This 902-gram (31.82 oz) gold nugget of unique form with excellent color and visual appeal attracted 30 bids to sell for $102,090, the top price in the Paul Friedrich sale on May 7 ($25/30,000).

DENVER, PENN. — Morphy’s May 7-10 auction series featured stellar military, civilian and sporting arms, with an opening session devoted exclusively to Part II of the Paul Friedrich Gold Rush and arms collection. The four-day series stormed its way to a grand total that surpassed $10 million, after-sales included.

The Friedrich collection, a unique assemblage of Old West firearms and artifacts, was amassed over 60-plus years with a consistent emphasis placed on quality, rarity and careful historical research to support the authenticity of each purchase. Part I of the extraordinary time capsule realized $3.4 million at a boutique auction Morphy’s conducted last October 25. On May 7, another $2,490,000 was added, bringing the Friedrich total to $5,890,000.

Part II of the late Paul Friedrich’s holdings was led by a stunning natural-history specimen: a 902-gram (31.82oz) gold nugget of unique form with excellent color and visual appeal. It attracted 30 bids and sailed past its $25/30,000 estimate to achieve a winning bid of $102,090.

Friedrich’s firearms were led by two American classics, each selling for $84,000. The first was a factory-engraved Deluxe Winchester Model 1876 lever-action rifle, .45-60 caliber, in the style of a “1 of 1000” rifle. It is distinguished for having been included in two respected texts. It is one of nine rifles listed in H.G. Houze’s The Winchester Model 1876 Centennial Rifle (2001) and is pictured in R.L Wilson’s Winchester: The Golden Age of American Gunmaking and the Winchester 1 of 1000 (1983).

The second of Friedrich’s two highest-selling firearms, a fine and very desirable Colt .44-40 caliber Frontier six-shooter, came with its original Colt factory pink picture box and was marked with 1871 and 1875 patent dates. A Minnesota hardware store originally received the six-shooter in 1895 as part of a Colt factory shipment of three guns.

All-original, high-condition US Army-purchased Colt Model 1875 “Long Model” Gatling gun on original field carriage in display case sold for $381,300, a world record price at auction for a Model 1875 ($200/300,000).

During the first session of the May 8-10 Premier Firearms & Militaria sale — which followed the Friedrich sale and grossed $7.4 million over three days — Morphy’s set a new world record for a Colt Model 1875 Gatling gun at auction. The all-original, high condition “Long Model,” complete and mounted on its original “N.J.” marked field carriage, charged past its $200/300,000 estimate to declare victory at $381,300.

The 10-barrel Gatling bore the serial number “130” and was one of 44 such guns purchased by the US Army, including the ones General George Custer unfortunately left behind as he set out for the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. Prior to the auction, Morphy’s firearms expert and cataloger John Keene carefully removed and examined each bolt, confirming that all were marked with the same assembly number (34) and that they matched their respective barrels.

This World War II combat-used Nagoya Arsenal (Japan) Type 100 machine gun, 8mm with original magazine is among the best specimens of its type to emerge in more than 20 years. It sold for $84,000 against an estimate of $30/40,000.

An extremely desirable World War II combat-used Nagoya Arsenal (Japan) Type 100 8mm machine gun with its original magazine was hotly pursued and attracted 23 bids. The gun was registered on May 3, 1946, for importation from the Pacific Theatre of operations and came to auction with its original US Treasury Dept importation paperwork stating the gun had been rendered “non-serviceable.” Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions, commented, “The Nagoya was among the best specimens of its type to emerge in more than 20 years. Because of the strong interest shown prior to auction day, we were not all that surprised when it reached $84,000, which was more than twice the high estimate we had set for it.”

Another big draw was the high-condition, factory-original Heckler & Koch fixed-stock MP5 9mm machine gun. Manufactured in 1984 and marked “Made in W. Germany / HK Chantilly,” Va., it had been checked through the NFA electronic registry, which showed its manufacturer as “Imported NFA Firearm.” This validated beyond any doubt that it was factory-made, not a conversion. It was chased to a winning bid of $79,950 against an estimate of $35/45,000.

This superb high-condition, factory-original Heckler & Koch fixed-stock MP5 9mm machine gun was manufactured in 1984. It sold for $79,950 against an estimate of $35/45,000.

Outstanding and extremely scarce, a Parker Brothers AAHE 28-bore side-by-side shotgun with 26-inch barrels was described in Morphy’s catalog as a “Grade 7” gun, a type that is second only to Parker’s A1 Specials and legendary Invincibles. The high-end shotgun passed to a new owner for $78,000.

Steeped in history, a .69 smoothbore “U. States” branded and US-surcharged French model 1766/69 musket was American-used during the Revolutionary War. “This model is significant because its design served as the basis for the first American flintlock musket, the Model 1795, which Eli Whitney produced at both the Springfield and Harpers Ferry armories,” Dan Morphy noted. The auction gun sold for $21,600, more than twice the high estimate.

Considered rare, this large William Wales Scagel (1873-1963) knife with 8-inch spearpoint blade retained its original leather scabbard and brought $40,800, more than five times the high estimate.

Several edged weapons landed in five-figure territory, including a large, extremely rare William Wales Scagel (1873-1963) knife with an 8-inch spearpoint. Accompanied by its original leather scabbard, it commanded more than five times the high estimate, selling for $40,800.

A Koto Mino katana made by and signed by Kanetomo and verified by NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers led the selection of 50 outstanding Japanese swords. The weapon’s features are indicative of the Zenjo school, and it is attributed to Yokuzuna Harumafuji, the 70th Yokuzuna from 2012 to 2017. With a flashy set of mounts on its blade, the daunting 42-inch katana sold near its high estimate for $24,000.

Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. For information, 877-968-8880 or www.morphyauctions.com.