedly owned it has been dead for 120+ years ? thats paperwork better be impeccable. and those most of those guns are all stashed away in serious collections. i strongly doubt your gonna find a gun that belonged to somebody famous at a local gun show. not saying will never happen, just strongly doubt it.
guns that are 120+ years old and the old west gunslinger that allegedly owned it has been dead for 120+ years ? thats paperwork better be impeccable. and those most of those guns are all stashed away in serious collections. i strongly doubt your gonna find a gun that belonged to somebody famous at a local gun show. not saying will never happen, just strongly doubt it.
opos
Buckeye
Many of todays " celebrities are such a bunch of caa caa that I'd not walk across the street to see, much less own anything they had touched...
