The Golden Luger: A Gift Between Two Nazis Who Changed History

Lot 1489: Exceptional and Historic Nazi 1939 Mauser Factory Engraved and Gold Plated Presentation Luger Semi-Automatic Pistol Given to the Nazi Ambassador Franz von Papen by Foreign Minister of the Reich Joachim von Ribbentrop with Authentication from a Mauser Factory Consultant

History is a funny thing. As hard as we humans try to document it, the facts of the matter only occasionally prevail, rarely survive, and are often up to interpretation. Much like human memory itself, we often serve as storytellers, making our own omissions and exaggerations instead of acting as stern and fact-obsessed archivists. Each camp has its own validity. The "archivists" often state that the history speaks for itself and needs no embellishment, while the "storytellers" often excuse their inaccuracies by saying it makes the history approachable, relatable, and easier to imagine those fantastic moments that stitch together the tapestry of our past.

Knowing what we do about the human memory, and our suspect ability to accurately document history, it should come as no surprise that history is often told selectively. Things are attributed to more famous names in history, while lesser known names lie in their wake, largely forgotten. This is an article about two of those lesser known names and a brilliant Luger pistol that passed between them.





The Luger itself is a Mauser manufacture pistol that began its life rather uneventfully. According to accompanying documents written by Dr. Rolf Gminder, a consultant to the Mauser-Werkes factory who had personally viewed the pistol, it was originally one of any number of Lugers in the existing stock of police guns. However, this gun was selected for something more. It began with the highest quality engraving Germany had to offer. The typical "oak leaf and acorn" pattern takes on a distinct variation with more flowing vinous scroll work and geometric shapes than typically seen on the more deep relief engraved Walther PP and PPK pistols that often served as Nazi presentation pistols.

The dark walnut grips have also been carved with the oak and acorn pattern, but while the right grip shows fine checkering in its center, the left grip bears a presentation plaque that reads,

Seiner Exzellenz

Herrn Botshafter Franz von Papen

in tiefster Verehrung
am 11ten November 1940

überreicht von Joachim von Ribbentrop

Aussenminister 
des Deutchen Reiches

That translates to:

His Excellency

the Honorable Ambassador Franz von Papen

in deepest dedication
on 11th November 1940

given by Joachim von Ribbentrop

Foreign Minister of the German Reich

Many presentation arms leave a mystery about who presented the gun and who received it. Sometimes they are decorated with no inscription at all, while others only bear the cryptic monogram of their recipient. This pistol leaves no such riddles and instead offers us an excellent starting point to explore who these men were, what they did, and the background of this extravagant Luger.

Franz von Papen

1936 portrait of Papen

Thankfully, Franz von Papen is not one of those names lost to time or a German military man of whom little information remains. That said, his deeds place him far from a spot of honor in history. In the simplest terms, Papen was a politician. Born in 1879  to a wealthy family, he entered the military early on, and by the Great War was already a military attaché in Washington. However, at the behest of the U.S. Government he was recalled in 1915 after being implicated as a spy and saboteur. After serving the rest of the war for Germany, he entered politics and found his true calling. He served in the Prussian Parliament for 11 years, before being surprisingly appointed Chancellor in 1932 by President Paul von Hindenburg, who had been undeniably influenced by General Kurt von Schleicher, an old friend of Papen's who had great influence with the German president.

Once in a position of power, Papen achieved some impressive feats considering the near-complete lack of support he had within the Reichstag. Instead he achieved his changes through authoritarian rule. In an effort to gain the support of the Nazi party, he repealed the ban on their paramilitary Sturmabteilung (SA). He also had Germany's debt under the Treaty of Versailles essentially erased. In this trend of removing previous laws, Papen also staged a coup and deposed the Social Democratic government of Prussia using police, and declared himself its leader. These authoritarian measures are marked by many as setting the stage for the rise of the Third Reich, a charge echoed in his Nuremberg trial.

Taken from a larger photo, Papen can be seen
sitting in the back seat of Hitler's vehicle.

After the coup, he called for a national election and was surprised when he still had no support from the Reichstag. Instead, the Nazis seized the moment and gained 123 seats, giving them a majority in the governing body. Papen planned to dissolve the democracy, and even had advance permission from Hindenburg. However, the Nazis had other ideas. Rolling with the tide, Papen then tried to work with the Nazis, but found them unbending and so resigned as chancellor after the November 1932 elections. After some major politicking and maneuvering between President Hindenburg, Gen. Schleicher, and Papen, with no one able to firm up support from the Nazis and the Social Democrats, Papen worked relentlessly to undermine his former friend Schleicher to give Adolf Hitler the chancellorship while he served as vice chancellor. It would not take long for Hitler and new Reichstag President Herman Göring to marginalize Papen and his office, eventually executing "The Night of Long Knives," a purging of opposing political and military ideologies that threatened Hitler's new found power. Papen would survive the event, later serving as an ambassador to Austria and Turkey before being captured by the Allies in April of 1945. He was prosecuted at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial, found not guilty of the charges of "conspiracy to prepare aggressive war" and "conspiracy to commit crimes against peace," served eight years hard labor by a West German court, and was finally released & fined in 1949 on appeal. His memoirs were published in 1952 and he died in 1969.

