The privileged son of the president of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, John Hegeman Jr. moved in the social circles of politicians, bankers and military officials as well as rode in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show for a time when it toured the East Coast.

Hegeman also collected Colt firearms. Many, many Colt firearms. Recognized as the first serious Colt collector, he acquired prototypes, serial no. 1 guns and rare variations, R.L. Wilson, in “The Book of Colt Firearms wrote that Hegeman’s collection had several pieces that “were acquired directly from the factory at the turn of the century.”

While serving as an assistant secretary for his father’s insurance company, Hegeman enlisted in the New York National Guard and rose up to the rank of brevet major and serving in a number of roles, often involving handguns. He is known to have presented Gen. Nelson Miles with a Winchester Model 1895 saddle ring carbine.

His gun collection was one of the most famous to be assembled and is reported to have had 20 Paterson revolvers at one time. His guns were stamped with a “J.R.H.Jr.” cartouche. Rock Island Auction Company will offer three pieces from Hegeman’s famed collection in the Aug. 15-17 Premier Auction.

Hegeman in the Military

Born in 1872, Hegeman had an interest in firearms and marksmanship. He joined the New York National Guard as a private assigned to Company E of the 7^th New York National Guard Regiment. When the Spanish-American War broke out, Hegeman transferred to the 108^th as the inspector of small arms practice and was promoted to captain.

After the war he was assigned to the 5^th Brigade where he served in a number of positions, including aide-de-camp and assistant inspector of small arms practice. Another assignment came in 1901 when he was assigned to New York’s 1^st Brigade and again served as assistant inspector of small arms practice. He received a brevet promotion in 1905 to the rank of major and served as the ordnance officer for the 1^stBrigade. He retired from the National Guard in 1913.

Hegeman and Metropolitan Life

Hegeman’s father rose to president of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in 1891, a position where he served until he died in 1919. The younger Hegeman, in his position as assistant secretary, oversaw the completion of the famous Metropolitan Life Tower at 1 Madison Ave. in New York City. The 700-foot tall building held the title of the world’s tallest building from 1903-1913. The building was inspired by the Campanile di San Marco in Venice, Italy.

Hegeman and Nelson Miles

Hegeman Jr. presented Gen. Nelson Miles, the Commanding General of the U.S. Army, with the Winchester Model 1895, but little is known about circumstances surrounding its presentation. It is believed that Miles and the senior Hegeman moved in similar elite social circles and since the younger Hegeman was also a military man involved in ordnance decisions for the National Guard, they might have crossed paths. Also the younger Hegeman owned a ranch out west near the ranches of Buffalo Bill Cody and a New York banking acquaintance.

Hegeman’s Guns Today

The Hegeman Collection guns on offer by Rock Island Auction in August are true pinnacle pieces for Colt collectors for their rarity, special features and condition. They provide rock solid provenance, having been held in outstanding collections, and tremendous documentation having been shared in a number of books.

The pair of Colt Single Action Army revolvers is among about 3,000 engraved first generation SAAs, displaying the masterwork of engraver Cuno Helfricht. These beautiful revolvers have a special “browned” finish and gold inlays and remain in high condition with 95 percent finish. These SAAs add to their rarity by having Bisley triggers and trigger guards, and have shared space in Robert Q. Sutherland’s collection and appeared in R.L. Wilson’s “The Book of Colt Firearms,” and “The Colt Engraving Book, Volume 1” as well as in “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver: Thirty year Edition, 1976-2006,” by Ron Graham, John Kopec and C. Kenneth Moore.

Like many of the very early guns that comprised his large collection, the award-winning 2nd Model Dragoon is the earliest known in its serial number run so it may be a first and could be a prototype. Standing as a rarity among about 2,700 made, it is among the finest known and in spectacular condition. This NRA Silver Medal winner’s Ranger and Indian scene roll engraving remains vivid on the cylinder that also bears the desirable “U.S. DRAGOONS” marking. Its chain of provenance is unbroken, going from Hegeman through several prominent collectors, including Sutherland, Herb Glass and Herb Glass Jr., and the Pelton Family Collection.

The well-documented Colt Bisley Flattop Single Action Army is chambered in the very scarce .44 Smith & Wesson Russian, one of only 976 manufactured and one of a mere 126 SAAs in that chambering. It remains in outstanding condition, retaining 95 percent of its high blued finish and crisp checkering on the grips. After leaving Hegeman’s collection its chain of ownership, like the others above, is outstanding, having been in the Sutherland Collection and Charles Marx Collection.

Being such rarities and in outstanding condition, these guns will fetch prices far beyond what was expected when a number of items from Hegeman’s collection were offered 85 years ago.

Hegeman and His Gun Collection

The Kimball Arms Company, of Woburn, Mass., offered firearms from the Hegeman Collection in one of its 1940 catalogs. He was described as a “vice president of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of New York, who was very active between 1884 and 1925 and was interested in Colt arms only.”

The collection was described as numbering 350 pieces, “many in factory new condition.” The catalog lists 13 Colt Dragoons, including nine Second Models. Two of the Dragoons were offered with shoulder stocks and one was described as “The only specimen which we ever have seen of the Second Model Dragoon Brevete, made in Belgium, under the Colt patents.” Considering its rarity, it was offered for $85. A factory model Dragoon with Theur conversion described as mint condition was offered for $350 while a miniature model Dragoon with engraving and gold-plated finish had an asking price of $300.

A word often found in the catalog descriptions of the Hegeman guns offered by Kimball Arms is “experimental” particularly describing several hammerless shotguns. The extensive list of guns from Hegeman’s collection mentioned in the catalog range from 1849 Pocket Models, Model 1860 Armys including some with shoulder stocks, Model 1855 Root revolvers, derringers, Model 1877 Lightnings, cased sets, presentation sets, Cloverleafs and New Line revolvers as well as several automatic pistols and Colt Double Rifles. Many of the guns listed have single digit or double digit serial numbers.

Gun descriptions up and down the catalog mention unique attributes, like a Frontier made without a reinforced collar on the recoil shield and chambered in .44 Henry Rimfire, an engraved Frontier with elephant ivory grips with a chromed barrel and chambered in .44 Russian and .44 Smith & Wesson and a semi-auto Model 97 pistol with pearl grips that was made as a special order for Gen. Victoriano Huerta of Mexico.

Hegeman’s Guns for Sale

J.R. Hegeman Jr., s son of wealth, was one of the first influential Colt collectors, gathering amazing early manufactured models, guns with scarce or rare features as well as experimental prototypes to create an enormous collection. Now is the time for collectors to take notice of the three pieces in Rock Island Auction’s Aug. 13-5 Premier Auction hailing from his collection that are immensely rare, well-documented and high conditioned.