Auction News Network

Rare Colt Carbine At Rock Island Auction

You could equip a good-sized militia with the 2700 firearms coming up for auction next week at Rock Island. All sorts of rarities will be on the block, including the only known Colt Paterson Model 1839 Deluxe Carbine with Birds-Eye Maple Stock. The rifle, winner of the Best Single Weapon award at the St Paul Minnesota Cot Show, is estimated at $75,000-$150,000.

Teddy Roosevelt’s Colt Pistol

When Theodore Roosevelt said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” he may have had his 1902 semi-automatic pistol in mind. Colt presented him with the gun, engraved in gold with ‘T.R.,’ when he was President. Rock Island will offer the pistol, along with Roosevelt’s personal correspondence related to it, at its Illinois auction on Dec. 2-4, when it’s expected to sell for $150,000-$225,000.

UPDATE: T.R.’S Colt pistol sold near the high estimate, for $207,000.

A Bully Colt Pistol Owned By TR

Theodore Roosevelt was a fanatic hunter with a veritable war chest of guns, including a “one of a kind,” factory presentation, 1902 Colt semi automatic pistol with TR’s initials in solid gold. It’s just one of 600 Colts at the sale, including collector Bill Neal’s most complete collection of Coltwoodsmans ever assembled.

Hemingway’s Rifle & A Carbine From Custer’s Battlefield

Even if Ernest Hemingway hadn’t owned this Westly Richards double .577 nitro caliber rifle, it would be exceptionally rare. Hemingway’s pal and noted sportsman Winston Guest used it for hunting with Bror Blixen (of “Out of Africa” fame) in Africa. Then later in Cuba, after it came into Hemingway’s possession, the Noble Laureate carried it while hunting Nazi subs in the Caribbean. “One of the most desirable rifles in the world,” it carries a pre-sale estimate of $150,00-$200,000 at Maine’s James D. Julia’s firearms auction on March 14-15.

A Great White Hunter’s Gun

Frederick Selous was Africa’s last great white hunter, the legend who guided Theodore Roosevelt on his African safari and the man for whom one of Tanzania largest game parks is named.  London’s Natural History Museum alone holds 524 mammals he hunted. Bonhams will sell his Holland & Holland .256 “falling block” rifle on December 8 at its Sporting Gun Sale in London.

TR’s Gun On The Block

The gun Theodore Roosevelt used to shoot thousands of birds will go up for sale on Oct. 5-6, 2010 in Maine.  The James D. Julia Auction house claims the Fox shotgun might be the most valuable American shotgun ever offered at public sale.

High Caliber Results Expected At Arms Sale

Vintage Winchesters, part of the A.I. McCroskie Collection, headline Rock Island Auction’s arms sale next month. An 1876 “One of One Thousand” lever action Winchester is expected to sell for a hefty $300-$500,000. and a 1873 Winchester rifle once featured at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition is estimated at $200-$400,000.

Trigger To New Pasture

Roy Rogers famously had his horse Trigger stuffed, along with his wife Dale’s horse Buttercup and their dog Bullet, so it perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise that the late cowboy star had a vast collection of other items as well. His personal museum once housed it all, first near his home in Apple Valley, California and later in Branson, Missouri. Now that the museum has closed, the collection will be sold in a series of auctions in June and July.

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