Milestone’s Nov. 18-19 Premier Firearms Auction to offer rare and historically significant Colts, Winchesters, coveted European productions

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – An arsenal of rare and historically important weaponry and sporting arms awaits bidders at Milestone’s November 18-19 Fall Premier Firearms Auction. The selection of US, British, German, French and other European productions – more than 1,300 in all – includes fresh consignments from long-held collections. Woven throughout the 1,452-lot selection are distinguished firearms and other property with links to Old West and contemporary legends.

The featured lot of the two-day lineup is a rare and documented Colt 1847 Martial “Walker” D Company .44 caliber percussion revolver bearing the serial number 218. The hefty 4lb.- 9oz. gun was developed through a collaboration between Samuel Colt and Texas Ranger Capt. Samuel H. Walker, a national hero of the Texas-Mexico Wars. Hence, it became known as the “Walker.” A total of 1,100 Walkers were made, but today fewer than 100 are thought to exist. Milestone’s Walker comes to auction with an extensive line of provenance that includes a “who’s who” of early Colt collectors. Milestone Auctions’ co-owner Miles King describes the gun as “the crème de la crème of Colt revolvers.” 

Another historic Colt is a .45 Single Action Army Revolver manufactured in 1874 with ownership attributed to Bob Ford, who assassinated outlaw Jesse James on 4/3/1882. The gun bears Serial No. 12267 and an early 2-line patent address. The right side of the revolver’s frame is stamped JESSE, while the left side is stamped JAMES. It is the actual book example that appears in Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia Vol. II (by K. Cochran). For many years pundits have debated whether or not the weapon was the same one that ended James’ criminal career, with some respected experts – including the late James Aplan – saying they believe it is. The gun has remained in the Aplan family collection for 41 years and has been consigned to Milestone by James Aplan’s wife, Peggy. 

Just as Colt has its own diehard fan base, so does Winchester, another Connecticut brand that launched in the decade before the Civil War. Milestone is proud to present to Winchester enthusiasts a 1st Model 1873 .44-caliber cartridge rifle that was manufactured in 1875. It is accompanied by an archival letter dated 4/7/1989 and signed by Gael Oswalt, Curatorial Secretary of the Winchester Arms Museum, confirming the rifle was shipped from Winchester’s warehouse on 10/13/1875. It further states that it exhibits all of the unique characteristics of an early 1st Model 1873 Winchester rifle. “It’s the finest example of its type that our experts have seen in more than 30 years,” King said.

Valued even higher than the extraordinary 1st Model 1873 is an 1897 Winchester advertising cartridge board, which would be well known to any serious Winchester collector. Adorned with A B Frost vignettes and gold-overlay borders, it is known as the “double W” board because the display includes (all-original) pistol and rifle cartridges arranged in the form of two Ws. In original condition with no apparent cleaning, this advertising gem is a recent discovery that will make its auction debut at Milestone.

Boasting a Hollywood connection, a B Searcy (Boron, Calif.) 500 Nitro Express double rifle is #4 of a 4-gun set manufactured in 1995 and sold privately by the manufacturer. Two rifles from the auction set were used in the movie The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Rifle #4 has all matching numbers and an action profusely engraved with dangerous-game scenes. No actual use is evident. With its felt-lined, partitioned luggage case.

A top-notch Austrian production, a Mahrholdt Innsbruck rifle has a three-barrel set whose calibers include 375 H&H mag, 6.5 Remington mag, and 20 gauge 3-inch mag. Manufactured in 1967, it has matching numbers on all parts. Both rifle barrels are equipped with claw mounts and come with Redfield variable-power rifle scopes. The action and locks are deeply relief-engraved with images of dangerous African game. 

Manufactured in 1916 and showing factory-applied Cyrillic markings, a Russian contract Colt 1911 .45 caliber pistol is accompanied by a 2020 Colt factory letter, signed and certified by historian Beverly Haynes, that confirms the firearm was sent to the Russian government on 9/2/1916 as part of a shipment of 5,000. Pistols of this type have an extremely low survival rate, hence they are rarely encountered in the marketplace.

A Bergman Bayard Model 1908 with a Bayard-monogrammed shoulder stock was manufactured circa-1910 in Herstal, Belgium. Its matching serial numbers (8020) appear on the frame, magazine and internally on the grips. Belgian proofs are seen on the barrel and upper frame assembly on the right side.

Made in 1896, a superb Bergman Model 1896 Model 3, 6.5 caliber pistol was produced to use the rimless, grooveless 6.5mm Bergman cartridge but also has an extractor for later cartridges. It also has a drift adjustable front sight. One of the earliest of all automatic pistols and is graded in very fine condition overall.

A very special auction entry is directly associated with CIA agent and pilot Richard C Spicer, an American hero of the modern era whose death after only four months with the agency remains shrouded in mystery. A scrupulously detailed description of Spicer’s activities prior to his officially-reported death in a plane crash is shown in the auction catalog alongside images of the cased set of CIA Non-Portable Awards given posthumously to his family. The awards include the Intelligence Star and Exceptional Service Medallion for death resulting from service in area of hazard. The medal is named on verso to Richard C Spicer and dated 1985, with its edge engraved MACO-NY FINE SILVER .999. The lot also includes a Remembrance of Service letter signed by Ronald Reagan, adding even more historical value to an archive that is in a league of its own.

Milestone’s Saturday/Sunday November 18-19, 2023 Fall 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