Catalog Auction info Amoskeag Live #148 - November 22nd & 23rd (#148) 11/22/2025 9:00 AM EST Closed Starts Ending 11/22/2025 9:00 AM EST Auction Info Lot #444 Very Rare Smith & Wesson Model 39 U.S. General Officer's Pistol of Major General David Liebman, U.S. Air Force Click image to enlarge PreviousNextSimilar Items Lot closed - Sold Price (Including Buyer`s Premium):$9,680 Estimate: $5,000 - $7,000 Description Description: serial #87640, 9 mm, 4" barrel with a bright excellent, likely unfired, bore. This very rare pistol remains as-new-in-box and retains about 99% plus original blued and anodized finishes. The checkered walnut grips with silver Smith & Wesson medallions remain in superb condition. The pistol comes in its original box, numbered to the pistol, with original cleaning rod, brush, papers, and two magazines. Maj. Gen. David Liebman began his military career in 1941 in the U.S. Army Air Corps graduating as a second lieutenant with pilots wings and was a flight instructor in the Air Training Command. In 1944 he entered the B-29 program assigned to XXI Bomber Command on Saipan logging 450 combat hours on over 30 missions. In 1946 he was assigned to the 13th Air Force in the Philippines where he was a B-17 pilot and later the Group Operations Officer. He would return to United States in 1947 and was assigned as S.A.C. Operations Officer with the Second Bombardment Group in both Arizona and Georgia. In the 50s he was with SAC at Carswell A.F.B. in Texas where he was Chief of the Operations Division, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters 8th Air Force and the Deputy Commander and Director Material for the 11th and Bombardment Wing. He was next assigned to the 7th Air Division in England and in 1957 he assumed the duties as Vice Commander of the 320th Bombardment Wing at March Air Force Base California, later becoming its commander. In the 60s he would be the chief of the Force Structure Branch, SAC, Offut A.F.B. Nebraska and the chief of the Plans Division, being named Commander of the 92nd Strategic Aerospace Wing at Fairchild A.F.B. Washington. He would then be assigned as Chief of the Strategic Operations Division, Operations Directorate (J-3) of the Joint Staff in Washington, in 1965 being assigned as the military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public affairs in the office of the Secretary of Defense. In 1967 he would become the deputy director of Command-And-Control, J-3, headquarters, U.S. European command in Stuttgart, Germany. In 1970 General Liebman became the vice commander of the 12th Air Force, Bergstrom AFB Texas. In January 1969 he was promoted to Major General, when this pistol was issued to him. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with two oakleaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oakleaf clusters, the Air Medal with three oakleaf clusters and a Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem with oakleaf cluster; he was a command pilot. The included factory letter shows shipment in June 1969 in a 50 gun shipment and confirms that the arm was a United States government contract. There is a notarized affidavit included from the general's son stating that the arm belonged to General Liebman and that it was issued in 1969 and had been in his possession since his father's death. A picture of General Liebman and this pistol appear in the book U.S. General Officers Pistols: A Collector's Guide by Williams and Brunner along with a short narrative about Maj. General Liebman. Really a super example, very likely unfired, of these very rare U.S. Air Force contract general officers pistols. (8B11730-908) {C&R} [Peter DeRose Collection] (5000/7000) Categories: Firearm Terms and conditions SaTERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE The following paragraphs represent the terms under which all sales by Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. are conducted. Bidding on any item in the sale indicates the bidder’s full acceptance and understanding of all terms and conditions of sale. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. has taken great care in the preparation of the descriptions in this catalog. Although we believe everything in the descriptions to be true, we do not guarantee any part of any description. We recommend that the bidders view the items in person and form their own opinions as to condition, originality, origin, etc. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will consider all requests for refunds. If a customer is unhappy with a purchase, we will be happy to discuss a remedy with them. All requests for refunds must be made within 30 days of the sale date. Therefore, it is important that absentee bidders pay for their items in a timely fashion. All requests for refunds received after 30 days of the sale date will not be considered. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to reject any bid in order to protect our consignor’s interests. PAYMENT POLICY All invoices are payable upon receipt. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept cash, check, wire transfer, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express as payment for items purchased. Online payment is available for buyers directly through the online invoicing process. Bidders who fail to pay their invoices in full by the 25th day following the sale agree to have their total invoice amount charged to the credit card listed on file. Credit card purchases are limited to $50,000.00 per customer, per auction. