The first one to go on the block was an absolutely exquisite gun by James Woodward & Sons—a 14-bore percussion in a fitted case with the accoutrements usually found with duelling pistols. It went for a hammer price of $16,000, or $18,800 “realized” price. The latter includes the buyer’s premium, and easily exceeded the high estimate of $10,000.
Usually, howdah pistols for cartridges bring more, and the next day a Rigby chambered for a shortened version of the .577 Snider realized $23,500. The high estimate was $11,000.
The third was a Lyon & Lyon in .577 Snider. Not being a name maker, it was expected to bring less and I even harbored hopes, but those didn’t last beyond one bid. When the dust settled, it brought $7,000.
Finally, I have to mention one gun that elicited gasps—some of awe, some of disbelief. It was a Smith & Wesson Model 53, specially engraved for, and owned by, Elvis Presley. Expected to go for $70,000-$90,000, it realized $199,750!
My overall impression of the auction was that prices for fine guns are holding up and, in some cases, going wild. An acquaintance from past auctions, who buys on behalf of wealthy clients, described the market for Western guns as “insane.” A Western gun is anything that can be associated with the American West, however tenuously. For example, a Colt Peacemaker that was shipped to San Antonio brings more than an identical gun shipped to Cincinnati.
In this auction, a Peabody-Martini rifle and a town marshal’s badge belonging to Old West lawman Harvey Faucett each went for almost $50,000. Faucett is hardly a big name among Old West lawmen, although he did end up policing Leadville, Colorado—a noted hell hole—and arrested Doc Holliday there after his last gunfight. (Holliday was acquitted on grounds of self defence.) Even so, $50,000 for the man’s badge? (Okay, it was solid gold, weighed two ounces, and was inset with six diamonds. But still.)
The new Rock Island facility in Dallas is about four times the size of the one in Illinois, and they hope to draw much larger crowds to handle the guns and bid in person. Your obedient correspondent plans to attend the first one, at least. It should be spectacular.
For those who are wondering, Gray’s shooting editor Terry Wieland did not come home empty-handed. He landed a Stevens Schützen rifle in .22 Long Rifle and a lovely little J.P. Sauer over/under combination gun (16 gauge and 9.3x72R) with external hammers—something he’d never seen before. Learns something new every single time.
