Achieving a world record $920,000 was this rare and historic Colt Whitneyville-Walker pistol, “A Company #210†and original flask issued at Vera Cruz in 1847 to Private Sam Wilson, a Texas Ranger. It was later obtained by Brevet Major General John Reese Kenly of Maryland and is believed to be the finest example of a martial Walker extant.

On October 6 and 7, an assemblage of rare antique guns brought extraordinary results at James D. Julia Inc’s firearms auction. A Colt Walker pistol, made for use in the Mexican War, and considered to be one of the finest examples in existence, sold for a spectacular $920,000.

This was the most expensive single firearm ever sold at auction in North America (and believed to be the most expensive ever sold in the world). Julia’s held the past two world records for Colts with previous sales of $480,000 and $432,000.

The Walker carried a presale estimate of $500,000 to $1 million.

A Colt cased fluted Army example sold for $454,000. In all, nine items realized above $100,000, 32 sold above $50,000, 119 sold for more than $20,000, and 278 sold for more than $10,000.

The average sale value of approximately $11,400 is the highest average ever achieved by an auction house for firearms. A complete report on the sale will appear in a future issue.