MAY 2020 –

THERE WAS NOBODY QUITE LIKE JOE BOWMAN…

JOE BOWMAN & ROBERT DUVALL ON THE SET OF “LONESOME DOVE”….

PATRICK SWAYZE & JOE BOWMAN

The Joe Bowman “TEXAS IN HOLLYWOOD” Platinum Collection.  One of the most historic, comprehensive & culturally significant Western arms, armor, art and performance gear and equipment offerings in America.

This is quite possibly the most comprehensive and historic Western firearm collection ever offered to the public that reaches so deep into the “trifecta” of Houston history, Texas history, & United States history spanning the magnificent 20th Century in America & it’s love of rich Western Americana.

When Joe Bowman passed, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Times, The Boston Globe & Houston Chronicle among others, did half page tributes to Mr. Bowman’s life and legacy.  NPR Radio did not one, but two radio segments paying tribute to his life in the week after he passed.  Even US Senator John Cornyn wrote a stirring tribute to Joe Bowman that he entitled “A Finely Tooled Life”…

He coached Robert Duvall for his role as Gus in Lonesome Dove, he coached Sammy Davis, Jr. in the 50’s & 60’s into becoming the master fast draw specialist that he was.  Roy Rogers was a regular customer of the fine handcrafted boots that Joe made for him in the 50’s at the Bowman/DeGeorge Boot Shop in Houston.  Roy wore Joe’s stuff around Hollywood and Bowman got a name for making extremely high quality boots, belts and even saddles and custom luggage…!  From there, Roy started passing the word around….and before you know it – Joe Bowman had quite a customer list and was teaching & influencing the best in the business.  He was a fixture at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for decades.  He worked with Patrick Swayze, James Garner, James Drury, etc, etc, etc…..the list just goes on and on-

Another aspect of Joe’s legend was his mastery of “gunsmithing”.  He could expertly modify a Ruger and break it down and alter the friction bearing elements by hand to create the smoothest action to that point in Western single action firearm history.  He eventually was invited to spend time at the Ruger factory and started working with their engineers to make modifications to their architecture that resulted in the Ruger “New Vaquero”.  Joe designed a custom two-plate holster system in the 1950’s to facilitate movement, and Sammy Davis Jr thought it was so game changing that he invited Joe to go into business with him marketing Joe’s design….  Unfortunately, Joe’s plate was a little too full at that time to start another business!  It was yet another acknowledgment of his skill in producing very high quality designs.

I won’t even start here to discuss his accomplishments in the Western firearm world – they are highly documented….

Joe Bowman was named the “Texas Ambassador Of Goodwill” by FOUR standing Texas Governors for his global travels and his wholesome representation of “the Texas dream”.  He did command performances for Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands and King Hussein of Jordan and wowed audiences around the world with his skills…  Yet, throughout it all, he never ended a performance without giving a very strong visual reminder on gun safety and how “even blanks” can either maim or kill…  Gun safety was always paramount to him and it was the bedrock of EVERY performance…

Check the photos on the web page here… they are just a glimpse of the life that Joe Bowman led….

Joe Bowman even was able to coach his model/executive secretary wife and mold her into both the North American Women’s Fast Draw Champion and US Women’s Fast Draw Champion – two feats that were featured on the national prime time TV show “To Tell The Truth” in 1962.

For info – Contact:   joebowmanguns@hotmail.com

Note:  The Joe Bowman “TEXAS IN HOLLYWOOD” Platinum Collection has been photo documented with specs and history, but will not be available for “in person” inspection, as all items have been warehoused in deep storage and not be accessed again until time of sale.  All firearm transaction transfers will be done within the boundaries the State of Texas and under Texas state law.  Shipping & insurance will need to be done, post sale, at the discretion & cost of the purchaser.  All firearm transactions will require a “signed by both parties” ATF Record of Firearms Transfer Form on all gun sales in the interest of full disclosure.  All items sold will be sold “as is”.

In addition, ALL items in The Joe Bowman “TEXAS IN HOLLYWOOD” Platinum Collection sale will automatically receive a Letter Of Authenticity from The Joe Bowman Estate, on “The Straight Shooter” Joe Bowman’s fancy personal stationery for full provenance and documentation of each item.

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A small photo gallery of some of the “crown jewels” of The Joe Bowman “TEXAS IN HOLLYWOOD” Platinum Collection…..

