Milestone Auctions – Premier Collectable Firearms 2-Day Sale
October 29 & 30 at 10 am
38198 Willoughby Parkway Willoughby, Ohio 44094
www.milestoneauctions.com
milestoneauctions@yahoo.com
440-527-8060
Preview starts at 8:00 AM

WILLOUGHBY, OHIO — Over the weekend of October 29-30, Milestone Auctions will host a 1,469-lot Premier collectible firearms sale featuring the types of antique, military and civilian weapons hobbyists yearn for. As always, there will be examples to suit every pocketbook, with a historical timeline that starts in the pre-Revolutionary War era and advances through every successive conflict of the centuries to follow. In addition to gallery bidding, all forms of remote bidding are welcome, including absentee, phone and live via the Internet.

The magical “Colt” name is seen throughout the auction catalog in descriptions of one rare entry after another. A top highlight is the Colt pinched-frame .45-caliber single-action Army revolver manufactured in 1874. It was one of a shipment of 15 guns sent that year to J.P. Moores & Sons of New York City. The “pinched frame” configuration was used only the first 100 or so single actions produced, making the model very special to collectors. Although highly sought-after, the pinched frame Colt is rarely available in the marketplace, either at auction or at shows. The example in Milestone’s October 29 session was a 1989 NRA Silver Medal winner and is accompanied by a 1985 letter of documentation signed by Colt factory historian M.S. Huber ($40/65,000).

Another rare Colt .45 single-action in the sale is a US Cavalry Army revolver manufactured in 1874 and bearing the serial number 91. It was one of a shipment of 115 guns sent that year to New York City retailers Schuyler, Hartley and Graham. The revolver is accompanied by a 2014 letter of documentation from Colt factory historian Beverly Jean Haynes, signed and annotated “Gov’t Sale.” This would suggest the gun was either a contract overrun or a buy-back (government-rejected gun). It comes to auction with a $12,5/20,000 estimate.

Civil War history comes alive with a presentation Sharps 1853 carbine ($6,5/8,500) whose patch box is engraved “J.W. Campion God and Our Country 81 Penna Volls.” The inscription refers to a benefactor of the 81st Pennsylvania Infantry, which was attached to Howard’s Brigade, Richardson’s Division, Army of the Potomac and fought in many famous Civil War battles, including Gettysburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. The gun’s recipient, John W. Campion, was a wealthy supporter of the Pennsylvania infantrymen and even purchased their bulletproof vests.

From the post-Civil War period, when Western expansion was in full swing, comes a Springfield .45-.70 caliber Model 1873 rifle ($15/20,000). It was produced in limited numbers at the Springfield Arsenal over a three-year period, from 1875 to 1877, on a special-order basis for military officers. It has crisp, legible markings with the 1873 model number shown on the breech block and lock. The trigger guard has the assembly number “69.”

Made in 1897, a 7.63-caliber German Mauser C96 conehammer broomhandle pistol is sure to attract bidder interest on both sides of the Atlantic. It has a 5½-inch barrel, a slide adjustable sight graduated to 1,000 meters, and matching numbers with the exception of the magazine base plate, which is of the period ($3,5/5,000).

Moving into the World War II period, a Colt Service Model Ace with the two-digit serial number SM15 was manufactured in 1936 and reputedly was from the first group of Service Model Ace pistols obtained by the US government for trials and consideration. Retaining more than 97 percent of its Parkerized finish, the firearm comes with a Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) shipping box with a label and SM15 scribed on the top, plus a copy of the 1954 RIA sales receipt issued to Captain Mark Jartman ($8,5/15,000).

A predicted auction star is the circa 1890s Holland & Holland Royal Hammerless 450/400 Express double rifle with highly figured English walnut stocks and tight, profuse engraving. It is Birmingham proofed and marked 400 EX with the rifle’s serial number. Restored, with a Holland and Holland oak and leather travel case (possibly contemporary), it is estimated at $15/25,000.

A 1950 Winchester Model 21 with two-barrel rifle/shotgun set 28GA and 20GA is accompanied by a factory letter confirming the set was a salesman’s sample. It comes with its case and accessories. It is the only documented saleman’s sample Model 21 Milestone’s experts have ever encountered ($16/22,000).

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

POSSIBLY THE FINEST OFFERING WE HAVE EVER HAD.
The military section has DFC COLT SAA, An 1875 Springfield Officers Model Trapdoor, Documented Colt US SAA buy back, Remington Model 10 Trench Gun, a fine selection of WWI and WWII 1911’s and revolvers, Johnson Rifle, US M1 Garands, M1 carbines, numerous Lugers, etc. Some spectacular Colt Single Action Armies, documented Pinch Frame, etched panels, black powder fames factory engraved, New York engraved nickel Bisley with pearls, cased factory engraved 1849, high condition 1862 police, factory nickel 1964 Python, 8” Dragoon, fluted 1860, long flute SAA, 1900 Sight Safety, etc. English double rifles to include Holland & Holland and Wesley Richards along with Griffin& Howe, Mauser sporting rifles. Lever actions includes some nice Savage 1899 rifles, cased, factory engraved and two early boxed as new Model 99’s., a first Model 1873 SRC, a factory engraved 1881 Marlin, etc. A great collection of early flintlocks to include a spectacular documented highly decorated Jacob Kuntz, Indian Wars Hudson Bay fowler, Rev war era American flintlock pistol, etc. Some fine shotguns lead by a salesman sample 2- barrel 28&20 gauge Winchester Model 21. Smith & Wesson is well represented to include a New York engraved American, N-frames, boxed, antique, etc. Another great selection of early Western leather holster rigs.