Largely due to his Nuremberg Trial, Papen is often remembered as paving the way for Nazi power, facilitating the annexation of Austria, and being well aware of Nazi ideology as he did so.

Joachim von Ribbentrop

If Papen paved the way for the Nazi party to take power in Germany, then Joachim von Ribbentrop turned that paved highway into the Autobahn. He too served in the Great War, as a hussar on the Eastern front, but afterward he resumed the relatively normal life of a sparkling wine (Sekt) salesman until he became independently wealthy by marriage. He met Hitler in 1932 as a businessman thanks to an introduction from a fellow former hussar, and shortly thereafter he and his wife joined the NSDAP (Nazi Party). He entered the political arena by offering to serve as a representative between Hitler and his old battle buddy, Papen. Ribbentrop was not liked by many Nazis: he was a flatterer, a yes man, had no political experience, married into his fortune, and even the nobility of his name (the "von") had come from an aunt that Ribbentrop had convinced to formally adopt him for that purpose alone. Despite his lack of the "proper" credentials in the eyes of many Nazis, Ribbentrop would serve as Hitler's chief adviser on foreign affairs, and would soon prove his worth.

In short, Ribbentrop would put into play numerous policies that placated the world and gave Nazi Germany numerous advantages in the years leading up to World War II. Here is a brief list of his diplomatic agreements and similar achievements.

• 1934 - Helped quell France's protests against Germany's request to re-arm itself after the Great War. He also visited England and Rome to hasten any sanctions from those countries. In turn, Hitler promotes him to "Reich Minister Ambassador-Plenipotentiary at Large."
• 1935 - Negotiates the Anglo-German Naval Agreement (AGNA), which permanently limited the Kriegsmarine to 35% of the total tonnage of the Royal Navy, far beyond the limits set in the Versailles Treaty. The British expectation was that this would limit German military capacity, while the Germans expected it to strengthen a desired alliance between the two countries and against France and the Soviet Union. Britain did not consult with France or Italy prior ratifying the AGNA.
• 1935 - Arranges for good will visits between groups of World War I veterans. By sending German veterans abroad and accepting foreign veterans on German soil, a "never again" spirit was portrayed and did much to alleviate suspicions against Germany and its wish to re-arm itself.
• 1936 - The Anti-Comintern Pact is signed with Japan, essentially forming an alliance between the two countries should one of them be attacked by the Soviet Union. Italy would join the pact in 1937, while Poland declined. This alliance was especially unusual given Germany's previous policies of allying itself with China and its general distrust of Japan.
• 1936-1938 - Spent time unintentionally and permanently fouling German relations with England. He was called by various Britains: pompous, conceited, stupid, impossible, not too intelligent, insufferable, absent (which also earned him the nickname "The Wandering Aryan"), a stupid ass, and also managed to personally insult King George VI.
• 1938 - Ribbentrop promoted to Foreign Minister, symbolizing a German shift from cautious diplomacy seeker toward an aggressive war-time nation.
• 1939 - Pact of Steel is made with Italy. The two will come to one another's aid in case of war.
• 1939 - The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Also known as the German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact, it assured non-aggression between the USSR and Germany. but broke the Anti-Comintern Pact of 1936 by signing a deal with the communists. In no uncertain terms, this was Ribbentrop's crowning achievement and left little standing in the way for Hitler to attack Poland. This was handy since Ribbentrop's extreme bullying of Polish foreign diplomats all but ensured that Poland would have to be conquered to relinquish the territories that Germany desired.
• 1940 - German-Japanese Pact is signed to replace the Anti-Comintern Pact. Ribbentrop sends a telegram to Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet Foreign Minister, stating that the alliance was for protection against the United States and from not the Soviet Union.

Despite being hated by his fellow Nazis and nearly every foreign diplomat he ever met, Ribbentrop
almost single-handedly managed to stall the entire world from acting against Germany as they prepared to conquer Europe. This is quite an accomplishment considering that the ink on the Versailles Treaty had only dried 20 years prior and the memory of the Great War still hung fresh in the mind of every nation it touched. After the war, Ribbertrop also was a defendant at the Nuremberg Trials, but unlike Papen, he was convicted on four counts and sentenced to death. He had been charged with crimes against peace, deliberately planning a war of aggression, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Because Göring had committed suicide before he could be hung, Ribbentrop was the first of the defendants to have his death sentence carried out.

