THE JOH N OLIVER LUKE COLLECTION Lots 1122 through 1161 Within the f irear ms indust r y there are dealers, collectors, researchers, authors, and st udents. Joh n Oliver Lu ke was more, he was a colossal collector. This book is dedicated to the collecting histor y of the Joh n Oliver Lu ke colossal collection. His collection was stimulated by his love of histor y and his unparalleled dedication to 18th and 19th cent ur y research. Joh n approached the collecting of histor ical ar tifacts with the same enthusiasm as he did with his work dur ing his 40 years with General Motors, much of which was as a Senior Engineer ing Super visor. In 1975, his devotion to General Motors won him the Canadian Super visors Council Award presented by General Motors that he so appropr iately deser ved. Joh n was more than an engineer and a collector he was a f r iend to ever yone he met in the f irear ms collecting f rater nit y. W hile I k new that Joh n was ver y sick in early 2020 and that his wife Valer ie was by his side day and night, I shall never forget the mor ning in Apr il, 2020 when I received a phone call f rom Valer ie that Joh n had passed. I recall the hours of sad ness that followed as I shared Joh n’s passing with Valer ie and Joh n’s f r iends Ed Louer, Joyce and Charlie Kauf man n, Bon nie and Fran k Kobilis, Helen and Tim Hodges, Jane and Mac Spencer, Sharon and A r t DeCamp and others.
Vale rie & Joh n Luk e Joh n willingly shared his wealth of k nowledge verbally and as an author. He was always ready to st udy an ar tifact belonging to another with a discer ning eye and then without hesitation share his obser vant and honest opinion. Of course, his dialog ue usually included a joke to alleviate the conversation.
Joh n was a member of the Kent uck y R if le Association, the Contemporar y Longr if le Association and a reg ular at tendee at national and regional shows such as those of the Baltimore A r ms Collectors Association. As you view this compilation of the Joh n Oliver Lu ke Collection you will be reminded that Joh n enjoyed a collection inf luenced by histor y and research with a touch of Canadian inf luence. Each of these ar tifacts has an impor tant place in our histor y. Joh n of ten remarked that we as collectors are really caretakers. He would be delighted to k now that someone tomor row will assume his role as the concierge for another generation. With his light personalit y, Joh n was among the f irst to receive greetings as collectors gathered for meetings and shows. He will be dearly missed by his many f r iends. Collectors of tomor row will only have this book dedicated by the Mor phy Auction to the Joh n Oliver Lu ke Collection to reminisce about a colossal collector. Margie and Gordon Barlow, Swoope, VA 76
www.MorphyAuctions.com | May 18, 2021