1168 HISTORIC INSCRIBED COLT & S&W OF CHIEF GLEN BODELL

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This item SOLD at 2023 Nov 03 @ 12:53UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 2,000.00 USD
Estimated at 4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
EARLY LAS VEGAS LAW ENFORCEMENT LEGEND. Glen Everett Bodell (1895-1979) had over 50 years in law enforcement history in Nevada, Utah, and California. His stories can be found in newspaper accounts from the 1920s through the 1970s. Even after his retirement, he still worked as a private investigator and security at Las Vegas Sans casino. Manufactured by Colt in 1935, this .38 Super was subsequently professionally custom engraved and presented to Chief Glen E. Bodell (1895-1979) whom was appoint deputy U.S. Marshal and Chief Ranger of Boulder City Ranger Force and the Boulder Dam (Hoover Dam) reservation in 1931 in order to "weed out" labor agitators, and where he and the Ranger Force orchestrated a total of 91 raids on bootlegger establishments between 1931-1932 resulting in a total of 72 arrests and the seizure of many illegal moonshine stills. 1) BOULDER DAM ENGRAVED COLT 38 SUPER Cal. 45 ACP. S# 18747. Bbl 5". This pistol bears the usual stampings on the left and right sides of the frame, with the serial number stamped along the right side above the trigger guard. The frame features a light line and dot engraved border, with light floral engraving present on the right side at the tang. The slide features en suite line and dot border, with additional light floral scroll patterns on the right surrounding an engraved "GLEN E. BODELL/ CHIEF U.S. RES. POLICE/ BOULDER DAM" beneath the ejection port, as well as a small engraved scene of the Boulder Dam that follows the Rampant Colt logo. Metal components are blued, with the frame being mounted with 2 piece smooth pearl grips. Additional features include a thick half-moon front sight, flat top square notch rear sight, as well as a checkered hammer, safety latch, slide stop, and magazine release button. MAGS: 1 9 rnd. CONDITION: metal components retain the vast majority of their original factory blue finish, exhibiting mild edge wear, scattered superficial marks from storage and handling, as well as some spots of light surface oxidation. Brilliant mirror bore, exhibiting well defined rifling throughout. Grips show some scattered superficial handling marks, but otherwise present very nicely. (23-2492) 2) SMITH & WESSON .38/44 HEAVY DUTY REVOLVER PRESENTED TO CHIEF BODELL BY NEVADA GOVERNOR RICHARD KIRMAN. Cal. 38 S&W Special. S# 37971. Bbl 5". Model .38/44 Heavy Duty manufactured by Smith & Wesson. A 4-page article on this stolen large frame Smith & Wesson by Arnie Chernoff in March of 1970, tells Bodell's story as police chief, district attorney's investigator, sheriff, Chief of Reservation Police, etc. While Bodell was Chief Deputy U.S. Marshall during the construction of the Boulder Dam (Hoover Dam), Nevada Governor Kirman hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt in September of 1935 for a speech at the dam. Around this time, Bodell was presented with this Smith & Wesson revolver by Governor Kirman, where it was stolen from Bodell's car glove box shortly later. Bodell states that the presentation and theft of this revolver occurred in in 1934, though Bodell's memory of the exact date roughly 35 years later were off slightly. The revolver is stamped "SMITH & WESSON" on the left side of the barrel, with Smith & Wesson's 2 line address across the top and "38 S&W. SPECIAL CTG" on the right. Left side of frame bears the Smith & Wesson trademark logo, with "MADE IN U.S.A." on the right. Right sideplate is engraved "PRESENTED TO/ CHIEF BODELL/ BY/ GOVERNOR RICHARD KIRMAN/ NEVADA" within a decorative border, with small floral motifs engraved around the bottom 3 screw slots. Major metal components exhibit a blued finish, with the trigger and hammer exhibiting a case color hardened finish. Frame is mounted with 2 piece S&W silver medallion checkered walnut grips. Half-moon front sight has been ground down and serrated at the rear. Matching serial number "37971" is present on the frame, rear face of the cylinder, interior of the ejector, as well as on the barrel. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of Guns and Ammo magazine with the full story on the stolen Smith & Wesson revolver, several letters from Arnie Chernoff that Bodell retained, as well as a newspaper article about the stolen revolver. Hunter tooled brown leather holster. CONDITION: metal components retain the majority of their original factory blue finish, exhibiting appropriate wear and handling marks that are synonymous with everyday carry by Bodell. Frame shows some light freckling, with the hammer and trigger exhibiting some spots of mild discoloration from cleaned oxidation. Brilliant mirror bore, exhibiting strong rifling throughout. Grips show some scattered marks and minor impressions from handling and storage, but are otherwise very good overall. Holster is very good overall. An extremely attractive pair of Colt and Smith & Wesson handguns that belonged to a legendary law enforcement officer, whom was a significant character in the construction of the Boulder Dam. (23-2493/MLW). BOTH CURIO. $4,000-6,000.