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One aspect of the relationship between these two comrades in arms remains for a dedicated collector or historian to investigate. This pistol is dated on the grip as presented on the November 11, 1940. However, there is a documented squabble between the two men that took place sometime in, or just after, April 1939, when Papen was the newly appointed Ambassador to Turkey. It turns out that Papen, the former Chancellor, felt he should be able to take his communications directly to Hitler instead of through Ribbentrop, something he was accustomed to when he served as Ambassador to Austria. It has been written that this spat ended the friendship that extended back nearly two decades.

Had the two men reconciled by 1940, even if only out of political necessity? Was their falling out misrepresented as more serious than it was? It is possible, though not entirely plausible, that the pistol was already in the works when Papen was Ambassador to Austria. After all, even though he was dismissed as the Austrian Ambassador on February 4, 1938, he had arranged the February 12 meeting at Berchtesgaden between Hitler and Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg that eventually led to the Anschluss, the annexation of Austria by Germany, which was signed into law on March 13. This event pleased Hitler greatly.

However, from just prior to the 1938 Anschluss until the 1940 presentation seems like an exceptionally long turnaround time for a standard police pistol that had only to be embellished. It is perhaps more likely that the pistol was ordered to commemorate Papen's new position as the Ambassador to Turkey which he assumed on April 29, 1939. This makes much more sense since it is also known that Ribbentrop had been lobbying for Papen to receive that position since losing the Austrian ambassadorship. Given the dates between Papen's new position and timeframe of the fight, he could not have held the position long prior to their rift.  Six months is a much more plausible timeframe for a finely embellished, presentation Luger.

Despite being two men rarely heard of outside of German history or World War II educational settings, they had quite a profound impact on their country and the world. One paved the way for the Nazis to come to power, while the other pacified country after country in the name of peace, all the while preparing for war. The fact that these two men were brothers in arms who went on to be high ranking Nazis is fascinating enough. When you consider that these same individuals played huge roles in amplifying the power of Nazi Germany, and are both listed on the same classic German pistol, a true treasure of history exists. Their names may not be as infamous, but their significance cannot be discounted.

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This historic well-preserved German artifact is just one of the dozens of incredible German military pieces in our April Premiere Firearms Auction. From the incredible rarities, prototypes, and high condition arms from The Robert "The Bear" Bretherton Collection (please see below video), to the incredibly well preserved uniforms and helmets in the Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection, this auction will have it all.  Other highlights include a Krieghoff Second model FG42 machine gun, an extremely rare M.Kb.42(H) assault rifle - a predecessor to the StG44, a cased presentation copy of Mein Kampf covered completely in Amber tile and silver furniture, an authentic, original uniform from the Fallschirm-Panzer "Herman Göring" Division, a Nazi Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (with oak leaves) war medal, the entire evolution of the Walther P38, and a presentation Walther PP given to SS Untersturmfuhrer Maximilian Grabner. It's a fantastic time to be a collector!








-Written by Joel R. Kolander




SOURCES:


Bloch, Michael. Ribbentrop. New York: Crown, 1992. Print.

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Franz-von-Papen

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Joachim-von-Ribbentrop

http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/67/lid/1489

A Lifetime of Lugers

This article, appropriately enough, is being distributed on Georg Luger's birthday, March 6.  It is the 166th anniversary of the occasion.  Happy birthday, Georg!


Rock Island Auction Company has been extremely privileged during our last few Premiere auctions to host the Gene Smith Military Collection.  Mr. Smith's massive, encyclopedic grouping of German military arms has been featured in our sales since mid-2014, bringing high condition, rare, historic, and significant German firearms to the collecting community who can't snatch them up quickly enough.

Regarding this astounding collection, we bring good news and bad news.  The bad news is that our 2015 April Premiere Firearms Auction will mark the final installment of this landmark collection.  It has truly been our pleasure to see, handle, and experience such an array of amazing guns, and with one final opportunity, that pleasure can be yours as well.  The good news is that besides having one final opportunity to own an item from this outstanding collection, another convergence of extraordinary arms waits in the wings, waiting to be unleashed.  We are referring to The Lifelong Collection of Icon Ralph Shattuck.

Viewing Mr. Shattuck's passion for firearms has resulted in a "dream collection" that many aspire to match and very few ever do.  His assemblage of Lugers, Mausers, and Borchardts is unparalleled, and a multitude of other nations are represented as well.  Here, for the first time, is a glimpse at the host of rare and attractive firearms that comprise this lifetime of dedication.  Before we begin, many of the firearms pictured here by Rock Island Auction Company can already be found with descriptions in the book Lugers at Random by Charles Kenyon, Jr.  Long considered to be an important reference since its release in 1969, the book contains numerous photos and descriptions of important Lugers from Mr. Shattuck's collection.  Also, Mr. Shattuck, acknowledged as the "Dean of Lugers," has a book published on his collection aptly titled "Lugers of Ralph Shattuck," which can be easily found on Amazon for those who would like a more in-depth view of his collection.  There was even an a CD made of high-resolution photos of the guns in his collection.  People just couldn't get enough of these rare, unusual, beautiful, and high condition Lugers.

