The auction of fine antique and collectible firearms on November 14-16 at Greg Martin Auctions demonstrated strong sales. During three days of nonstop selling, more than 3,400 lots went on the auction block at the company’s San Francisco gallery. When the bidding was over, total sales exceeded $4.6 million. The auction showcased a vast array of products supported by three catalogs. These included important antique and collectible firearms; the estate arms collections; and Remington Arms collections, featuring the estates of Leon Wier, Richard C. Gooding and Bud Hebditch. The sale also launched Greg Martin Auctions’ Native American department, headed by industry veteran and Indian art expert Russell Kloer. To initiate this new department, Greg Martin Auctions presented the collection of Adam Fortunate Eagle Nordwall, a longtime Indian activist, artist and collector, well known in the Bay Area and beyond for his leadership on behalf of Indian rights. Fortunate Eagle led the 19-month Indian occupation of Alcatraz, which began in mid-November 1969. His collection of Indian items and his return to the Bay Area from his present home on the Paiute-Shoshone Indian reservation in Fallon, Nev., attracted a great deal of regional media attention. Principal Greg Martin said that the three-day event was on track with the company’s goals and went as expected. “Three thousand lots were sold over three days, which, we believe, echoes the resilience of the gun market and its continuing strength for collectors,” said Martin. Highlights of the sale included a Winchester Model 1866deluxe lever-action rifle with gold-washed finish and deep reliefengraving by Conrad Ulrich, one of the Nineteenth Century’s masterfirearm engravers. This rare and important firearm inscribed toMexican General Fidencio Hernandez realized $181,600. A fine cased Colt Model 1851 small trigger guard Navy revolver with accessories well exceeded its auction estimate of $45/55,000 to bring $65,406. The .36 caliber, 6-shot cylinder features a naval engagement roll scene. Finishing at $59,587 was a very rare iron frame Henry repeating rifle, one of only 200 made and one of only a handful that survive. Used in the Civil War, the Henry rifle is considered the “father of the Winchester.” A historic Holland & Holland royal grade double-barrel Nitro Express rifle used by big game hunter, adventurer and author A.S. Mather in 1907-1908 when he circumnavigated the globe far exceeded its $20/30,000 estimate to fetch $56,750. Amasa Mather was a nephew of John Hay, secretary of state for President Theodore Roosevelt. A .600 bore double rifle by Marcel Thys and Sons, engraved by Belgian Philippe Grifnee, one of Europe’s master engravers, went out at $53, 912. A rare and historic Colt belt model Paterson revolverassociated with the “Caroline Affair” (1837-1842) brought$51,075. The incident began on the US side of the Niagara Rivernear Buffalo, N.Y., when Canadian loyalists seized and burned anAmerican steamer, Caroline, then sent her over the falls,killing one American. The ship had been leased to run supplies toCanadian rebels seeking a more democratic government. The incidentstrained US-Canada relations for several years. A deluxe factory engraved Winchester 1895 owned by Zane Grey (1872-1939), the prolific writer and pioneer of the Western genre, sold for $45,400. Other highlights included a fine Colt single-action revolver, documented to showman and entrepreneur William “Pawnee Bill” Lillie (1860-1942), whose Wild West show toured the world for more than 30 years, $19,295; a fine Spontoon Tomahawk with faceted bowl, the shaft featuring five bands of brass tacks, each band decorated with burns from a heated file, $15, 890; and Plains pipe and stem by Fortunate Eagle, circa 1965, with T-form catlinite bowl inscribed on the base “Alcatraz/ Nov. 1969,” $5,675. Prices reported include 131/2 percent buyer’s premium. The first of two sales of the J. Robert Howard collection is scheduled for April 24. The collection includes the best examples of a variety of American antique firearms. Martin predicts that the event, which will feature more than 1,650 firearms, will be “the sale of the decade.” Greg Martin Auctions spring auction of fine antique and collectible firearms is planned for June 19-21. For information, 800-509-1988 or www.gregmartinauctions.com.
10 Jan 2006 / 0 Comment
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