Milestone Auctions – 2-Day Premier Collectible Firearms Auction
March 11 & 12
38198 Willoughby Parkway Willoughby, Ohio 44094
www.milestoneauctions.com
milestoneauctions@yahoo.com
440-527-8060

WILLOUGHBY, OHIO — Milestone’s first Premier collectible firearms auction of 2023, slated for March 11-12, promises to be a crowd-pleaser with its selection of US, British, German, French and Japanese productions. The 1,452-lot selection is led by antique, military and civilian arms from long-held collections. Many of the consignments are fresh to the market, and in keeping with Milestone’s tradition, there are examples to suit every pocketbook and special interest. The auction follows a historical timeline that starts in the Eighteenth Century and progresses to contemporary conflicts.

A highlight for Colt fans is a documented US 7th Cavalry Custer serial range .45-caliber single-action Army revolver. Made in early 1874 and marked 4672, it falls within the Custer-issued range of 4500-5504. There are matching serial numbers on the frame, barrel, trigger guard, back strap, ejector housing and cylinder; and the “A” stamped on the barrel indicates the gun was inspected by Orville W. Ainsworth ($20/30,000).

The array of cased early revolvers includes a matched pair of circa 1860 Belgian Brevete Colt Navy black-powder revolvers with consecutive serial numbers, 7355 and 7356 ($25/55,000); and a cased pair of 1851 Colt square guard Navy revolvers ($20/32,000). A cased and fully accessorized duo of engraved gold Adams (London) revolvers, circa 1860, is expected to reach $15/30,000.

A firearm with an imposing presence is a rare 3rd Model Colt Dragoon. This type of gun was intended for use by mounted cavalrymen, who considered it a privilege to carry one. Made in 1860 in a production run of 200, this hefty .44-caliber black-powder model weighs in at 4 pounds, 2 ounces. It is engraved with the well-known “Ranger and Indian” fighting scene and has W.L. Ormsby markings ($7/12,000).

Another Colt to watch is the 1911 transitional 45 ACP pistol manufactured in 1924. It displays 1911 US Army markings but has a short checkered 1911-A1 trigger, a checkered arched mainspring housing, milled finger slots in the frame, a long spur grip safety and non-diamond-checkered walnut grips. It is one of only 10,000 transitional models produced by Colt, all in 1924 ($5/7,500).

A Harpers Ferry Arsenal 1805 flintlock martial pistol is a .54-caliber smoothbore with a 10-1/8-inch barrel and is one of around 2,500 produced in 1807. It is marked “US,” with an eagle head over the “P” inspection mark. Most of these guns were later converted to percussion, but the auction example retains its original flintlock configuration ($9/15,000).

For those who like early productions with low matching numbers, Milestone offers a top prize from Smith & Wesson: an 1878 .32-.44-caliber New Model #3 target revolver. The gun’s serial number, 24, confirms it was manufactured during the first week of this model’s production ($4,5/6,500).

One of the premier lever-action rifles of its period, a deluxe large-frame Bullard rifle, made between 1886 and 1890, is marked with the serial number 575. It has a scarce full octagon barrel with half magazine and a number of additional upgrade details ($13/18,000).

Another longarm of special note is the Winchester Model 1873 .44-.40-caliber rifle manufactured in 1892. Both its chamber and brass cartridge elevator are marked 44 WCF, and the barrel is marked with the 2-line Winchester New Haven address ($5,5/8,500).

Connecticut’s long history of excellence in gunmaking is exemplified by a museum-quality Sharps Model 1855 percussion breech-loading carbine that presents in an unused state. The .577-caliber firearm, which was originally made under contract for export to Britain, has an 1845 patent date on its Maynard tape primer door (the Maynard tape primer was a system designed by Edward Maynard to enable faster reloading of muskets).

It has a brass patch box and butt plate, four folding-leaf rear sights, and British Crown proof stamps on the tang and barrel breech. Only 6,000 of these guns were produced, all during the Crimean War ($10/20,000).

Milestone’s gallery is at 38198 Willoughby Parkway. For more information, 440-527-8060 or www.milestoneauctions.com.

Our First Premium Auction of The New Year. Included in Both Days is a Vast Offering of Military Weapons Dated from Civil War through Viet Nam. Highlights include a Fine Group of C-96 Broomhandles in Wonderful Condition including a Large Ring Flatside, Full Red-9 Rig, Antique Range Cone Hammer and Others. One of the Finest VIS 1935/39 Radoms Extant, Numerous Lugers such as The Black Widow, US Colts include 1848, 1860, SAA, 1911’s, etc. Other Handguns include Ppk, Mauser, Remington, US&S, Browning Hi-Power. Long Guns Include US 1873 Officers Model Springfield, Trapdoors, 1903, M1 Carbines, M1 Garands, Snipers. Also, Loads of Mausers from Various Countries, Japan, Norway, Russia, etc.
Desirable Handguns include Colt, Smith & Wesson, Remington, Browning, Mauser, Highlight include a Fine Collection of Colt 1900, 1902, 1903, 1905 and 1908 along with Numerous Colt SAA’s, Double Action (Pythons) Percussion, etc
Some Great Smith & Wesson’s include a 4” Registered Magnum, a No Dash Model 27, Schofield, Americans, Wells Fargo along with Some Great Pre and Post War Models.
There is a Nice Offering of Early Sporting Rifles by Niedner, Jaeger, Pre War Mauser, Remington, Springfield as well as Some Great Model 70’s Highlighted by a 1963 Standard Weight in .284 and a Model 88 in Same Caliber.
There are examples of Almost Every Model Winchester along with a Fine 1881 Marlin and a Rare Whitney Burgess Morse Rifle and other 19th Century Rifles.
There is a Vast Array of Quality and Cased Shotguns, Both English and American including Winchester, Browning, Arrieta, Remington, etc.
We have another Fine Selection of Quality 19th Century Holsters and Rigs with Some Great Makers such as Meana, Al Furstnow, Moran Brothers, Coggshall, Know & Tanner, J.S. Collins and Others.
We will also have our Vintage Ammunition, Gun Advertising including a 1930’s Remington Metal Store Display Rifle Rack and Painted Metal .22 Dispenser. There are even a couple of Cannons.
Start the New Year Off with some
Great Investment Grade Firearms and Memorabilia.