Cordier Auctions to sell inscribed Winchester, Civil War chevron

Cordier Auctions will hold their Summer Firearms and Militaria Auction in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on July 28. Highlights of the sale include a name inscribed 1894 Winchester from the Gold Rush era, a superb Civil War hand painted chevron and hand calligraphed Civil War Record, and a nice selection of edged weapons from a private collection. Antique and modern handguns, long guns, edged weapons and military collectibles will also be offered. The auction will be held in the company’s auction house located at 1500 Paxton Street in Harrisburg.

The inscribed 1894 Winchester will be one of the key lots in the antique firearms category. Built in 1894 during the first full year of production, this model features a 26” octagon barrel and is inscribed " L.J. MYTINGER / LOS ANGELES, CAL. ". Lewis J. Mytinger was born in 1861 in Pennsylvania and headed west to Ohio as a young man. The San Francisco Directory in 1883 shows him working as a machinist for the Union Iron Works. On June 6, 1896 Lewis John Mytinger filed for a patent on an ore washing machine. This was two months after gold was found in the Klondike in Alaska. The patent (# US00061545) was granted on December 6, 1898. It is believed that Mytinger traveled to Alaska in the spring of 1898 to have his ore washing machine built there or to sell it as a unit to gold miners.

The Civil War Era will be well represented by numerous collectibles in this the 150th year anniversary of the Battle at Gettysburg. Included is a Civil War hand painted chevron and a printed and hand calligraphed Civil War record named to the same soldier, George W. Brown from Pennsylvania. The chevron is estimated at $2,000 to $4,000 while the Civil War record carries an estimate of $800 to $1,200. Other examples in this category are a cased Civil War daguerreotype and several tintypes of Union soldiers, opalotypes of Lincoln and “Major General” Grant, a Confederate soldier’s cello case and a soldier identified Manual of Bayonet Exercise, estimated conservatively at $250 to $350. This is a fine copy of a classic military manual written by one of the earliest Union commanders, George B. McClelland, and with an association to a noted Pennsylvania regiment.

Another key area of the auction will be a selection of edged weapons from a private collector. Several very rare training cutlasses will be offered, including a pair of 1812 Naval training cutlasses estimated at $400 to $600 and an 1845 pattern Naval training cutlass with an estimate of $750 to $1,000. Additionally, two 17th century rapiers will be offered and are estimated at $600 to $800 each. Also in the lineup will be a rare Confederate States boy’s sword marked “C/HEINZ COLUMBIA SC” (estimate $300 to $500). Nice examples of Japanese 18th century and World War II era swords are also included in this group.

The antique firearms group will offer many unique examples. Handguns include E. Whitney percussion revolvers, a Starr Arms Co. Model 1863 revolver and a Colt New Army revolver. A Remington Number 3 (Smoot Patent) revolver is being offered with an estimate of $400 to $600 while a Remington & Sons New Model Police revolver sports an estimate of $800 to $1,000. Long guns include a Charleville Model 1763 musket and a M.T. Wickham US Model 1816 musket, both estimated at $800 to $1,000. A J. Fleeger (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania) Kentucky rifle estimated at $600 to $1,000 will be offered as will a percussion cane, two European cane guns and a Champion BB-gun (estimate $800 to $1,000).

Modern firearms in the sale will include a selection of military guns, sporting guns and collectibles. Of note are several commemoratives. One is a Colt 1976 US Bicentennial Set in a three drawer presentation case carrying an estimate of $2,000 to $2,500. It features a Python in .357 Magnum, a single action Army in .45 long Colt and a black powder dragoon in .44 caliber. Another item is a Colorado Centennial Super Single Six revolver by Ruger. This revolver is also in a presentation case and carries an estimate of $350 to $450. Another highlight is a Colt Kit Carson New Frontier revolver in .22 caliber with display case estimated at $500 to $600. Among other lots of modern firearms to be offered will be two Colt AR-15 rifles and a Colt Super 38 Automatic pistol from the first full year of production (estimate $2,000 to $3,000).

Military collectibles will include a World War II A-2 leather jacket from the 90th Bombardment Group (also known as The Jolly Rogers) with an estimate of $600 to $1,000 and a pair of SARD Mark-43 6x42mm Navy binoculars estimated at $400 to $600. World War II German militaria will be well represented with banners, armbands, insignia, helmets and propaganda slides. Art, prints, and other items will also be offered. The sale will conclude with a wide selection of non-cataloged military and sporting equipment.

A full online catalog of the auction is available by visiting www.CordierAuction.com.

Questions can be directed to Cordier Auctions & Appraisals at auctions@cordierantiques.com or by calling 717-731-8662.

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