Stunning and Historic Exhibition Quality Engraved, Gold and Silver Damascened Star Model B Super Semi-Automatic Pistol Presented as a Gift to American Entertainment Icon Frank Sinatra and by Him to His Longtime Friend and Manager Henry "Hank" Cattaneo This stunning, exhibition grade embellished Star Model B pistol formerly belonged to the "Chairman of the Board" Frank Sinatra who is undoubtedly counted among a very select pantheon of legendary American entertainers who truly transcend beyond just fame, having become instantly recognizable the world over, whether for their music, their look, their acting, or combination of the three. It is without question that "Ol' Blue Eyes", as he was often known, is among a truly elite handful of American entertainers including the likes of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Marlon Brando, Madonna, Humphrey Bogart, Dolly Parton, Sammie Davis Jr., and other members of the famous "Rat Pack". In their respective eras, all these legendary figures, including Sinatra himself, played a prominent role in influencing the American persona and style domestically, as well as how those around the world perceived Americans and their nation. Sinatra has secured his spot within the American entertainment ethos by being ranked among the world's top selling music artists, having sold an estimated 150 million records worldwide, representing the epitome of the American success story. This particular pistol includes a signed notarized letter from Sinatra’s longtime manager and friend Henry "Hank" Cattaneo stating that it was gifted to him by Frank upon arrival for one of his many shows in the New York area. Like so many Americans in the early 20th century, Sinatra was a first generation American. He was born to Italian immigrants in Hoboken, New Jersey. His mother worked as a midwife, and his father was a bantamweight boxer and fireman. Sinatra developed an interest in music early on, particularly jazz, and came to idolize Bing Crosby, who heavily influenced his musical career. Sinatra began singing professionally as a teenager and by November 1939 had become the singer for the Tommy Dorsey band in Chicago. From 1940 to 1942, Sinatra recorded many songs with Dorsey's band, with Dorsey himself having become a father figure for the young singer. Their popularity increased both of men's fame. This newly found fame also led to closer scrutiny, and it was around this time that newspapers began circulating stories about Sinatra's connections to Cosa Nostra, also known as the Italian Mafia in America. These connections were primarily derived from Sinatra's godfather, Guarino "Willie" Moretti, an underboss of the Luciano crime family. In early 1942, Sinatra had convinced Dorsey to let him record some solo songs, which seem to have encouraged Sinatra to pursue a solo career. A legal battle ensued over Sinatra wanting out of his contract with the Dorsey band, with the two eventually parting ways in September of 1942 and never truly reconciling. Rumors circulated that Dorsey had finally agreed to let Sinatra out of his contract for only one dollar after Moretti had held a gun to Dorsey's head, threatening to kill him if he did not release Frank from the contract. In December of 1942, Sinatra's performances at the Paramount Theater in New York truly kicked off what would become known as "Sinatramania", as his popularity exploded, particularly among teenage girls. In June of 1943, Sinatra signed as a solo artist with Colombia Records, releasing multiple chart hits, and by the end of the year, in at least one poll, was viewed as more popular than his idol Bing Crosby. During the 1940s, Sinatra also launched a career on the silver screen with mixed success. In 1946, he released his first full album, which reached the top of the Billboard chart. Also in 1946, doing nothing to quell the rumors of mafia connections, Sinatra was billed as the entertainment for the "Havana Conference", which was reportedly convened by Charles "Lucky" Luciano at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba. It is believed that at the time of the conference, Sinatra's presence there was kept secret, with some saying he was not even listed in the hotel's register. This conference, taking place at the end of December, carrying over into 1947, gathered all the most prominent figures of the American Mafia as well as other National Crime Syndicate leaders to decide on guiding principles and make decisions regarding the post-war era, many of which would dictate the operations of the Mafia for decades after. One of the prominent figures at this conference was "Willie" Moretti, Sinatra's godfather, who may have made the connection to line up Frank as the entertainment for the event. It is noted in various sources that Havana, and specifically the Hotel Nacional de Cuba were a popular getaway for Sinatra, who saw it as a place to get away from the American press, as well as being one of the most popular night life locations in the western hemisphere at the time. Some sources claim that his presence at the Havana Conference was meant to be secret, but he was spotted exiting a Pan Am plane with two Mafia members by agents