Announcing The Bretherton Collection

Rock Island Auction Company is proud and deeply honored to have been chosen to market at auction the legendary Robert “The Bear” Bretherton Collection. The Robert Bretherton Collection houses European and American automatic pistols, classic European high art arms, American and European sporting rifles and swords, incredible Colt revolvers, Winchester rifles of the West and their competitors, plus combat and prototype arms of the Allied and Axis powers; representing an epic feat in the field of fine arms collecting.  Aside from its tremendous size and high condition are the unforgettable rarities that span more than four centuries of technological advances, design, and craftsmanship. Even with all these tremendous accolades, the most appealing aspect of the collection is its unmistakable freshness, having never been viewed by a single collector in its entirety.

Born in 1925, Robert “The Bear” Bretherton had an insatiable appetite for fine arms even at an early age, acquiring his first gun by his sixth birthday. Over the next 80 years he hunted and pursued fine firearms across the globe on an unprecedented scale. After viewing the collection, President and CEO of Rock Island Auction Company Patrick Hogan commented, “It was quite clear to me even at first glance, the level of scholarship and passion Mr. Bretherton had when building his collection.  He understood rarity and condition, the difference between good and great, and had an obvious adoration for the history behind the firearms, as was exhibited by the collection’s vast range from classical European wheelocks to 20^th century military arms."

 “Having been in this business for nearly 25 years, I have examined collections in almost every state and throughout Europe. In all my experience, I have never encountered a group of arms equal to the supreme quality and quantity as what is represented within the Bretherton Collection.  To say his collection is a lifetime achievement would only be scratching the surface,” said Hogan. “It is simply magnificent.” Many times when a collection of this size is amassed by an individual and that person passes, that collection can fall into neglect.  Thankfully, in this case the caretaker was an outstanding curator who ensured all items were well cared for and cherished.

Rock Island Auction Company is coming off the heels of the most successful year to date for any firearms auction house or firearms division, posting the unprecedented sum of over $51 million in sales for 2015. This cemented their 12^th consecutive year as the world’s number one firearms auction house. “We are extremely proud of what our team was able to do in 2015 and equally thankful to our customers, both consignors and buyers,” said Laurence Thomson, Executive Director of Operations at RIAC. “We have a company culture that is never satisfied with average and pushes to be exceptional each and every year, one auction at a time. Over the last four years we have averaged $48 million annually.  No other firearms auction house has ever hit $40 million! We are beyond excited for 2016 to announce the acquisition of the Bretherton Collection.  It’s an unbelievable opportunity for our firm and for collectors everywhere.”

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.

---

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.

The Life of A Gun Collector, Part III

If you progress to the third and final stage of firearms collecting, you, and your collection, likely have more than a few admirers.  People probably mention to you on a regular basis, “Wow!  That is some collection!”  Or maybe you overhear them calling to a nearby gun buddy to show them one of your guns.  These are all appropriate responses.  The final stage of collecting should come as an immense source of pride.  By this time, a collector or investor has logged countless hours researching, studying, seeking, haggling, bargaining, buying, and selling to achieve something they feel is as close to complete as they can reasonably make it, incorporating the most fascinating elements of their chosen genre.  They've achieved the respect of their peers and of those with similar interests.  Hopefully, they have also acquired a great deal of knowledge not only of the firearms and their prices, but of the history, context, mechanics, key players, and uses of their chosen subject.  

But now what?  You've got this amazing collection of guns that has taken decades to find and assemble, but now what do you do with it?  As luck would have it, experienced collectors have had plenty of time to think about those questions and have some great answers

Education

Most experienced gun collectors, whether it has dawned on them or not, believe that the collections that they have assembled be used for education.  Even those who have yet to make the realization will often talk at length about their given topic, sharing their knowledge with others, and relaying specifics about given firearms and why they are special or desirable.  One could argue that it is simply an ego-boosting activity to tout one’s interests and have it validated by others as interesting or worthwhile, but even if that were the case, they are still educating people about their guns and that is what most collectors believe should happen.

