A first year production 1855 “Root Model” Sidehammer Colt Revolver in the original box realized $2,300 and a World War II Flight Jacket with “Flying Dutchmen” artwork saw $3,100 in Cordier Auctions & Appraisals quarterly Firearms & Military Sale on September 23.
The sale featured 300 plus lots in categories spanning Antique Firearms, Modern Firearms, Collectible & Military Firearms, Edged Weapons, and Military.
The Saturday evening sale began with modern handguns. Colt handguns led the category with $850 realized for a Model 1903 .32 Hammerless Pistol, in original box and a Combat Commander .45 pistol in original box that brought $600.
In the antique handgun category, the previously mentioned Colt 1855 Root Model led all lots, with a French officers Flintlock Holster Pistol, with hallmarked sterling silver mountings, hammering at $1,100 and a pair of Savage-North, Civil War era revolvers bringing $850 each.
Representing half of the firearms portion of the auction were modern collectible and sporting arms. A rare Savage Model 1899 with factory engraving in .303 Savage caliber brought $1,500, with a first year production Belgian Browning Superposed shotgun, with additional barrel, bringing $1,200. The sporting rifles were well represented by Remington Model 700’s in .375 H&H Cal and 22-250 Cal that hammered at $900 and $700 respectively.
Antique long guns showed a consistent market with an Upper Susquehanna School rotating breach Kentucky Rifle bringing $1,500, followed closely by a British Proofed “Rampart Gun”, Complete on modern rotating display mount which fetched $1,400. A Whitney-Ville Model 1861 Contract Musket brought $750, and an E.W. Whitney “Mississippi Rifle” hammered at $900.
Collectible US Military Rifles were also well represented with a US Springfield Mod 1898 30-40 Krag in fine original condition bringing $800 and a US Springfield Model 1884 Trapdoor .45-70 realizing $650.
Winchester collectible rifles were also represented in the four hour sale, with a Model 1895 bringing $725 and a John Wayne commemorative Model 94 in .32-40 hammering down at $700.
High lot overall for the sale was a Japanese WWII Samurai Katana with military scabbard which hammered at $4,300. The sword, made at the Shinto Shrine by one of Japan’s notable swordsmiths in 1944, had a special inscription on the tang which translated as “Made on a lucky day, Oct 1944, Shinto Shrine”, and was in overall very good condition. Other edged weapons included a 17th century English Hunting Hangar that brought $750 and an Ames US 1840 Pattern Civil War Era Sword that hammered at $400.
A featured item in this sale was a WWII decorated US A-2 Flight Jacket which had a provenance of the original navigator on the famed bomber “The Flying Dutchmen”. The jacket was in excellent condition and was accompanied by original ephemera, photos, and a documentation of provenance provided by the family of the original owner. The jacket brought $3,100 after spirited bidding both in room and via the internet.
Other highlighted military items included a WWII Nazi Heer Helmet, with original liner that brought $450, and a Nazi State Service “Headquarters” Flag in excellent original condition that brought $375. A large lot of Nazi pins and badges hammered at $450, and a Spencer and Barret company US Navy Sextant fetched $300.
Cordier’s next Firearms and Military auction is set for December 10, 2011 at their new auction facility located at 1500 Paxton Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Information on Cordier Auctions & Appraisals can be found at www.CordierAntiques.com. Questions can be directed to Cordier Auctions & Appraisals at [email protected] or by calling 717-731-8662.