Ralph Shattuck and his wife Nancy.

Ralph Shattuck was born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 28, 1929 mere months preceding the Great Depression, but would go on to become one of the pioneers and giants of the Luger collecting community.  Even as a child Shattuck would ride around on his bicycle and purchase whatever pistols he could with the intention of selling them to make some money.  His home, both his first residence in Michigan and his later one in Arizona, was open to many collectors throughout the years and was nearly considered a pilgrimage site for Luger enthusiasts - containing hundreds of Lugers in his personal collection and even more in "inventory."  Ralph and his bright red suit jacket were a staple of many gun shows for decades, resulting in endless stories of his generosity, character, and genuine love of the hobby.  Ralph passed away on his birthday at the age of 81, but not before helping build one of the most zealous and educated genres in gun collecting.  Rock Island Auction Company is honored to offer such a prestigious collection from such a collecting icon and trailblazer.

Outstanding Ultra Rare DWM Model 1902 U.S. Army "Cartridge Counter" American Eagle Test Luger

This completely original and totally unaltered version of the "Cartridge Counter" Luger is one of the most desirable Lugers for both German and military collectors.  Made at the behest of the U.S. Ordnance Board in 1902, exactly 50 of these pistols with the "Powell Indicating Device" (and grip safety) were manufactured for testing the following year.  The device was simple and accurate, but ultimately deemed to fragile by the Ordnance Board, and rightly so.  The left grip would first have a slot cut into it, and then have a delicate metal strip and feeble 3 1/4" celluloid strip covering the newly created slot.  The concept itself was quite simple.  To work, the gun required a special magazine, which involved a pin poking out the left side of the magazine.  This pin was attached to the magazine follower, so that every time a cartridge was fired and the follower rose, the pin would also.  That pin also moved an indicator corresponding to the numerals visible to the user.  In a bit of a perhaps unintended redundancy, when loaded, the bullets of the cartridges were also visible through the celluloid window.

Estimate: $45,000 - $65,000

Extremely Rare Original DWM Model 1900 "GL" Marked Prototype Luger Pistol with Unique Reversed Toggle Mechanism

The photos are worth a million words in the case of this gun.  With its numerous unique and potentially one-of-a-kind design variations, not only is the gun a bit difficult to describe through text alone, but the purpose of the prototype changes is not fully known.

Note the reversed toggle "hinge" on this pistol as compared to the photo of the top of the previous Luger.  The rear portion extends into the front, instead of the other way around.

There's also this unusual undercut front sight and muzzle
with dimples on each side.  Were they for an attached
suppressor or muzzle break?  Do these tie in with the reversed toggle?

"GL" Georg Luger marked prototype.

Finest Known Exceptionally Rare Documented DWM Model 1900 Bulgarian Contract Luger Pistol

Authentic Cyrililic text appearing in place of the "GESICHERT" ("secured") marking, is always a good sign for a Luger collector. The total production of these pistols is estimated at approximately 1,000 pistols and this example is in the appropriate serial range.  While seven rebarreled Model 1900 pistols are known, it is reported that no more than 3-4 original 1900 Bulgarian contract Lugers are known as many were converted to 9mm before and after the Great War.  Most saw heavy use through WWII, with many samples being captured by Russians.  Another unusual feature of this Luger might not appear unusual at first glance.  Note the placement of the "DWM" monogram and the Bulgarian crest.  On many Lugers, this placement is standard, but on these guns one would much more commonly find the markings reversed, making this "normal" looking Luger even more rare and desirable.

























So by now, you know our April Premiere Auction will have two colossal German collections contained within in it.  Did you also know that amazing single pieces have come in as well, creating a perfect storm for German and foreign military collectors?  Here are additional highlights for collectors sure to be wringing their hands with anticipation.

Rare, Documented DWM Prototype 1900 Luger Carbine, Serial Number 58

OK, we fibbed.  One more from the Shattuck Collection, and this one presents a mystery to collectors.  This gun was featured in the aforementioned book Lugers At Random and since 1969 it has stymied Luger collectors.  The source of conflict comes primarily in determining whether this 1900 Carbine  was manufactured for commercial sales or as a prototype.  Lugers At Random is quoted in describing the gun by stating,

"The uniqueness of this variation makes it difficult to determine the proper designation for this weapon and there is support for both theories (commercial or prototype) among collectors.  The unique five position rear sight lends support to the Prototype theory, but the serial number range is of the 1900 era.  VERY VERY RARE.  Only one example is known to collectors." (Emphasis theirs)

Extraordinary, Historic Pre-World War II Walther Factory Engraved Gold Plated Model PP Presentation Pistol For King Carol II of Romania

Obviously this gun has some extensive ornamentation going for it, making it a prize for any collector who appreciates such craftsmanship, but this gun also bears some special provenance.  Just looking at it, one might be able to guess that it is a presentation gun, however, a presentation for whom is not as evident.  This spectacular Walther PP was commissioned by the Nazis for King Carol II of Romania during his second reign.  It was around 1937-38 when Nazi Germany was pulling out all the stops so that Romania and its "the playboy king" would ally itself with the Third Reich.  The fact that the Romanians were sitting on the oil fields at Ploiesit didn't hurt either.  This pistol was part of the efforts to woo the King.