PREMIER & ULTIMATE OFFERING-

JOE BOWMAN PERFORMANCE RIG WITH 2 HIGHLY ORNATE ENGRAVED JOE BOWMAN PERFORMANCE REVOLVERS WITH JOE BOWMAN HANDTOOLED, STEEL LINED PERFORMANCE HOLSTER RIG AND PERSONALIZED METAL CARRYING CASE –

JOE BOWMAN PERFORMED HIS FINAL SHOWS WITH THIS RIG

TWO MATCHED, ENGRAVED & PERSONALIZED “JOE BOWMAN PERFORMANCE RUGER NEW VAQUERO .45 CAL REVOLVERS” WITH STAG GRIPS (SERIAL NUMBERS 510-015XX AND 510-015XX) WITH JOE BOWMAN PERFORMANCE METAL LINED HOLSTER RIG AND PERSONALIZED TRAVEL CASE (4 Pieces)

This is the only Joe Bowman “show gun” holster set that will ever be offered to the public from the Estate.

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Joe Bowman Personal Collection – Colt .357 Cal Single Action Army Revolver (VERY FANCY & HIGHLY ENGRAVED) (w/Notarized Appraisal Letter (Back in 2000) for value of $15,000)  Engraved Ivory Grips, Ornate Engraving, Precious Metal Inlay by Ken Hurst with wood case.

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1992 Limited Edition NEW IN BOX John Wayne Commemorative Rifle – BEAUTIFUL…….!

Joe Bowman Personal Collecton – (NEW IN BOX) Winchester “John Wayne Commemorative” .32-.40 Rifle (w/Joe Bowman addressed box)

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A truly, one of a kind, premium collectible from The Joe Bowman “TEXAS IN HOLLYWOOD” Platinum Collection…..

MAJOR ITEM – Joe Bowman Hand Shot Indian Head Art on Metal Panel (with Two Signature Panels from “When The West Was Fun” Shoot in Hollywood, California in 1979) – (3 Metal Panels ready for framing)  Two of the three metal panels signed by some of the biggest Western stars in Hollywood Film & T.V. History!!!  Signed in Bold “Marks-A-Lot” on three 18″x24″ Metal Panels ready for framing.

Signatures include GEORGE MONTGOMERY, KEN CURTIS (FESTUS FROM GUNSMOKE), PETER BROWN, JAMES DRURY (THE VIRGINIAN), MICHAEL ANSARA, HARRY SAUTER, GUY MADISON, REX ALLEN, DAN HAGGERTY (GRIZZY ADAMS), TY HARDIN, ROD CAMERON, DICK JONES (RANGE RIDER), DARBY HINTON (DANIEL BOONE), JOHN IRELAND, X-BRANDS (YANCY DERRINGER), JACK KELLEY, CLAYTON MOORE (The Original LONE RANGER), THE ONE AND ONLY ROY ROGERS (& TRIGGER)!!, CHUCK CONNORS (THE RIFLEMAN), SLIM PICKENS, MARK SLADE, JOHN RUSSELL (THE LAWMAN), DOUG MCCLURE (THE VIRGINIAN), JOHNNY CRAWFORD (SON MARK FROM THE RIFLEMAN), JANETTE NOLAN, IRON EYES CODY (ICONIC NATIVE AMERICAN), DON DIAMOND, KEENAN WYNN AND MORE!!!!!

A TRULY ICONIC AND ONE OF A KIND SET AND THE ULTIMATE FILM/T.V. COWBOY COLLECTIBLE!!!)

Here’s a shot of Joe making a “rifle shot” Native American Chief….  The one listed below is the only one left in the collection, and has the priceless signatures to go with it…  So many of them have passed….  A beautiful and very special part of Joe’s personal collection…

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Ruger New Vaquero .45 Cal – (MATCHED PAIR) – Joe Bowman Personal Collection

New in Box – Custom Gold Hardware – Special Edition – (Former Texas Ranger Foundation) Matched Pair – consecutive serial numbers

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Joe Bowman Personal Collection – Joe Bowman – The Straight Shooter Performance Backdrop (Approx 50″x70″) (Original & Only One – complete with a few black powder burn marks!) combined with his Joe Bowman Performance Backdrop American Flag – 4’x6′

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