AUCTION PREVIEW: Julia’s April Firearms Sale

FAIRFIELD, MAINE _ James D. Julia Auctioneers will conduct its annual spring Firearms auction April 11-13. In recent years, to serve a wider expanse of consignors, Julia’s created a new segment: Sporting & Collector Session. This session features moderately priced firearms and accessories, whose average selling price is somewhere in the range of $2,000-8,000. The Extraordinary Session generally features high end, rare and valuable guns whose normal sale value is in the approximate range of $10,000 and above.

Tuesday, April 11th will feature the Extraordinary session of the Julia sale. This sale starts off with an array of high quality, high condition and engraved Winchesters. First on the block are the Volcanics. Lot #1005 is nearly new cased New Haven Arms #1 Lever Action pistol. There are a number of quality Henrys. Lot #1009 is a Hoggson engraved and silver-plated example. This gun is in very fine condition. Lot #1017, a gold-plated Model 1866 has high relief engraved scenes with much of the original gold still intact. This piece is signed by Conrad Ulrich. Lot #1019 is another C.F. Ulrich engraved Winchester 66. The engraving is unique; the receiver depicts two scenes, both of which are directed to the marketing of the Winchester Repeating Rifle particularly when hunting tigers. On one side of the receiver is a happy, satisfied customer with a Winchester rifle in hand and dead tigers about. On the opposite side of the receiver is a man with an empty single shot musket being pursued by an angry tiger. This Winchester, was at one time in the David Crocker Collection and prior to that the Norm Flayderman Collection in the 1970s. The next Winchester comes all the way from Buenos Aires. Lot #1034 is a John Ulrich M1873 1 of 1,000. Only two of these were ever made with gold and nickel finish. This one was once the property of noted Argentine businessman Don Eduardo Casey and was consigned by an ancestor.

For years, Julia’s has been noted for marketing rare and important historical firearms and has probably handled more objects and artifacts from the infamous Battle of Little Bighorn than any other auction house extant. This sale includes a Colt SA Army, SN 5773. The only U.S. Government documented, complete and original Colt SA Army positively proven to have been used by one of Custer’s men in the infamous Battle of Little Bighorn. The gun is documented by Captain Benteen (who survived the battle) as having been used at the Little Bighorn and when he turned it over to the Ordinance Department, he wrote, “rendered unserviceable in action against hostile Indians at the Battle of Little Bighorn, M.T. on the 25th & 26th of June, 1876”. Lot #1163 is a pair of Massachusetts Surcharge Martial Colt Dragoon 2nd Model Revolvers. Lot #1166 is a factory engraved cased gold and silver Tiffany grip Colt Model 1849 that at one time was in the famous Robert Q. Sutherland Collection. Lot #1173 is a highly embellished Edward Bohlin Special Model Saddle with diamond and gold overlay bridle and halter. Included in this sale is a Springfield Model 1875 Type 3 Officer’s Rifle.

The Julia Company is also offers high end, rare and expensive Confederate and Civil War items. This sale includes a number of Confederate treasures. This auction will include 3 Dance Dragoon Revolvers. One being Lot #1199, a very rare octagonal barrel Dragoon carried by Corp. John Hargrave, Whitefield’s Texas Legion and acquired directly from a family descendent. Included with the Civil War and Confederate offerings in this sale is Dr. Zack Catterton’s Collection of Rare Confederate Arms. His 1st Model Griswold Revolver, which previously had been in the Fred Slaton Collection, is up for sale. Julia’s will also offer Charleston, South Carolina “Slave Hire” Occupational Tags.

Investment quality Sporting Arms include a pair of Fabbri 20 ga. O/U Game Guns with detailed scenes by renowned engraver, Firmo Fracassi. Lot #1310 is an early Perazzi DHO Side-by-Side Sidelock Ejector Single Trigger Heavy Game Gun with full relief scroll and game scenes by Galeazzi. Lot #1337 is a Pre-War Boss 20 Bore Sidelock Ejector Game Gun with scarce single selective trigger and case. Lot #1368 is a H&H 500/465 Nitro “India Royal” Sidelock double rifle with case.

One of the finest collections of German Pickelhauben and early military helmets is that of Doug Buhler. Lot #1500 is a Royal Saxon Guard Rider Officer’s Helmet with silver parade lion. Lot #1502 is a beautiful Wuerttenberg Artillery General Officer’s Helmet Model 1897 white/black/red feather bush. Another fine collection is that of German industrialist, Friedrich-Wilhelm Dauphin. This is the final session of Dauphin’s collection of rare military pistols and Lot #1516 is an Early Loewe Borchardt Model 1893, SN 13, with experimental features. Another great collection of military pistols to be offered in this sale is that of Frank H. Wheaton, III. Frank’s collection consists of a number of rarities and U.S. Trial pistols. Most notable is Lot #1620, one-of-a-kind Knoble 45 cal. US Military Test Pistol. Lot #1630 from the Wheaton Collection is an unissued Singer Model 1911 A1 Presentation Pistol. Lot #1641 is a M1 Garand Gas Trap Rifle, No. 338.

The world renowned collection of British rifle collector, Robert W. Faris includes his 1924 British R.S.A.F. Enfield .303 SMLE No.1, MK VI Prototype Rifle. Lot #1665 is a Polish WZ 38M Pre-WWII Semi-Auto Rifle. Only a few of these are known to exist.

Wednesday, April 12, includes a vast array of Sporting & Collector items. The session will start off with a large number of quality Winchester rifles. An early Model 66 Saddle Ring Carbine will be up for sale. Colts, particularly SAs have always been highly sought after and this session includes a number of interesting examples.

Thursday's sale will begin with Class 3 weapons. Lot #3004 is a Finnish Lahti 20 mm Semi-Automatic anti-tank rifle. From the Frank H. Wheaton, III Collection of Semi-Automatic pistols is Lot #3011 is a Model 1902 Military Pistol with Round Spur Hammer. The sale will include a vast number of P38s, many or most of which are under $1,500.

For more information on James D. Julia, Inc. please visit www.jamesdjulia.com.