DEAD MEN'S GUNS

Dead Men’s Guns and Other Patton Stuff

The M1909 Colt .45 that once belonged to General Julio Cardenas, the head of Villa's bodyguard. Cardenas was Captain of the "Doradoes" the Golden Ones, the "bodyguard" for Francisco Villa. In accordance with typical Mexican Revolutionary decorum, he was called "General" Cardenas. General Cardenas and another Villista were killed by 2LT Patton using the single-action Colt he had purchased in March, 1915.

The M1909 Colt was taken from Cardenas’ body by Patton,

a nice new pistol for which the Colt Revolving Arms Co. has no records.

Cardenas' spurs, another "battlefield" pick up.

This broom-handle Mauser pistol taken from a dead German officer in 1918.

The saddle of Colonel George S. Patton, Commander of the 22nd Virginia Infantry, which was modified in the late 1800s with "new" stirrups. The saddle was commercially made in Philadelphia just prior to the Civil War.

All photographs courtesy of the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor, Ft Knox, KY.