Much like the director of a zoo or the head curator of a museum, the priority of many a collector resides in two places: conservation and education.  A collector cares deeply about preserving the guns that have been collected so that future generations may see them. Collectors, are also concerned about preserving the hobby of gun collecting.   A collector, like a zoo director, also knows that one of the best ways to make sure that guns (and the hobby) are preserved is to educate people about them.  Tell people why something should be conserved and they are much more likely to understand and take up that cause themselves.  All of this is well and good, but almost no gun collectors own their own museums, so how are they to educate people about a subject they appreciate so deeply?  After all, there aren't a whole lot of places one can openly display their firearms.

Gun Shows:  These gatherings are a fantastic way to get the word out on your passion to people who are likely to openly receive it.  The displays made by experienced collectors runs the gamut from guns laying on a table to elaborate and informative displays.  Not only is there often a charge to put a display at a gun show, but there is also the time, money, and effort involved in constructing it, setting it up, and tearing it down again once the show is over.  A person must truly care about their collection and interest to go through all this hassle for little, if any, reward.  Luckily for the rest of us, their decades of dedication have usually established a healthy amount of both passion and a willingness to share it.  Throughout this article will be photos of collectors’ booths that we’ve seen over the last year.

History-Based Groups:  These groups are always interested in the firearms of the period, whether it be military re-enactment groups or a local SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) chapter.  Most participants buy lesser condition models that they can use in re-enactments without worrying about damage.  However, they will ALL appreciate premiere specimens of the arms that fascinate them enough to participate in re-enactments.  Some participants are likely to keep some primo examples at home, ALWAYS appreciate the sharing and learning aspects, and may even consider buying/selling/trading.

“It’s work!  It’s a pain in the ass!  You do a display, it costs you a little money.  Guns get handled, they get touched, they get scratched, but you've got to build the display…It’s not a money maker..I don’t do it for money.  You can’t do it for money. “

Dave C.

Common Questions from Experienced Collectors

Q:  Is my collection complete?

A:  Does it feel complete?  Unless you’re one of a very few of extremely fortunate collectors, you’ll always know that something is missing from your collection.  It could be the most expensive gun in the world, of which only 2 exist, one of which is in a museum, and the other’s whereabouts is unknown, but you know that it’s still missing from your collection.  However, such impossibilities are often easy to brush off as just that:  impossibilities.  The likelihood of obtaining such a rare and expensive gun is so far removed for many collectors than one can often consider their collection complete, or at least as complete as they can reasonably make it.  Reasonable is a funny term to use here because often, over the decades, collectors go to very unreasonable lengths to obtain the guns they need for their collections.  Many collectors will say that, “no collection is ever complete,” but will also recognize that with all the work they have put in it is complete to a point where it can still be a source of pride and enjoyment to the collector and a seemingly impossible dream to the many who behold it.

Q:  Do I sell them?

A:  Eventually someone will.  It could be you and it could be your significant other.  It could also be two generations from now with some member of your progeny who has no interest in firearms and very little sentimental attachment to the collection.  Some collectors never sell and never want the guns to leave the family.  That’s fine.  It took a lot of work to make that collection and some would like to see it maintained even after their death.  It may not always be a realistic request, but it is not an uncommon one.  Some collectors don’t care what happens to it after their death.  They often expect their spouse or other family members to sell it after their death for the best amount of money they can.  These collectors have been known to cite the collector’s adage that, “no one ever really owns a gun.”  Some believe that collectors are merely stewards of the guns while they are alive and it’s their job to maintain and protect them while they can.  Sometimes this protection often involves making sure the gun goes to a good home after they have passed by leaving them to close friends for a discounted price or even at no cost at all.

“I've got people who want some of my guns, I've been listed in wills, and I have people listed in my will.  ‘If I tip over, you call this guy and sell it to this guy for half of the appraised value because I want him to have it.’  People have done it for me.”

-Anon

There is also a group of collectors who use their gun collection as their retirement fund.  This type of collector fully expects to see their guns sell during their lifetime, enjoys having some say in the process, likes to see where their guns go, and also gets to enjoy the fruits of their labor.  They plan on selling these guns as necessary to fund various trips, purchases, and other late life experiences.

