Milestone takes aim at the collecting bullseye at Oct. 26-27 Premier Fall Firearms Auction

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – It will soon be time for Milestone’s Premier Fall Firearms Auction, an event perennially known for its focus on antique and vintage productions from the most sought-after American, European and Japanese brands. The October 26-27 sale will be held live at Milestone’s suburban-Cleveland gallery, with all forms of remote bidding available, including absentee, phone or live via the Internet through a choice of bidding platforms.

The impressive lineup of arms is well stocked with sporting shotguns and rifles by Winchester AH Fox, Remington, Parker Brothers, Ithaca, Marlin and more. Additionally, an excellent selection of American handguns will be offered, with engraved examples by Colt, Smith & Wesson, Remington and other esteemed makers; as well as Old West treasures, including Colt Burgess and Henry rifles, 1886 Winchesters, and an 1880s Merwin & Hulbert two-barrel pocket revolver set. Finely-crafted knives will also be presented during both auction sessions.

Military firearms comprise a specialty category of their own, and for their October auction, Milestone has gone above and beyond to curate a selection that solidly represents nearly 250 years of American service and battlefield valor. The auction is replete with Revolutionary and Civil War weapons of many types, plus a vast array of WWI, WWII (European and Nazi), and contemporary productions. There are Colt 1911-A1s, Lugers, Sauers, Walthers, Polish Army Radoms, Japanese and Soviet pistols and rifles; and arms from the Vietnam War era.

A top military highlight is a World War I US Marine Corps-shipped Colt 1911 45-caliber semi-automatic pistol manufactured in 1917 with the inspector stamp “GHS.” The right side of the slide is a period replacement marked MODEL OF 1911 US NAVY, with two-line company address/patent dates shown on the left side. Colt’s iconic Rampant Pony appears behind the slide serration, and the serial number 210253 is shown on the right side of slide. A Colt factory letter validates that the gun was shipped to the USMC on 8/3/1917 in a shipment of 400 guns.

The World War II/Nazi group is led by a rare 32ACP Walther pistol made in 1939 and bearing the serial number 216873K, indicating it to be from the second “Party Leader” serial range. This particular type of gun was considered a status symbol within the Nazi Party, indicating its owner was devoted to the cause. The eagle-and-swastika symbol appears on the grip panel, with Crown/N proofs on the barrel and slide. The two-line company address and Mod PPK are marked on the left side of the slide. The firearm is accompanied by a Walther holster and belt with a gold-washed buckle.

Another auction gem is a holstered, Robert Sears-inspected Colt M1911A1 pistol manufactured in 1942. It is marked UNITED STATES PROPERTY and M1911A1 US ARMY on the right side of frame, while the left side is marked with a boxed “R S” inspector stamp. “P” firing proofs are noted on the frame and also the slide, whose left side is marked with Colt’s typical two-line address and Rampant Pony. This pistol formerly belonged to career politician D-Cady Herrick II (1908-1974), who served several terms in the New York State Assembly.

A rare 16-gauge pinfire revolving shotgun manufactured around the 1870s is a tangible witness to what life was like during America’s wild and woolly frontier days. Its 29-inch barrel is marked MONDIANA on the top of its solid rib, which has a brass bead front sight. The gun’s design features a Damascus barrel and six-shot cylinder, and its frame is blued with floral engraving on both sides. The serial number is indicated as “NSN” (National Stock Number).

Worthy of even the most advanced collection, a cased Winchester special-order 30in Full and Mod 21 2-barrel 12-gauge set was manufactured in 1950 and factory-shipped to Dr. I E Harris in Miami, Arizona. The barrels are gold-inlaid with images of retrievers and engraved with a flying-duck vignette on its underside. In very fine condition, its 30-inch barrels retain more than 96% blue finish, while the 28-inch barrels have retained 98%. Housed in a red-felt-lined, partitioned oak and leather luggage case with a Winchester leather label, its accessories include an oil bottle, cleaning rod and attachments.

For those who love Colt’s “Snake” series, Milestone suggests a rare 1968 Colt Double Diamond matched set, number 688 of 1,000, consisting of a Colt Officer’s 45 ACP semi-automatic pistol and its mate, a Colt Python double action revolver. Both are serial numbered 0688DD. There are Double Diamond markings to the left side of the 45’s slide and the Python’s barrel. This set commemorates 150 years of Colt, and each gun comes with its own serial-numbered box, manual and papers.

The fast-growing specialty of cutlery and edged weapons will be well served at this sale with the inclusion of Randall, early Bowie, and various custom knives. Novelty pieces include an antique Belgian pinfire revolver/knife, a rare London-marked flintlock derringer/knife, and percussion knife pistols, one having a corkscrew trigger.

Exceptionally beautiful from one end to the other, a classic California-style boot dagger with a 5 3/8-inch blade, perfect grind lines and an elegantly-studded handle is the work of Utah master bladesmith Steven J Rapp.

Worthy of a place in even the most advanced collection, an identified American Civil War Sheffield (England) Bowie knife measures 10 inches long overall with a 6 1/8in blade. It has a German silver-embossed pommel and guard with pinned mother-of-pearl scales with a shield. The knife, scabbard and a Civil War-era photo of the original owner in his infantryman’s uniform appeared on the cover of the December 2000 issue of Knives magazine. The actual photo is part of the auction lot and will convey to the knife’s new owner. A handwritten note on the photo’s reverse side reads: “Aunt Phebe gave this to me in June 1902. It was taken near the beginning of the war.” It is one of possibly six identified and photo-matched Civil War Bowie knives known to exist.

Milestone’s Saturday/Sunday Oct. 26-27, 2024 Premier Firearms Auction will be held at Milestone’s gallery located at 38198 Willoughby Parkway, Willoughby (suburban Cleveland), OH 44094. Start time: 10 a.m. ET on both days. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through Milestone’s own bidding platform, LiveAuctioneers, Proxibid, or Invaluable. For additional information on any item in the auction, call 440-527-8060 or email info@milestoneauctions.com. Online: www.milestoneauctions.com