As if one could look past the impressive provenance, the gun alone is capable of generating high interest among collectors.  First off, this is the earliest known factory engraved Walther Mod. PP pistol.  With a serial number of 751249, that makes this the 1,249th Walther PP!  The engraving itself is also masterfully done by the Zella-Mehlis Guild/Walther engravers and features a dense, floral scroll work mixed with an abundance of edelweiss blossoms. The gold plating speaks for itself and the grips have an inset on the left side that shows the Romanian crown over the initials "CC" (standing for Carol Caraiman, the full name of King Carol II).

Exceptionally Rare, Early Production Mauser Model 1896 20 Shot Flatside Cone Hammer Broomhandle Semi-Automatic Pistol Serial Number 91 with Matching Shoulder Stock

Everybody can recognize a "broomhandle" pistol.  The C96 has a look that people still find attractive today and a quite a following among military enthusiasts.  This particular Mauser Model 1896 is one that should be paid special attention for a number of reasons.  What is immediately most noticeable is that it is a desirable 20-shot version.  Soldiers may have griped about the difficulty in reloading the gun with two 10-round clips, but today they stand out from a gun that was produced for over 60 years and imitated by many.  Looking closely, one will also notice that the pistol is without its standard milled frame panels.  This is known as a "flat side" Broomhandle and is indicative of an early production, before the milled panels began to appear to reduce weight and save on materials.  Being an early model, it also has many of the other features found on those guns such as a cone hammer, the long extractor on the breech bolt, and many others.

Perhaps most impressive about this gun, which cannot be easily observed, is that it still has all its original parts.  Even the grips and the rare wooden holster bear the "91" that ties this wonderful firearm together.  The wooden shoulder stock/holster is an anomaly in itself.  Their large size made them prone to breakage, leaving few surviving models.  Even the stock shows "91" on its lid, attaching iron, and on the flat edge of the stock itself.  Why the number "91"?  it is yet another interesting fact about the pistol that cannot be gathered solely by its appearance.  As if all the other features mentioned here did not make this iconic little pistol rare enough, only an estimated 90-100 of this variant were ever produced with most of them being shipped to South America.  Since few things that are shipped out ever seem to find their way back home, that makes this pistol a rare bird, and its late number of "91" means it was one of the very last Broomhandles produced for those South American shipments.

Exceptional Rare Original Early Gabbet Fairfax MARS Semi-Automatic Pistol

This rare and monstrous handgun once had bragging rights as "the most powerful handgun in the world."  Considering it was only produced from 1898-1907 and would not lose that title until the 1970s, that's quite an accomplishment.  That small production time, of course, resulted in a very limited run of these guns.  Approximately 80 were ever produced in all their proprietary configurations (8.5mm, .36 (9mm), .45 Long, and .45 Short).  The example shown above is an extremely early version (c. 1898-1900) and stamped with the serial number 4.  It also has the fine blued finish and wonderful checkered walnut grips.  It remains in its all-original and unaltered condition.



The pistols were very well-made with all hand-fitted parts, and extremely powerful, but ultimately they were not to be.  Why?  A few reasons existed and they all had to deal with the gun's rather complex design.  First of all, complex designs historically tend to not render themselves well to life in military service.  Complex devices have more parts to foul and are difficult to repair/clean in the field.  Second, this complex device, utilizing a long-action recoil, had such horrendous recoil that it was prone to feeding problems.  The recoil was partially due to the powerful cartridges, but also because of the long travel of the moving parts.  It also suffered from a heavy trigger pull.  All these gripes led to the MARS being passed over for military contracts, the sole hope of its designer, Hugh Gabbert-Fairfax.  There were never any issues with its "man-stopping" ability, but its recoil was its ultimate undoing.  Fortunately, it left us with some rather entertaining quotes such as, "No one who fired once with the pistol wished to shoot it again," and "singularly unpleasant and alarming."

Even without military contracts or commercial sales, this rare curio remains a supremely desirable collectible.

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German collectors, do we have your attention yet?  These two collections combine to form a spectacular selection, the contents of which have the potential to turn good collections into great ones, and great collections legendary.  The guns mentioned here are a fine, yet small, sampling of a cornucopia of European arms.  Not only are there German arms, but the Shattuck Collection also contains such gems as an uncommon Japanese Pedersen, a rare Czech ZH29, a Heinrich Himmler inscribed Jacquemart double barrel shotgun, a 1908 Mondragon semi-automatic rifle, and many more.

