Milestone Auctions – Spring Premier Firearms 2-Day Auction
Saturday MARCH 22nd & Sunday MARCH 23RD 2025 at 10am
www.milestoneauctions.com
38198 Willoughby Parkway Willoughby, Ohio 44094

WILLOUGHBY, OHIO — Milestone Auctions’ Spring Premier Firearm Auction featuring 1,187 hand-selected lots is a virtual arsenal of antique and vintage productions from the most sought-after American, European and Japanese arms manufacturers. The March 22-23 sale will be conducted live at Milestone’s gallery, with all forms of remote bidding available, including absentee, phone or live via the internet through a choice of bidding platforms.

An overview reveals sporting shotguns and rifles from revered brands, including Winchester, Beretta, Remington, Browning, Parker Brothers, Sako, Ithaca, Marlin, Savage and more. Military weapons traverse a 250-year period starting with the American Revolutionary War era and concluding with the Vietnam War. In between, there are Civil War weapons, guns of the Old West, including a Model 1865 Indian Wars Spencer carbine; and a selection of World War II American and Japanese arms, led by a rare set of four Type 14 Nambu pistols. The timeline concludes with modern handguns, including a coveted 1983 Colt Python/Diamondback Bankers set, plus many engraved Colt, Smith & Wesson and Remington guns. A bonus category, early firearms advertising, is highlighted by a Winchester “Double W” cartridge board ($40/60,000).

Prized Colts from throughout the Connecticut company’s 170-year history will be up for bid. A near-mint Colt Frontier six-shooter revolver, .44-40 WCF, was manufactured in 1878 and is nickel-plated with one-piece walnut grips. According to the accompanying Colt Archive letter, the gun was shipped in March 1878 to Spies Kissam & Co., a New York firm that would order blued guns from Colt and apply nickel directly over them. However, the guns were never buffed or “finished” after the nickeling process. As Milestone’s co-owner Miles King explained, “There was a time during the 1800s when it was very difficult, if not impossible, to order nickel-plated revolvers from Colt. The nickel was more durable and popular, so New York companies like Spies Kissam filled a need by nickeling guns that came to them directly from Colt.”

The auction example is nearly 100 percent bright and retains its original Spies Kissam nickel. Its original panel is etched Colt Frontier Six Shooter, and its serial numbers appear in the proper locations, including the cylinder. A specimen that would be nearly impossible to improve upon, the six-shooter is estimated ($13/17,000).

A Civil War Colt Model 1860 Army revolver, manufactured in 1863, is a .44 caliber gun with an 8-inch barrel. Graded in VG condition, its action works and its bore is shiny and clean ($1,2/1,600).

Strong competition is expected for a 1983 Colt Bankers set that contains a .357 Magnum Python and a Diamondback in .22 long rifle caliber with a six-round capacity. This like-new blued set was special-ordered by the Illinois Bank of Findlay and was made available to customers who invested in a $3,000 6-year certificate of deposit. Both Colt guns come in a wooden display case with factory boxes. The auction lot also includes a small plaque and pin, which were given as a thank-you to customers during the wait time for the set’s delivery ($8/12,000).

The auction also includes many Colt firearms embellished with the work of noted engravers. A third-generation Colt .45 single-action Army revolver, manufactured in 1982, was enhanced the following year by Master Engraver Howard Dove. It is distinguished for being the first SAA Dove ever engraved and is signed “Howard M. Dove Engr” under the right side of the grip. The gun’s metal is 99 percent, with no signs of use. Its accompanying Colt factory letter confirms that the engraving was executed per a factory work order. Presented in a French fitted wood case with a green interior, it is estimated at $6/9,000.

John Pease was the artist who engraved a Colt Government Model 1911 .45 ACP pistol entered in the sale. It is in 100 percent condition and shows no sign of ever having been fired. This modern gun was purchased by Pease himself, who decorated it in a well-executed scroll with a punch-dot background. It is signed “John K. Pease Engr” and comes with its factory blue box and paperwork ($6/8,000).

Moving into the World War II category, a highlight is a rare set of Japanese Type 14 pistols, chambered 8x22mm Nambu. Said Miles King, “One pistol was issued per month between January and June of 1945, culminating in a complete set.” Their design was influenced by, and uses the same type of locking mechanism as, the Mauser C96. Condition-wise, the metal is 95 percent with bright bores, and the grips are excellent ($10/15,000).

A bonus section of the sale is devoted to antique and vintage firearms-related advertising. Highlights include an original Remington/DuPont gallery cloth promoting Kleanbore .22 cartridges ($2,5/3,500); and a framed circa-1907 Winchester lithographed artwork by HR Poore titled Bear Dogs ($1,5/3,000). The star of the grouping is the above-mentioned Winchester Repeating Arms “Double W” cartridge advertising board. This rarity originated with Wilson Hardware Co., Eaton, Ohio, a firm that has been in business since 1867. The board was sent by Winchester in 1897 for display at Wilson’s, where it was kept for more than 120 years.

Milestone’s gallery is at 38198 Willoughby Parkway, For information, 440-527-8060 or www.milestoneauctions.com

A spectacular two-day auction with numerous museum quality items.
We are offering a vast arry of sporting shotguns and rifles from all the major makers to include Winchester, Beretta, Remington, Browning, Parker Brothers, Sako, Ithaca, Marlin, Savage & more.
A vast offering of military weapons dating from the Rev War through Viet Nam including Colt 1911 US Navy, Ohio Bar, Cambodian M66 French Mac w/bringback papers, lend-lease M1 Grand, European and Nazi arms along with numerous Colt 1911-A1’s, Lugers, Sauer, Walther, Radom’s, Japanese, Rock Island, and loaded with Civil War weapons of all makes, etc.
Numerous American handguns to include engraved Colts, Smith & Wesson, Remington, and others.
Western era highlights include very fine Spencer, Colt Python/Diamondback bankers set 1983, Sabatti the Big Five Edition, Colt 1900 sight safety, engraved single action by Howard Dove, US Colt Artillery Single Action Army Lettered, J.M. Marlin Ballard A-1, 4 1/2 mid-range rifle, rare blue Colt Viper & more.
We have some great early gun advertising to include one of the finest known double w/ bullet boards, Remington Kleanbore Gallery cloth, Winchester bear dogs paper litho & more.
MILESTONE AUCTIONS IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR QUALITY CONSIGNMENTS! ONE PIECE OR ENTIRE COLLECTIONS!! CALL 440-527-8060 FOR DETAILS
Full catalog & live bidding available thru www.milestoneauctions.com | Live Auctioneers | Invaluable | Proxibid Phone bids & absentee bids call (440) 527-8060 MILESTONE AUCTIONS GALLERY 38198 Willoughby Parkway Willoughby, Ohio 44094 (440) 527-8060 | milestoneauctions@yahoo.com | Auctioneer: Miles King Buyer’s Premium: 20% Online | 17% In-house | 3% Added for Credit Card Payments