Though some might consider owning a piece of history priceless, others are willing to put a price on objects that once belonged to historical figures to call them their own. Case in point: A Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 single-action revolver once owned by former President Theodore Roosevelt just raked in nearly $1 million at auction.
Talk about a cool conversation piece. If you’ve got a cool million sitting around gathering dust. https://t.co/ELQ2xfwrxw
— Doctrine Man (@Doctrine_Man) December 22, 2022
The revolver came with a factory letter indicating that the firearm was shipped to Lt. Col. Roosevelt on May 12, 1898, coinciding with his departure to San Antonio where he trained the Rough Riders, the calvary that led the U.S. to victory in the Battle of San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War.
Gallery: Unusual and Rare Items That Sold at Auction for Serious Money
Rock Island compiled documentation regarding the firearm, including paperwork from Roosevelt’s long-time bodyguard James Amos, which indicated the gun was placed at the president’s White House bedside every night.
The auction company estimated the price for the revolver to be $800,000 to $1.4 million. The winning bid was $910,625, according to Rock Island Auction Co., the fire-arms auction house that arranged the sale.
Rock Island previously auctioned another Roosevelt-owned gun, a Colt single-action revolver that sold for just under $1.5 million in 2020.