Not to mention the Dr. Joel Glovsky Collection, which holds the most complete and advanced array of 7.65mm pistols ever made available - the fruits of 60 years of dedicated labor.  This collection includes most of the 7.65mm pistols from the estate of the late Sid Aberman.  It is a smorgasbord of rarity, prototypes, experimental variations, and high condition, which will be covered in a blog of its own before our 2015 April Premiere Firearms Auction.

Who will be the lucky, dedicated collectors that will not rest until these firearms reside safely in their gun rooms?  If that collector is reading this, we wish you best of luck on your bids for these incredible firearms.


-Written by Joel Kolander






SOURCES:


http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=RALPH-SHATTUCK&lc=4279&pid=144356636&mid=4331737

Kenyon, Charles. Lugers at Random. Chicago: Handgun, 1969. Print.

Interesting Facts from the December 2014 Premiere Sale

Our December 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction had a few surprises for us.  Sure, it was as successful as ever with its realized total of $11.4 million, but that success came from some interesting places.  Some of the "old reliables" maintained the grip of their popularity, other genres and models experienced a surge of renewed interest, and some were way out of left field.  Today, we'll take a look at a few of the pieces that livened up the auction and whose results may not have been entirely expected.

Read our full auction write-up by clicking here.

Highest Performing Item Overall (Based on Highest Percentage Over Estimate)

Lot 1799: Colt Python Double Action Revolver

Low Estimate: $1,200

Realized Price: $11,500

"Highest Performing," for the purposes of this article, means the item that sold the highest percentage over its low estimate.

Colt Pythons have really enjoyed upswings in both popularity and price in the last several years.  The love for these high quality, fat-gripped wheel guns has carried over to other Colt "Snake Guns" and even into large Smith & Wesson revolvers for those unable to afford the reptilian revolvers.  This particular revolver remained in near perfect condition and was manufactured in 1956, making this a second-year production.  That early production also means it bears the remarkably low serial number of 543.  Perhaps even more staggering is that this isn't even the highest price brought by a Python in this auction, a honor belonging to lot 1795, which sold for a princely $14,950.

Highest Performing Antique

Lot 175: Custom Engraved Civil War Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver with Factory Letter Shipped to the New York Arsenal

Low Estimate: $3,000
Realized Price: $19,550

This classic Colt percussion revolver enjoyed a little more attention than usual thanks to its attractive customization, but moreso because of details in its factory letter.  First off, the letter details the gun as having a "blue/brass" finish and wood grips.  It's easy to see that the grips have been replaced with antique ivory that bear a carved eagle clutching an American-style shield in its talons.  In closer-up photos, one can also tell that the revolver has been custom engraved and that the front sight is made from German silver.

While those changes will appeal to some collectors, certainly its shipping destination will endear it to a larger number.  The factory letter lists that this revolver was sold to the "United States Government" and shipped to the "Commanding Officer" at the New York Arsenal on Governor's Island, New York on June 18, 1863.  That's a pretty intriguing history on a model of revolver that already has cemented its place in U.S. military firearms lore as the primary cavalry handgun from its adoption until the introduction of the legendary Model 1873.  The combination of looks, history, and a classic arm was too good to ignore.

Most Popular Item

Lot 3787: Colt Python Double Action Revolver

This is a tricky title to give, as we're measuring it by the amount of bids an item received.  The amount of pre-auction sealed bids go a long way into consideration and are easy to calculate, but how do you measure live participation?  Numerous buyers can raise their card for one bid, but the auctioneer can only take one, so it's difficult to measure how many bids an item truly received.  Not to mention the online participation, where the same scenario could unfold and you'd never even have the chance to see additional bidders.

That said, and with some wiggle room figured in, we claim a four-way tie between four lots of Colt snake guns!  Lots 1799 (the highest performing item overall), 1797, 3787, and 3790 all averaged around 50 bidders each!  That makes these three lots of Pythons, and one containing an Anaconda and a King Cobra, the most sought after items in the auction!  The best part is, we didn't need to look at the numbers to know it.  The bids were pouring in the minute these guns crossed the block and every single phone line was occupied with a bidder waiting for a chance to win one of these revolvers.  The buzz in the auction hall told this story before the numbers ever could.

Oldest Gun Sold

Lot 3093: Highly Ornately Gold, Silver, Pearl, Coral and Bone Inlaid Ottoman Miquelet Rifle

Low Estimate: $1,400

Realized Price: $3,162

There are many that feel these ornate antique guns are greatly underappreciated.  The high level of craftsmanship, the luxurious materials, and the aesthetics are often found far under the price of what it would cost to produce such a firearm today.  This gun is a prime example of such an argument thanks to its intricate inlays of gold, silver, pearl, coral, and bone.  It is simply mystifying what people could do with what we would consider "primitive tools" by today's standards.