“I have always told my wife, “This is our retirement fund… I don’t know if she bought it or not, but she tolerated it.  For years and years when I first started I’d come draggin’ somethin’ in and she’d say, “God, you wasted our money for that?!” …Then all of a sudden, after I sold a few things  and made some money on them, then she realized it was not maybe all crazy.”

-Anon

The final type of collector will often bequeath their collection to a museum.  This type of gesture is thought of as charitable to the museum and a great way to preserve their collection.  After all, who better to preserve historical items than an organization whose business it is to do so?  However, this type of giving has fallen in ill favor with many in the collecting circles.  Unfortunately, museums often lack adequate space to exhibit all the wondrous pieces that they are so generously given.  This results in many of the items being locked away in vaults and various storage areas, away from admiring eyes of collectors, history buffs, and people who would like to own them for a collection.  It also offends the majority of experienced collectors, both those who would like to own the guns and those who feel the guns should be displayed, seen, and used for educational purposes.  They are far and few between who will take some small solace in the knowing that the guns will at least enjoy long, protected lives even if it is in a dark, climate-controlled drawer somewhere.

Q: If I do sell them, when is the right time?

A: Well, collectors don’t hold their guns for all those years to wait and pray on some market bubble that will increase your investment should it appear.  Collectors hold on to their investments for years and maybe even decades to sell them when they want to, if they want to at all!  You sell them when YOU are ready.  Don’t wait for a market boom that probably won’t come.

“Once you’re dead, it won’t matter.  If the family loses money, I’m not gonna know it.  They don’t know what I paid so they won’t know they lost money so they won’t be unhappy.”

-Tom L.

“I've done well, but it doesn't do me any good because I don’t sell very much.  The kids and grandkids are all gonna be well off when I die.  But I’m not planning on selling very much before I die and I’m not planning on dying.”

-Anon

“I tried to buy it and didn't have enough money and it just didn't work out.  I never forgot it.  It’s not one that got away, I just didn't have the money and that’s always the problem.  There’s always one more gun than you can afford.”

Dave C.

As a collector’s life and that of their collection progress together down a briefly shared path they share a lot with one another: shows, friends, and time.  The familiarity that a person might have with their collection is juxtaposed strangely at times with a feeling of being a foreigner in their own time - fleeting instants where one feels as a stranger in the present.   There can be strong feelings that one would be more at home in the original time frame of their collection.  Some may yearn to fight Indians on the great plains on the frontier, others may long to know the experience of the World Wars while remaining ever thankful that they never will, a few dream of that age of enlightenment and discovery before our country was born, and there are those who may just wish they had lived in those simpler times of quiet ranch life as America expanded her borders westward toward the shimmering Pacific expanse.  There are flashes when one knows they have been callously misplaced into an age they could never appreciate as much as the one they have spent their life trying to recapture.  Perhaps that is why so many are drawn to collecting.  It is a tangible way to live, if only for a moment, like those we admire so much; one can share a single experience even though decades or even centuries may have passed in the interim.

Often this dream of recapturing another time and place can become clouded with questions, many of which we've tried to answer in this series of articles.  Many questions will arise in collecting, and some will be much more specific than the ones listed here.  “Should I hand load my .45-70 with 300 grain or 350 grain?” “What year did the rear sight change on this model of rifle?”  and so on.  These questions may be part of a universal experience of collectors everywhere, but they are only the details that often cloud something much grander.  All collectors will have questions arise, but their true universal experience lies in feeling something for another time and place that is not their own.  By inspiring that feeling in another, you've single-handedly ensured the temporary preservation of the hobby and also earned the appreciation of another person who may feel just as misplaced as you do.

“I operate on the theory that we’re only custodians of this.  It’s like real estate.  You don’t own land.  You may tell people, “It’s my land and I can do with it what I want.”  What happens when you die?  What happens to the 8-10,000 people before you that occupied that land and also died?  So I think you oughta leave everything in better shape than when you got it.”

-Dave C.

Click here for Part I

Click here for Part II