The name General George S. Patton Jr. echoes down the annals of military history, eliciting images of fierce determination and relentless drive. Central to his formidable persona were his iconic sidearms: a pair of ivory-handled pistols that became as much part of his legacy as his audacious tactics and fiery oratory. These were not mere decorative accoutrements but symbols of leadership and battle readiness that evoked both awe and allegiance.
One recent highlight in the continuing legacy of Patton’s revolvers is the auction sale of a Colt .45 revolver once owned by the General himself, commanding an astonishing $75,000. This Colt .45 Model 1873 single-action revolver is adorned with a distinctive stag horn grip and is considered by many to be the counterpart to his equally famous ivory-handled Colt .45, which is proudly displayed at The General George Patton Museum and Center of Leadership.
Patton’s fondness for the revolver actually goes back to the earliest days of his military career. During the Punitive Expedition into Mexico in 1916, the same Colt .45 was at his side when he engaged in a gunfight at the Rancho San Miguelito. It was this encounter that marked his first combat experience and the beginning of his reputation as a master of mechanized warfare. As history would later attest, the pistols themselves were not just sidearms but part of Patton’s contrived persona, one that chased a double purpose: to embolden troops and intimidate enemies.
The ivory-handled revolvers are perhaps the best-known symbols of Patton’s martial identity. Although the .45 Colt Single Action was Patton’s everyday carry, it was the .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson that he considered the “killing gun,” if the situation arose on the battlefield. The .45, purchased in 1916 and notably notched, along with the .357 Magnum, which is often mistakenly thought to be its twin due to their similar appearance, both had a place of honor on Patton’s Sam Myers custom-made belt. Patton’s sidearms reflected his philosophy and approach to combat. He believed in the decisiveness of small arms and stressed their importance in close combat situations. The pistols were not only part of his wardrobe but integral to his fighting doctrine that valued precision and individual marksmanship.
