He was a hero, a bandit, a commander, a fugitive, a
revolutionary, a man of the people and the most famous person in modern
Mexican history. He was Francisco "Pancho" Villa. Villa rose from humble
origins to be one of the most powerful men in North America – a name
recognized, respected, loved and feared on both sides of the Border. Born
Doroteo Arango, in Durango, Mexico, Villa became an outlaw after shooting
a man who outraged his sister. From that point on he was never without a
horse or a gun – trademarks that would be part of his persona until his
death.
After successfully evading the Rurales police force
for almost a decade, always a friend of the poor, Villa and his men joined
the revolutionary forces fighting against the oppressive regime of
Porfirio Diaz. In short order his charisma and leadership abilities
catapulted him to a generalship of the Army of the North and a place in
the hearts and minds of the Mexican people forever.
Perhaps Villa’s most famous exploit, to Americans, was his
raid on Columbus, New Mexico, where he confronted civilians and the U.S.
military and was driven back over the border. This incident led to the
formation of an American punitive expedition into Mexico, led by General
John "Blackjack" Pershing (along with his youthful aide, Lieutenant George S. Patton, Jr.). Despite dragging
cavalry, artillery, trucks and automobiles, and even airplanes over vast
expanses of Northern Mexico, the American military never apprehended the
elusive Villa.
Villa was a deft hand with rifle and pistol. During the
Revolution one of the most sought-after firearms was Winchester’s famed
Model 94 lever-action .30-30 rifle.
Immortalized in the soldiers’ song Carabina Treinta
Treinta, it was the proud Villista who carried one of these fine
repeaters in his saddle scabbard. Now America Remembers recaptures the
fascinating era of the Mexican Revolution and the irrepressible character
of its most well-known character with an elegantly embellished rifle
honoring the "Centaur of the North," Pancho Villa.
The Pancho Villa Tribute is a working Winchester Model 94
rifle in .30-30 caliber. Each rifle is handsomely decorated by craftsmen
specifically commissioned by America Remembers with artwork in elegant
24-karat gold and nickel against a blackened patinaed background,
depicting scenes from the life of this flamboyant Mexican revolutionary
leader.
Order now and you can celebrate an era when revolution
swept throughout Mexico, bringing hope and political change to the
oppressed citizens. "Viva La Revolución" was the motto of the day, and
"Viva Villa!" was the cry which electrified the men and women who
supported and fought with the legendary Pancho Villa.
Left side shows a dapper Villa wearing a tailored Norfolk
jacket, fancy cravat and his favorite pith helmet. In the center, the
"Centaur of the North" pose shows the classic Villa – wearing a sombrero,
ready for action, on horseback with his Winchester handy in a saddle
scabbard. To the right, Villa sits in the presidential chair in Mexico
City, flanked by General Emiliano Zapata, commander of the Army of the
South, and General Tomás Urbina.
Right side of the receiver features Villa wearing his
signature sombrero, standing with members of the army prior to the first
capture of Ciudad Juarez in 1911. Villa’s flamboyant signature is depicted
above the loading gate, and to the right, the General poses proudly with a
Hotchkiss machine gun.
Original photographs of Pancho Villa courtesy Prints &
Photographs Division, Library of Congress.
