John Wayne Vintage Original Western Memorabilia Collectibles For Sale
"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you Didn't do,
than by the ones you did do"..... 

John Wayne Personally Gifted "Alamo" Knife

With John Wayne intimate Authentically Signed Autographed 11x14" photo MATCH of Presentation Ceremony   
“Astonishing handwritten personal dedication to personal friend and recipient”

Astonishing piece of history personally gifted by John Wayne during or just after the filming of his iconic war epic film The Alamo.. A mounted commemorative  "Jim Bowie" Knife with Original LARGE 11x14" Authentically SIGNED Autographed photo of John Wayne presenting the knife to close friend A.L. Becker (read more details below), with very unique personal autographed inscription with both his full name AND his famous nickname..  "Dear A.L., Please don't use these in competition. 'Duke' John Wayne 1960.". .  Inscription refers to him using it against his competitors! 

In ANY genre of collecting high value vintage memorabilia , it is the “level” and extraordinary evidence of provenance that makes the difference between a unsubstantiated claim and chance of worthless value, and strong highly credible, even unquestionable provenance that can make that same item PRICELESS.

In the annals of historical documented provenance this may be the most impressive example of ANY genre of collecting such period classic Hollywood  artifacts  As a matter of fact, the provenance associated with this “Jim Bowie” knife given to the recipient during filming or the same year of  The Alamo’s release,  could easily be considered Unprecedented .!

This Jim Bowie knives were inspired by the 1960 John Wayne epic “The Alamo”. The same knife used by Richard Widmark who played the role of "Jim Bowie" in the "Alamo"...  The first knives produced were in 1960 by the Carvel Hall cutlery company in conjunction with the release of “The Alamo” in 1960.   They were first issued in a very limited number, most notably to John Wayne himself..     They would eventually produce them for the general public based on my research in the mid 60s. A few I had found auctions records for mentioned the knives were acquired in 1967 which could mean they were offered to the public at the time of The Alamo’s only re-release in 1967..   The first ones issued had leather mounting brackets, whereas, later versions had plastic.     The later reproductions can be found in auctions today.  But only a few had the remarkable privilege of garnering the attention and respect from the greatest movie star of all time !   The man who inspired the  Carvel Hall company to create  these historical Hollywood treasured commemorative knives..   From the hand of John Wayne himself!     And with the astonishing Autographed photo with the “Direct-Connection” inscription elevates this to Museum Grade category…

I suspect if this extraordinary piece made it into a high end auction it would sell for 2-3 times our asking price...   much like the John Wayne 1977 Driver's License that sold at auction in 2013 for $93,000 ..

* See enlargeable images above and below

Carvel Hall history:
Founded in 1895,  they went out of business 95 years later in 1990 after their parent company filed for bankruptcy.. 

More Details:
Here is a historic piece that overlaps the categories of Hollywood and the Old West, this spectacular bowie knife on original display plaque (22" long) was presented by John Wayne during the filming of the classic western "The Alamo" in 1960.  Presentee is VIP A.L. Becker, along with his son Charles, the owners of the Handy Andy, the chain of Texas grocery stores. The knife was presented to Becker at a reception they held for John Wayne during the filming of "The Alamo".   Amazingly, the knife comes with a spectacular "Hollywood" quality still showing, and a picture of this very knife being presented by John Wayne himself to A.L. and Charles Becker.  Hence, the piece is photo-matched.  The photo is an extraordinarily Large 11x14"  Type I and double weight. A similar knife was also presented to the son Charles. To put the cherry on the sundae, the photograph is signed by John Wayne and inscribed: "Dear A.L., Please don't use these in competition. (signed) 'Duke' John Wayne 1960."  Inscription refers to him using it against his competitors! The knife was made by Carvel Hall and the piece was obtained by a collector from the widow of Charles Becker and comes with letter attesting to this. Letter states:  "I personally purchased these items from the widow of Charles Becker and I guarantee their authenticity and to be the original inscription and autograph of The Duke."  Important artifacts with indisputable authenticity such as these are the future of our industry. Their value will be multiples of pieces of similar import but with lesser provenance.  Let alone this being paired with as iconic an American figure as John Wayne, whose films with legendary director John Ford defined the myth of the Old West.   Comes with the authentic John Wayne signed and inscribed provenance and also a letter of provenance from the collector who originally acquired this piece from the widow of A.L. Becker.  *.   Simply as amazing peice of History worthy of any Museum..   But, none better then Your home museum!

* NOTE:   As another layer of association and authenticity provenance, the man (last owner) who acquired the knife from AL Becker's widow lived in San Antonio, the headquarters for Handy Andy.   Also, after 86 years in business Handy Andy's last stores was sold off in 2012.   

Guaranteed Authentic for Life
Conway's Vintage Treasures
UACC Registered Dealer No 307

Note: Cvtreasures stamp NOT on original

* See enlargeable images above and below