Julia’s $13.5M firearms sale exceeds expectations

FAIRFIELD, Maine – James D. Julia’s firearms auction March 11-12 saw more than 850 lots sold, bringing $13.5 million. Approximately 350 lots (over 40% of all items offered) generated $10,000 or more with 10 items in excess of $100,000.

One of the focal points of the last three Julia auctions has been the Wes Adams Collection of Rare Winchesters and Savage Rifles. The March sale included a number of rarities but the most highly anticipated items were the John F. Dodge guns. John together with his brother started the Dodge Motor Company in 1914. Both his Winchester Model 1886 Take Down and Savage Lever Action Model 1899 were engraved and embellished with gold inlays. The stocks on both guns were highly carved. The two guns sold back to back, garnering $477,250.

Also from the Adams Collection was a Briggs Patent Lever Action Rifle. This engraved firearm, Serial #1, was presented to W.C. Dodge, Esq. by the New Haven Arms Company in 1865. It went out at $103,500.00. An early Take Down Model 1894, reportedly the finest known to exist, attained a final price of $92,000. A one of a kind, inscribed Model 1886 with gold inlay realized $92,000.

Other Winchesters that did not come from the Adams Collection included a cased Volcanic #1 Lever Action Pistol with nearly 200 original cartridges that attained a final selling price of $69,000. An early Henry Lever Action Rifle from the Barnes Family Collection sold for $57,500. A Winchester Model 1876 1 of 1000 generated $230,000.

Colts were featured in session II of the John and Margaret Pickup Collection of Tasmania. A Second Model Cased Dragoon attained a final sale price of $86,250. A Martially Marked “Fluck” Dragoon resulted in a final sale price of $77,500. A cased Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver sold for $57,500. An array of Colt Single Actions included a Sheriff’s Model with carved mother of pearl grips that topped out at $63,250. An etched panel Frontier Six Shooter produced $40,250 as a final selling price.

Civil War items also sold well at the March auction. Most notable was a cased Confederate engraved and silver inlaid Baby Lamatt, which sold for $126,500. A bronze 6-pound Model 1841 cannon used during the Civil War, and actually ornamented the lawn of the Ames Family for many years after the war, generated nearly $60,000. An ANV Battle Flag of the 9th Virginia Cavalry produced $82,225. Another rare Confederate silk battle flag, that of General Lloyd Tilghman, sold for $79,350.

Included in the sale was a grouping of 7th Michigan Cavalry material which had belonged to the last Commander of George Custer’s original Civil War unit. The entire lot was consigned to Julia’s directly from a descendent of Briggs and sold for $185,000 to Martin Lane of New York City.

Other highlights:

For information on this and other Julia auctions, visit www.jamesdjulia.com.