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to demand cash or hold merchandise until funds are collected in full. There will be a $35.00 charge for all returned checks. A 21% Buyer’s Premium will be added to all purchases regardless of price with a 3.5% discount when paid with check, cash or wire transfer. This premium is to be paid as part of the purchase price. Additionally, the 2.5% cash discount will only apply to invoices paid promptly, within 14 calendar days of the auction. Buyers should be aware of common delays in the mail and if that is a concern they are welcome to call our office to receive wire transfer information. No items are to be removed from our facility until paid for in full by the purchaser. GUIDELINES FOR FIREARM DELIVERIES All Federal, State and Local firearms laws will be strictly adhered to. FFL holders may take possession of any firearm on day of sale (excluding Class III) when they present a signed copy of their Federal Firearms License. If an FFL dealer is sending an “agent” to pick up items, that person must be a bona fide, paid employee of the company with a W4 on file. Outside contractors cannot be used as pickup agents. A SIGNED LETTER FROM THE FFL STATING THIS FACT MUST BE PRESENTED AT TIME OF PICK UP. The FFL Dealer will in turn be notified that a transfer was made to you as their agent. New Hampshire residents over the age of 21 may take possession of any firearm, on day of sale, provided the proper paperwork is completed and the transfer has been approved either through the N.H. State Police or the FBI NICS System, whichever is appropriate based upon the type of firearm(s) purchased. Non-resident individuals from states without waiting periods may take possession of long guns on day of sale after completing the proper forms and successfully completing a NICS check. If you reside in a state with a waiting period, your items will need to be shipped to a dealer in your state. No modern handguns will be delivered to non-resident individuals. All modern handguns purchased by non-resident individuals will need to be delivered to or shipped to an FFL holder in the buyer’s home state. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and all items must be paid for on day of sale. Bidders should be familiar with their local and state laws as Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be responsible for any parties purchasing items which may not be possessed in, or shipped to their state of residence. Some states have restrictions on transfers to C&R License holders, study your state and local laws before bidding. If you are the winning bidder of an item that you find does not comply with your state’s laws, you will still be required to pay your invoice, Amoskeag Auction Co. will then re-offer the arm on your behalf. FIREARM CLASSIFICATION: ANTIQUE - no paperwork required MODERN - Post-1898 firearm which requires an FFL or 4473 with corresponding successful background check in order to be delivered. C&R - for firearms that fall under the ATF Curio & Relics licensing and if purchased by a person with a “C&R License” no paperwork is required. NOTE: Items that meet the age requirements but have been altered from their original configuration may NOT be delivered on a C&R License. ABSENTEE/TELEPHONE/ON-LINE BIDDING • As a service to our buyers, Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept absentee bids from bidders who cannot attend the sale. Bidders without prior credit approval are required to submit a 20% deposit prior to bids being accepted (credit cards may be used for absentee deposits). Absentee bids will be bid in a competitive manner and an absentee bidder needs only to outbid another buyer i.e. bidding will not be opened at the maximum bid unless that is the next competitive bid. Because we do not open at the absentee bidder's top bid (unless that is the next competitive bid) there is a chance that the absentee bidder's bid may tie with a bidder using a different bidding method (live, Proxibid or telephone bidder). If an absentee bidder wishes to guard against this occurring, they may complete an absentee bid form with a "+" after the bid amount and forward that bid sheet to our office to be entered by Amoskeag. When a "+" is added after the bid amount, the bidder authorizes Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. to make one additional bid in order the break the tie. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges. Properly registered Amoskeag bidders may use this service free of additional charges as an alternative to telephone or absentee bidding, at their election. On-line bidders should be aware that the sale sometimes proceeds at a very rapid pace and should plan their bidding strategies accordingly. • Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be held responsible for errors or omissions of any type that may occur during these services. • All absentee bids must be received by 8:00pm on the day prior to the auction. If you plan to attend the sale but will not be staying until the end and want to leave a bid on an item that will be sold after you leave, we must have those bids in by 8:00am on the morning of the sale. No bids will be accepted after that time. Please do not call the gallery once the auction has started (after 9:00am) as we will not be able to accept bids or make changes to bids. • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will also accept telephone bids on a limited basis. Telephone bidding is reserved for seriously interested bidders. In order to bid by telephone, the bidder must be willing to pay at least the low estimate of the item being bid on. NOTE: Phone bids MUST be arranged by 5:00pm ON THURSDAY prior to the sale. • All absentee/telephone bidder invoices are issued by end of business on the Tuesday following the sale; all invoices are due upon receipt. Invoices are to be paid either by cash or check, or by credit cards listed above. All items not paid for within 20 business days from sale date shall be considered abandoned as well as any deposit that was made on those items and Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. shall have sole discretion as to their disposal. SAFETY WARNING Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. does not warranty the safety of any article it sells. Therefore, it is imperative that, before you use any firearm, purchased here or anywhere else, you have it examined by a qualified gunsmith to determine whether or not it is safe to use. SHIPPING • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will make every effort to ship items in a timely fashion. All items, with the exception of Modern and C&R handguns, are shipped via UPS Ground unless other arrangements have been made. All merchandise is shipped Signature Required. • All Modern and C&R handguns are shipped via UPS Next Day Air service. • Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and for insurance on the items being shipped. Purchasers who self-insure can forego insurance charges if Amoskeag Auction is notified of your intent to self-insure. PICKING UP MERCHANDISE • Pickups will be by appointment only and will not start until Monday, December 1st. • Our office hours are Monday through Friday - 8:00 am to 4:00pm.
