Sporting and collectors at Rock Island
The auction at Rock Island starts on 6 October and includes everything from sporting rifles to classic firearms and WWII collectables. Let’s start with a Colt Lightning, Large Frame slide-action rifle in .50-95 Express. Manufactured in 1891. One of only 6,496 Large Frame rifles built in all calibres.
Per, Colt this rifle will letter as
.50-95 calibre with 22in round barrels, pistol grip plain stock, and swivels in the barrel and butt. The only shipping information given is ‘Shipped to London’, marked for ‘LV & Co.’ on 4 November,
1891 in shipment of six rifles. Estimate is $4,000-$7,000.
Then there’s a desirable Winchester Model 1894 lever action Trapper Carbine with a 15in round barrel, walnut stock in 30 WCF-gauge. In good working order with some minor replacement parts. It was manufactured in 1912. The included letter from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms lists the carbine by serial number, calibre, and barrel lengh. Provenance is from The Brandhorst Collection. Not sure what you were meant to do with the next firearm, but the guess is raise the alarm. It’s a massive and ornate percussion pistol with a 24in part octagon barrel, hardwood stock and engraved and carved with floral and Christian motifs. When standing on the butt it measures 43in from ground to muzzle but is in poor condition with major replacement parts required. Estimate is $900-$1,400. Next, a French St. Etienne Model 1816 flintlock musket. With a 40.5in round barrel in 69 gauge with a walbut stock, it’s marked to ‘1817’ on the barrel and ‘rooster/ P.D./L.’ on the stock. In good, working order, bidding should hit $1,200-$1,800.
An interesting pistol now with a French Jarre patent 10-shot double action pinfire Harmonica pistol. In 7.5mm gauge with a 1.75in fluted barrel, blue finish, hardwood stock. It was developed in Paris and patented in the US in 1862. It’s in good overall condition with some minor replacement parts. A bit of rusting and pitting in places, but in good working order. Expect to pay $3,250-$4,750.
The next one would pack a punch, it’s a late 18th century Velu of Liege blunderbuss flintlock pistol. Comes with a 50.25in flared barrel, in 50 gauge, with hardwood stock. Marked on the bottom edge of the lock with ‘VELU’. Estimate is $800-$1,200.
You don’t get much more iconic than a Luger in the pistol world and here’s one from WWII. It is marked with ‘BYF’ and the code for ‘41’. Comes with a 4in round barrel, takes 9mm parabellum ammo, has a plastic grip and blued finish. It’s in good working order but has wear on the working surfaces. The estimate is $2,250 - $3,250.
Let’s finish with two American Civil War era revolvers. One is a Rogers & Spencer Army Model in 44-gauge, 7.5in octagon barrel, with walnut grip. In fair working order, only around
5,800 were manufactured. The other is a Whitney Navy Revolver in 36-gauge, with a 7.75in octagon barrel with walnut grip. Manufactured in 1850-1860, the barrel has been shortened. Estimate is $1,400-$2,000. ■