Milestone Auctions – Premier Firearms Auction
Saturday March 23rd & Sunday March 24th 2024 @10:00 am
38198 Willoughby Parkway Willoughby, Ohio 44094
www.milestoneauctions.com

WILLOUGHBY, OHIO — On March 23-24, Milestone will present a Premier firearms gallery auction whose historical timeline chronicles World War II heroes, the Civil War and the rough-and-tumble era when Texas Rangers chased bank robbers on horseback. The 1,174-lot lineup includes an array of early Colts, Winchesters and other arms to please any collector seeking something extra special.

Fittingly, top billing goes to a Colt .45 long cartridge single-action Army revolver that was owned by World War II hero Audie Murphy. The son of Texas sharecroppers, Murphy was compelled to enlist in the military after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. At age 16, using a falsified document stating he was a year older, Murphy tried unsuccessfully to join the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. All three rejected him for being “underweight.” Eventually, he was accepted into the Army, barely 17 years old. Not only did he go on to become the most decorated combat soldier of World War II but also one of the most highly decorated soldiers in US history. At age 19, he received the Congressional Medal of Honor for singlehandedly holding off a company of German soldiers at the Colmar Pocket in France, then leading a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition. He would later star in many Hollywood Westerns. Murphy’s Colt revolver is one of only 244 such guns assembled in 1947-48 under the direct supervision of Harry St John, whose personal stamp F appears at rear of trigger guard. The gun was shipped in 1958 to Murphy’s home address. It comes to auction together with a 1989 Colt archival letter signed by Colt historian emeritus M.S. Huber ($50/100,000).

Of the factory-engraved Colts at the forefront of the sale, a 1908 single-action Army revolver is highly prized for its gorgeous overall artistry by Colt master engraver Cuno A. Helfricht. This gun features steer-head relief-carved grips with silver pony medallions and gold-plating on the cylinder, hammer, trigger guard and backstrap. All of these significant details are confirmed by a Colt archival letter signed by Huber ($30/50,000).

Also steeped in World War II history is a first-generation .45 caliber Colt single-action Army revolver that formerly belonged to Brigadier General Frederick V.H. Kimble, “the man who taught the Tuskegee Airmen to fly.” Known as the “Redtails,” the Tuskegee Airmen were America’s first Black combat pilots. Their valor and flying skills during World War II put them in a league of their own. Originally, the auction gun was shipped from the Colt factory on July 11, 1899, to Wyeth Hardware in St Joseph, Mo. This is documented in the accompanying 2004 letter signed by Colt historian Kathleen J. Hoyt. The auction lot also includes a rare Colt factory letter signed by Beverley Haynes of Colt Archive Department stating that the gun had been shipped to them for repair in 1935 and subsequently was paid for and returned to Kimble at his Leavenworth, Kan., address ($15/35,000).

The sale also features what is arguably the finest of all known examples of a US Colt Model 1902 .45-caliber revolver. It is one of 4,600 of its type that were produced under a US Army contract to equip the Philippine Constabulary during the Philippine Insurrection. Its frame is stamped on one side with US 1902 and JTT (inspector stamp), and an encircled Colt Pony and RAC stamp on the other side ($15/20,000).

Civil War buffs won’t want to miss the Benchmark CSA (Confederate)-identified.44-caliber double-action revolver made circa 1856-57 by Tranter (England). This cap-and-ball revolver is of a type that was popular with Confederate soldiers who had to supply their own firearms. Markings appear to say Wilkerson London and Thomas Griswold & Co. New Orleans. It is documented to have been owned by Confederate Lt A.S. Matteson of Arkansas and will convey with an actual antique photo of Matteson ($25/35,000).

Shotguns, both American and European, will cross the auction block, as well as several lots of shotgun shells in vintage boxes. One of the many rarities in this category is a Colt Paterson Model 1839 revolving shotgun, Serial No. 177 of 225 made. It is a 16 gauge and was manufactured sometime between 1839 and 1841 ($15/20,000),

Attracting the spotlight in a sale led by something as extraordinary as Audie Murphy’s Colt calls for heavy Hollywood firepower, like the Marlin 1895 lever-action rifle manufactured in 2010 and screen-used in the 2015 film Jurassic World. It is one of three actual-firing Marlin 1895 lever-action rifles that were sent to the Jurassic World set in Hawaii. The auction lot also includes six dummy rounds, photos of the film’s actors with the rifles and a letter of authenticity from Point Blank Props, Henderson, Nev. ($40/60,000).

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

A Spectacular Two-Day Auction With Numerous Museum Quality Items.
We Are Proud To Be Offering Some Amazing And Historical Firearms This This Spring Auction Including A Colt SAA Owned By Medal Of Honor Audie Murphy, Colt SAA Commander Tuskegee Airmen & Benchmark C.S.A. Identified Tranter D.A. Revolver. Colt Anny Da Texas Ranger “Lone Wolf’ Gonzaullas
Also Offering Many Other Great Fireanns Including A Screen Used Marlin 1895SBL From Jruassic World, Colt Paterson Model 1839 Revolving Shotgun, Factory Engraved Marlin Model 93 Carbine hr 30-30, Rolex Sent To WWIIPOW Benjamin Elms, Crisp Original Colt DFC Cavahy US SAA Revolver, Stunning Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver, Near New US Colt 1902 Philippine Revolver, US Model 1805 Harpers Ferry Flintlock Pistol & Much More.
Offering A Vast Array Of Sporting Shotguns Arrd Rifles From All The Major Makers To Include Winchester, AH Fox, Remington, Browning, Parker Brothers, Ithaca, Marlin, Etc. Along With Several Model 70 Winchesters.
A Vast Offering Of Military Weapons Dating From The Rev War Through Viet Narn Including A Bergman Model 1896, Rare German “P” Series Krieghoff Luger In 9mm, 1916 Dated WWI German DWM Model 1906 Navy Luger, Mint Pre Pearl Harbor Sears Inspected Colt M1911A1, USMC Springfield 1903A1 Sniper Rifle With Scope, Rare East German SSG-82 Sniper Rifle With Scope, Rare High Condition Hungarian M52 Mosin Sniper & Much More.
Numerous Colt 1911-Al’s, Lugers, Sauer, Walther, Japanese, And Loaded With Civil War Weapons Of All Makes. Etc.
Numerous American Handguns To Include Engraved Colts, Smith & Wesson, Remington, And Others.
Western Era Highlights Include Very Fine Spencer, Just About Every Lever Model Winchester Made.
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(440) 527-8060 | milestoneauctions@yahoo.com | Auctioneer: Miles King
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