While we can't always determine an exact year for many of the firearms in our auctions, we can come pretty close based on several helpful factors.  This is the oldest gun I could uncover after some in-depth searching.  Our describers estimate that this Ottoman rifle likely dates to the late 17th or early 18th century.  While that qualifies it for the oldest gun in the auction, it is not the oldest item.  That honor belongs to the 16th Century Italian style, swept-hilt rapier in lot 120.

Highest Selling Colt

Lot 1270: Impeccably Documented Captain Walker's C Company Colt Walker U.S. Model 1847 Revolver

Realized Price: $172,500

Believe it or not, that six-figure price is actually a great find for the lucky buyer.  Also in the "believe it or not" category is that the contest for highest selling Colt was far from a landslide.  May other phenomenal Colt firearms were also in the running like the presentation grade, recently discovered Model 1855 revolving shotgun, a 'D Company' Colt Walker, and a Squareback Texas No. 5 Paterson with its original holster.  By the way, many companies will go years without the privilege of selling a Colt Walker - they are ridiculously rare and sought after.  To have two in one auction, and another in each of our previous two auctions, is border-line impossible.  Well, impossible for most auction houses.  For those keeping track, that's four Walkers in 2014, 2 in 201`3, and another 4 in 2012!

Highest Selling Winchester

Lot 1043: Magnificent, Deluxe, Documented Special Order, Winchester Third Model 1873 with Casehardened Frame and Factory Letter

Realized Price: $149,500

Besides being completely gorgeous thanks to its iridescent case hardening and wood that seems to glint like a tiger's eye gemstone, this gun is also extremely rare.  Just like today, if you wanted to order a gun with custom features, you were going to have to pay for it.  Also just like today, not everybody wants to spend that kind of money, instead preferring a cheaper firearm for a life of service.  This makes special order Winchesters rare and it makes Winchesters with a combination of features increasingly more rare as their list of features increases.  This particular rifle has no shortage of special order features: 1/2 octagon barrel, set trigger, deluxe 3X fancy grain walnut stock, "Style H" checkering, pistol grip (the bottom of which has an ebony inlay), gold washed beach folding front sight, rare folding 62-B rear peep sight, and the casehardened forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever, and crescent buttplate.  It is very much deserving of its sale price.

Highest Selling Luger

Lot 1446: Extraordinary Finest Known DWM Model 1906 Russian Military Contract Semi-Automatic Luger Pistol

Realized Price: $46,000

Those pistols made for a Russian contract are the rarest of all military contract Lugers.  Distinct with their Cyrillic text and crossed "Mosin-Nagant rifles" marking over the chamber area, these Lugers easily catch the eye of discerning collectors.  This gun's rarity and "excellent" condition grade are made even more valuable by remaining all original, and having all matching numbers, with the exception of its original, nickel plated, wood base commercial magazine.

Highest Selling Civil War Item

Lot  1269: Extraordinary Deluxe Gustave Young Panel Scene Engraved, Presentation First Model Maynard Breechloading Carbine

Realized Price: $37,375

One might not associate a gun so finely decorated to be a "Civil War firearm," but over 20,000 Maynard Second Model carbines were made for Union cavalry units.  The one shown above is a First Model.  It has a fancy grain, walnut stock with a patchbox and an inlaid and inscribed silver plate.  It is in exceptional condition, and most notably exhibits delicate and flawlessly executed European  style scroll work and panel scene engraving.  The work, while not documented, was almost certainly performed by the legendary Master Engraver Gustave Young.

Highest Selling Non-Firearm

Lot 1601: Two Inscribed United States Marine Corps Mameluke Officer Swords with Scabbards, Documented to Two Navy Cross Winners

Realized Price: $4,312

The swords themselves are attractive and fascinating pieces of U.S. military history.  They have brass cross guards, brass fitted/nickel finished sheaths, etching in a Marine Corps motif, and even the rig necessary to wear the swords properly.  The history of the swords is even more impressive than their decor.

One of the swords was issued to one Col. Miles R. Thatcher.  A man who started out as a 2nd LT in 1905 and by 1946 had retired as a full Colonel.  In his tenure with the USMC he earned quite a few medals to pin to his chest: the Navy Cross, the Nicaraguan Medal of Merit, the Haitian Medialle Militiare, the Mexican Campaign Medal, and the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal.  The Navy Cross is the second-highest military award for valor eligible to the Navy, USMC, and Coast Guard.

The other was issued to a Gilbert Durnell Hatfield, a Marine enlistee in 1915 who would eventually retire as a Lieutenant Colonel.  Hatfield earned his Navy Cross for his "coolness and military way of handling the situation."  What situation, you ask?  He was serving in Nicaragua when Augusto Sandino, a bandit and later namesake of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, launched a pre-dawn raid on his camp with a 5:1 troop advantage.  When Sandino sent a messenger to Hatfield requesting his surrender, Hatfield replied, "Marines don't surrender.  Go to hell."  Well put, Marine.



