Catalog Auction info Auction #133 - Two-Day Sale, March 26th & 27th (#133) 03/26/2022 9:00 AM EDT Closed Starts Ending 03/26/2022 9:00 AM EDT Auction Info Lot #166 Important General Officers Pistol and Sword Grouping Belonging to Major General and Legendary Firearms Icon John Bianchi Click image to enlarge PreviousNextSimilar Items Lot closed - Sold Price (Including Buyer`s Premium):$7,800 Estimate: $5,000 - $7,000 Description Description: This important grouping consists of John Bianchi’s personal Beretta M92F Compact pistol, U.S. Model 1902 Officers Sword, General Officers belt, holster, ammunition pouch rig, and regulation U.S. helmet with two stars, all used and worn by Bianchi while in the service of this country. The world knows John Bianchi as the iconic holster maker and truly a pioneer in the modern gun holster business, being responsible himself for over 200 patents, trademarks and copyrights in his 55 plus years in the gun business. Few however realize he was also in the service of his country for a cumulative 48 years. Beginning his military service with the 40th Infantry Division, California National Guard, in 1953 as an enlisted man at just age 15 (Bianchi persuaded his father to alter his birth certificate so he could appear to be 17 years old), serving in both the guard and active duty military, working his way up through the ranks and retiring for the first time in 1997 as a Major General. He would be called-back post-retirement for a tour of duty from 2001 to 2004, being recalled right after 9/11 by Maj. Gen. Dennis M. Keneally to take command of the California State Military Reserve, Keneally saying in his own words: “Maj. Gen. Bianchi contributed immeasurably to the success of our mobilization and deployment of troops to Afghanistan and Iraq”. Indeed it was back in 1981 that the DoD decided to replace the venerable 1911 pistol and, in addition to needing a new gun, decided they needed a completely new carry system for whatever pistol they chose. What we today know as the UM84, or officially the M12 holster system, was completely the brainchild of Mr. Bianchi from design, to materials, to closure and suspension systems, and Bianchi International would produce some 70,000 M12 holsters in their initial run. This grouping of personal military equipment begins with his pistol. Beretta 92F Compact semi-auto pistol serial #D34825Z, 9 mm, 4 1/4” barrel with a bright excellent chrome-lined bore. The pistol remains in remarkable condition for a carried arm, retaining all of its original factory enameled and anodized finishes, showing a couple of very light spots of edge wear from holster carry and a small handful of very superficial handling marks which do not breech the blue nor anodized finishes. The checkered walnut Beretta medallion grips rate excellent to as-new. One original 13 round Beretta 92 Compact magazine is included rating excellent and one full-size Beretta 92/M9 15-round magazine is included, also rating excellent. The pistol rides in its original blue synthetic factory case with silver cardboard outer shipping sleeve, serial numbered to the gun, with full complement of Beretta factory paperwork including manual and warranty cards. A nice included bonus are three spare pairs of Beretta grips. One is a regulation pair of General Officers grips for the Model 92/M9 with the Seal of the United States right and “John E Bianchi” in the brass general officers-style plaque inletted into the left, engraved when he was a Brigadier General. The second pair of walnut grips have an un-engraved brass monogram plate on the left grip, the right featuring the trademark of Bianchi Gun Leather International, neatly inletted into it. The last pair of grips are a set of hard rubber checkered Beretta logo grips for the 92 Compact pistol rating excellent and showing some light wear. The U.S. Model 1902 Officers Sword by WKC is a beautiful example and is as-new with its original scabbard with presentation to the Major General at his retirement. The 30” blade remains as brilliant as the day it left Germany and features the proof star at the obverse ricasso with etched flowing scroll and U.S. Army decoration on the obverse, open scroll, panoplies of arms and “U.S.” on the reverse, with the WKC Knights head trademark at the ricasso; the rear spine of the blade neatly etched with light embellishment as well. The triple branch hilt remains brilliant and the black synthetic finger grip rates excellent. The scabbard as well is as-new and is engraved “MG John Bianchi/(scroll flourish)/From the Grateful Men & Women of the SMR/“Commit the Reserve!” ”. The sword still has the WKC makers hangtag attached and comes with a regulation leather and nickel plated suspension frog and hanger as well as the flannel WKC over sleeve. Major General Bianchi’s M1902 General Officers belt with 24 karat gold plated buckle, M12 holster and ammunition carrier is included as well. It rates excellent and remains supple and flexible, the magazine carrier with one Beretta 13 round model 92F compact magazine and one full-size Beretta 15 round M92/M9 magazine within. The regulation U.S. Army steel helmet with two Major General stars applied above its brow, is complete with synthetic U.S.-marked helmet liner. The helmet retains nearly all its original textured OD Green paint showing only minor scuffs or abrasions here and there, primarily along the folded edge seam. It is size marked “58” and neatly permanent ink penned at the rear nape is “Bianchi”, small Velcro adapters fitted inside to provide a tighter friction fit. The interior leather webbing remains in excellent condition with the leather sweatband showing some very minor staining but remaining supple and uncracked, the nape support at the very rear of the helmet shows an additional pebbled leather bolster, no doubt for comfort, no doubt by the holster maker himself, always the innovator and customizer. The web chinstrap is intact and remains in excellent condition and there is a reversible regulation camouflage helmet cover included with both woodland and sand patterns. The final item in this desirable lot is a nice First Day Cover envelope with four pieces of postage, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the General Patton Memorial Museum, given to Mr. Bianchi when he was asked to speak there. The face of the cover mentions five particular Generals, all of the Coachella Valley, being honored, John Bianchi among them. The postage on the face includes vintage 6 cent Genl. Douglas MacArthur stamp; 4 cent U.S. flag stamp; 3 cent Genl. George Patton stamp, and a contemporary 37 cent Korean War Veterans Memorial stamp. The envelope itself is a bit wrinkled as it was within the helmet liner, but pressing would certainly shape it up in short order. It is no secret that John Bianchi has always had a love for all things old West and many do not know that he made his first holster on the kitchen table at age 12, emulating the cowboy holsters he had seen in the movies. From those humble beginnings he made holsters for fellow officers during his service with the Monrovia Police Department, eventually starting a full-time holster-making business that would become the venerable Bianchi International, Mr. Bianchi would sell his company in 1988. Serving his country for the better part of a lifetime, becoming a peace officer, starting the largest and most successful holster company in the world, founding the Bianchi cup, holding numerous patents and trademarks, authoring numerous books, starting his own museum, which would become the foundation for the Autry Museum of the West in LA, John Bianchi is not a man to rest on his laurels. Always true to his roots, Mr. Bianchi would return to his love of holster making, we are happy to report, hand making bespoke holster rigs one-at-a-time in his Rancho Mirage shop, “Frontier Gunleather”. A very rare opportunity to own some very personal equipment from this talented and modest icon in the American firearms industry, the venerable John Bianchi. (3D10521-1,2,3) {MODERN} (5000/7000) Categories: firearm Terms and conditions TERMS & 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 17.5% Buyer’s Premium will be added to all purchases regardless of price with a 2.5% 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 On-line 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. 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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 handguns, are shipped via UPS Ground unless other arrangements have been made. All merchandise is shipped Signature Required. • All modern 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 • Pickup will be by appointment only. • OUR OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY FOLLOWING THE SALE. No merchandise will be delivered on those days. We will resume normal business hours on Wednesday. • Our office hours are Monday through Friday - 8:00 am to 4:00pm.
