Morphy’s tops the $10 million mark with its ‘Gold Rush & Premier Firearms’ auction

DENVER, PA – Morphy’s May 7-10, 2024 auction series featuring stellar military, civilian and sporting arms, with an opening session devoted exclusively to Part II of the Paul Friedrich Gold Rush and arms collection, stormed its way to a grand total that surpassed $10 million, after-sales included.

The Friedrich collection, a unique assemblage of Old West firearms and artifacts, was amassed over 60+ years with a consistent emphasis placed on quality, rarity and careful historical research to support each purchase’s authenticity. Part I of the extraordinary time capsule realized $3.4 million at a boutique auction Morphy’s conducted last October 25th. On May 7, another $2,490,000 was added, bringing the Friedrich total to $5,890,000.

Part II of the late Paul Friedrich’s holdings was led by a stunning natural-history specimen: a 902-gram (31.82oz) gold nugget of unique form with excellent color and visual appeal. It attracted 30 bids and sailed past its $25,000-$30,000 estimate to achieve a winning bid of $102,090.

Friedrich’s firearms were led by two American classics, each selling for $84,000. The first was a factory-engraved Deluxe Winchester Model 1876 lever-action rifle, .45-60 caliber, in the style of a “1 of 1000” rifle. It is distinguished for having been included in two respected texts. It is one of nine rifles listed in H.G. Houze’s The Winchester Model 1876 Centennial Rifle and is pictured in R.L Wilson’s Winchester: The Golden Age of American Gunmaking and the Winchester 1 of 1000. An extremely rare longarm, it is marked with 1866 and 1860 patents.

The second of Friedrich’s two highest-selling firearms, a fine and very desirable Colt .44-40 caliber Frontier Six Shooter, came with its original Colt factory pink picture box labeled THE WITHIN REVOLVER IS NOT ADAPTED FOR SMOKELESS POWDER. A Minnesota hardware store originally received the six-shooter in 1895 as part of a Colt factory shipment of three guns. It was marked with 1871 and 1875 patent dates.

During the first session of the May 8-10 Premier Firearms & Militaria sale – which followed the May 7 Friedrich sale and grossed $7.4 million over three days – Morphy’s set a new world record for a Colt Model 1875 Gatling gun at auction. The all-original, high-condition “Long Model,” complete and mounted on its original “N.J.” marked field carriage, charged past its $200,000-$300,000 pre-sale estimate to declare victory at $381,300.

The 10-barrel Gatling bore the serial number “130” and was one of 44 such guns purchased by the US Army, including the ones General George Custer unfortunately left behind as he set out for the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn. Prior to the auction, Morphy’s firearms expert and cataloger John Keene carefully removed and examined each bolt, confirming that all were marked with the same assembly number (34) and that they matched their respective barrels.

The Gatling’s line of provenance was further distinguished by the fact that the gun had been gifted to Lafayette College’s class of 1952 by future businessman, philanthropist and 63rd US Secretary of the Treasury William Simon (1927-2000), who was a member of that year’s graduating class. The new owner is a private collector who wishes to remain anonymous.

An extremely desirable World War II combat-used Nagoya Arsenal (Japan) Type 100 8mm machine gun with its original magazine was hotly pursued and attracted 23 bids. The gun was registered on May 3, 1946 for importation from the “Pacific Theatre of Operations” and came to auction with its original US Treasury Dept. importation paperwork stating the gun had been rendered “non-serviceable.” 

Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions, commented: “The Nagoya was among the best specimens of its type to emerge in more than 20 years. Because of the strong interest shown prior to auction day, we were not all that surprised when it reached $84,000, which was more than twice the high estimate we had set for it.”

Another big draw was the high-condition, factory-original Heckler & Koch fixed-stock MP5 9mm machine gun. Manufactured in 1984 and marked Made in W. Germany / HK Chantilly, Va., it had been checked through the NFA electronic registry, which showed its manufacturer as “IMPORTED NFA FIREARM.” This validated beyond any doubt that the powerful weapon of war was factory-made, not a conversion. It was chased to a winning bid of $79,950 against a pre-sale estimate of $35,000-$45,000.

Outstanding and extremely scarce, a Parker Brothers AAHE 28-bore side-by-side shotgun with 26-inch barrels was described in Morphy’s catalog as a “Grade 7” gun, a type that is second only to Parker’s A1 Specials and legendary Invincibles. Its central vignette was marked PARKER BROS. MAKERS. MERIDEN. CT. U.S.A. WHITWORTH STEEL, and per the serial number, it was made circa 1920. The high-end shotgun passed to a new owner for $78,000.

Steeped in history, a .69 smoothbore U. States branded and US-surcharged French Model 1766/69 musket was American-used during the Revolutionary War. Its lockplate is deeply marked US and is inscribed Charleville with a star-over-D mark indicating 1768 modifications. “This model is significant because its design served as the basis for the first American flintlock musket, the Model 1795, which Eli Whitney produced at both the Springfield and Harpers Ferry armories,” Dan Morphy noted. The auction gun sold for $21,600, more than twice the high estimate.

Several edged weapons landed in five-figure territory, including a large, extremely rare William Wales Scagel (1873-1963) knife, stamped on its 8-inch spearpoint blade with WL&A/Chicago and the celebrated knifemaker’s kris mark; and with W. Scagel impressed on the blade’s reverse side. Accompanied by its original leather scabbard, it commanded more than five times the high estimate, selling for $40,800.

A Koto Mino katana made by and signed by Kanetomo and verified by NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers led the selection of 50 outstanding Japanese swords. The weapon’s features are indicative of the Zenjo school, and it is attributed to Yokuzuna Harumafuji, the 70th Yokuzuna from 2012-2017. With a flashy set of mounts on its blade, the daunting 42-inch katana sold near its high estimate for $24,000.

To discuss consigning a collection or individual item to a future Firearms & Militaria auction at Morphy’s, call Dan Morphy tollfree at 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. There is never an obligation to consign, and all enquiries are kept strictly confidential. Visit Morphy’s online at www.morphyauctions.com.

_{*All prices quoted in this postsale report are inclusive of buyer’s premium as detailed in Morphy’s Terms and Conditions.}