of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics who leaked this information to the press. The Mafia members that Sinatra is believed to have flown with were Joe and Rocco Fischetti, and a photograph exists of the three men together in Sloppy Joe's Bar, which is believed to have been taken some time in early 1947. During the period, as well as the rest of his life, Sinatra made a concerted effort to downplay his connections to and separate himself from the mob, though it is fairly clear, with the benefit of hindsight, the connections existed and were likely quite deep. This is confirmed by the fact that the F.B.I. maintained an extensive file on Sinatra and his connections to the mob during the period and witnessed many meet ups between the singer and known mobsters. Given the theme of the engraving on this pistol, as well as the 1947 date of manufacture, it is almost certain that it was gifted to Sinatra by either a prominent Mafia member or a prominent official of the Cuban government in relation to his performance at the Havana Conference, though the identity of the presenter remains unknown. During the late 1940s and through the 1950s, Sinatra had become a prominent member of the group of A-list celebrities known as the "Rat Pack", which included Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Errol Flynn, Mickey Rooney, Humphrey Bogart, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, and Sammy Davis Jr. Members of the group showed up on screen in multiple films together, as well as performing on stage together on multiple occasions, culminating in the release of the film "Ocean's 11" in early 1960. The 1960s version of the "Rat Pack" was composed of Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford as the main members, while others such as Marilyn Monroe, Juliet Prowse, Don Rickles, and many more were considered informal members. Throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, Sinatra released some of his greatest musical hits, including the album "Come Fly With Me", which reached the top of the Billboard chart in its second week. Through much of the 1960s, Sinatra was recording and releasing music through his own record label, called Reprise Records. During the 1970s, Sinatra performed at many famous casinos in Las Vegas, including the Sahara Hotel and Caesar's Palace. In 1983, Sinatra was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors, where President Ronald Reagan noted that "art was the shadow of humanity" and that Sinatra had "spent his life casting a magnificent and powerful shadow." Through the 1980s and into the 1990s, Sinatra continued performing live, making television appearances, and recording albums, essentially up until his death in 1998. This pistol was manufactured in 1947 and shows an exceptionally high level of embellishment befitting "the Sultan of Swoon". The pistol exhibits extensive, essentially full coverage, masterfully executed engraving and gold and silver Damascening that certainly places it among the finest Star exhibition grade arms we have ever cataloged. Featured prominently on the left and right of the slide are relief engraved, silver inlaid dragons, and silver inlaid florets are scattered throughout. The pistol displays many panels featuring flourishes of gold inlaid scrollwork, each separated by ornate decorative borders of various patterns, a theme which is continued throughout this magnificent pistol, including on the grips. These motifs on the grips surround a circular panel on each side, the left featuring the crest of Cuba, while the right features the initials "MF/G", both masterfully inlaid with gold. Though unconfirmed, it is believed that these initials belong to either a prominent member of the mafia or a Cuban government official who likely presented this work of firearms art to Sinatra as a "thank you" for his performances at the Havana Conference in late 1946 to early 1947. The left side of the frame has typical Spanish proofs including the "star/R" 1947 date code, and the butt is marked "SUPER" over the serial number. It is fitted with standard sights, and the magazine baseplate is gold plated.

Manufacturer: Echeverria Star Bonifacio Sa

Model: Super

BBL: 5 inch round

Gauge: 9 mm largo

Finish: blue/silver/gold

Grips: gold Damascene/inlaid metal

Serial Number309916

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Provenance: Frank Sinatra; Henry "Hank" Cattaneo; The Frank Brownell Collection
  • Condition: Exceptionally fine, retaining 90% plus of the matte blue, silver, and gold finishes as well as nearly all of the original inlays with some light handling evidence, most noticeable on high spots, and crisp engraving throughout. The grips are also exceptionally fine retaining the same high amount of finish as the rest of the pistol and crisp engraving. Mechanically excellent. This is a historic pistol connected to both the iconic American entertainer Frank Sinatra as well as the notorious American Mafia!

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by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
3600 Harwood Road
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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000