Well, there you have it.  Whether people spoke en masse or with their wallets, those were some of the most desirable items in the auction.  Far from an exhaustive list of items that performed well, we thought it would be interesting to show some items that you made into highlights.  This list wasn't created by RIAC, it was created by enthusiastic and passionate collectors and investors,  If you'd like to see this type of lists after other auctions, leave us a comment below and let us know.  Also, if you have an idea for a "highlight" you'd like to see after subsequent auctions, feel free to put that in a comment as well.  We can't thank you all enough for a fantastic 2014!  See you all in February for our first ever FOUR DAY AUCTION taking place February 19, 20, 21, & 22, 2015.  Stay tuned to this blog and our social media pages for more details as they develop.

Highly Desirable & Highly Collectable Luger Pistols

Rock Island Auction Company is proud to offer one of the largest selections of highly desirable and highly collectable investment grade Luger pistols that we have ever offered.

   

This massive grouping spans all production years from 1900 up through 1942 and covers almost all the unique and rare variations. The following is just a small sampling of the fabulous Lugers we have to offer in this December sale. To start off we have probably one of the most highly sought after Lugers, which is an extremely rare 1902/06 "Georg Luger" Pistol Carbine, (lot 1466). These are extremely rare Lugers as only a handful were actually marked with his intertwined "GL" monogram. This marking was reserved only for Lugers produced under his specific authorization and supervision, clearly indicating this was probably a "One of a Kind" Luger Carbine. Then we have another extremely rare Luger, a 1902 American Eagle "Cartridge Counter" Luger pistol (lot 3512). This series of pistol was ordered by the U.S. Ordnance Dept. for testing and evaluation by the U.S. Army. There were only "50" total of this model produced with many seeing heavy test use with only the later production models surviving in extremely nice condition like the one we have to offer for sale. Next up we have a beautiful, all original first model 1906 Navy Luger rig (lot 1495) that is complete with the original Imperial Navy board stock, holster and accessories. These Imperial Navy Luger rigs are also some of the most sought after and most difficult WWI Lugers to obtain as they were produced in very low numbers and saw heavy use in a salt water environment with most being reworked and shortened after WWI, making their survival rate in original condition, extremely low. Next we have a huge listing of standard WWI Luger pistols and Luger pistol rigs that are in just beautiful condition, such as lot 1471 and lot 3566 being two all-time favorites. These are two original, WWI "First Year" 1914 dated, matching Artillery Luger pistol rigs; one made by the DWM factory and the other by the Erfurt factory. Both are extremely rare and highly collectable, with both examples having original issue Artillery board stocks, holster and magazines. We also have a huge sampling of post WWI Lugers produced during the early Weimar era, pre-Nazi era and then throughout WWII under the Nazi regime.

These include several Weimar police Luger rigs, as well as several of the extremely rare Simson & Company Luger rigs, several with two matching magazines and holsters. These are featured in lot 1472, lot 1486 and lot 3513 as well as other lots. These were all produced in Suhl only in the 1922-1926 time-frame, prior to the Nazi's taking over and confiscating the Simson factory in late 1927-28. Next we have several lots of the Pre-Nazi sneak Military and Police Luger rigs produced in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Next we transitioned into all the various "S/42" Luger rigs produced during WWII to include the Rare early 1934 "K" date Luger rig (lot 1505), several 1935, 1936, 1937 through 1942, all matching Police Luger rigs (including all three Police Proof variations). Then we have all the same years 1933-1942 Military issue Lugers and Luger rigs, as well as several Krieghoff Luger rigs (lots 1469, 1481, 1545, 3520 and 3580) as issued and used by the Luftwaffe.

Rock Island Auction Company is also proud to offer one of the rarest and best condition, late WWII Nazi "People's rifle" that has even been offered for sale anywhere (lot 1498). Brian, a RIAC firearm specialist, says "I have been collecting military weapons memorability for over 40 years and every once in a while something comes into the company that just shocks me, and this is one of those guns. However it still instills the "hunt" in me when I see this stuff and the reason being is that this "Volkssturmgewehr or "Peoples Assault Rifle", has literally been sitting in the veteran's attic since 1945 when he sent it home after WWII. It was a pleasure for me to handle and write up this rifle, just read the description and you will know why." 

In addition to this, Rock Island Auction Company always seems to have a huge selection of WWII k98 sniper rifles, P38 pistols, as well as all the other German military pistols used during WWII.  We cannot encourage you enough to come and see these and many more this November 30th, December 1st and 2nd.  We hope this sampling entices you to visit our online catalog to see the complete collection. This collection will surely meet the needs of collectors at all levels. Our catalog is available online for free, or we can ship you one today, just complete the online order form, call 1-800-238-8022, fax 1-309-797-1655, or e-mail info@rockislandauction.com. We look forward to any inquiries, and hope to see you at the sale!

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