WILLOUGHBY, OHIO.- Milestone’s Spring 2025 Premier Firearms Auction featuring 1,187 hand-selected lots is a virtual arsenal of fine-quality antique and vintage productions from the most sought-after American, European and Japanese arms manufacturers. The March 22-23 sale will be held live at Milestone’s suburban-Cleveland 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 very fine Model 1865 Indian Wars Spencer Carbine; and an impressive selection of World War II American, Nazi German, and Japanese arms, led by a very 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 fantastic Winchester “Double W” cartridge board estimated at $40,000-$60,000.
Prized Colts from throughout the legendary 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 respected 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.”
In excellent overall condition, the auction example is nearly 100% bright and retains its original Spies Kissam nickel. Its near-mint original panel is etched Colt Frontier Six Shooter, and its serial numbers appear in the proper locations, including the cylinder. A stellar specimen that would be nearly impossible to improve upon, the Six-Shooter is estimated at $13,000-$17,000.
A Civil War Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver, manufactured in 1863, is a .44 caliber gun with an 8-inch barrel. It is serial-numbered 90850, with matching numbers on the bottom of revolver and cylinder. Colt’s single-line New York address is shown on the barrel. Graded in VG condition, its action works and its bore is shiny and clean. Estimate: $1,200-$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 are serial-numbered and come in a wooden display case with factory boxes that display matching serial numbers. 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. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000
The auction also includes many Colt firearms beautifully 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%, 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 an attractive green interior, it is estimated at $6,000-$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% 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. Estimate: $6,000-$8,000
Moving into the World War II category, one of the special highlights is a rare set of Japanese Type 14 pistols, chambered 8x22mm Nambu. As explained by 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% with bright bores, and the grips are excellent. Each pistol is serial-numbered. The pre-sale estimate for this extremely desirable set is $10,000-$15,000.
A very rare and early 1934 “Sub-Variation #1” Mauser P.08 Luger semi-automatic pistol bears the serial number 262 and has a K-date and S/42 code. The K-date series represents the first true German Nazi/Army-contract Luger pistols manufactured for the military. They are of a type that saw extensive service in the early days of the Nazi Regime and subsequently on the Eastern Front, where thousands of these weapons were lost to the Russians. Sub-Variation 1s were serial numbered 1-1700 of an estimated total of 10,930 K-date Luger pistols actually produced. The chamber area of the gun bears the standard-script “K” mark, the secret wartime code associated with Nazi Germany. It is stamped with a correct early script-S proof, double-boxed O/37 acceptance proofs, and an early Mauser eagle firing proof. The metal is 98%, with a bright bore with crisp rifling; and the wood checkered grips are excellent. Estimate: $9,000-$12,000
Manufactured in late 1940, a Walther PPK 32 ACP caliber Police Model pistol is marked Walther and has a two-line address with the caliber Mod PPK on the left side of the slide. Also, an “eagle over a swastika C” appears on the left side of the frame. This pistol comes with its correct serial-numbered factory box plus a manual and cleaning kit. Its metal is 98% with a bright bore, and its grips are excellent. Estimate: $4,500-$5,500
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, $2,500-$3,500; and a framed circa-1907 Winchester lithographed artwork by HR Poore titled Bear Dogs, $1,500-$3,000. The star of the grouping is the finest of all known examples of a Winchester Repeating Arms “Double W” cartridge advertising board. This fabulous rarity originated with Wilson Hardware Co., East Main Street, 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. In original, unrestored condition, it underwent a painstaking professional cleaning, with every measure taken to ensure retention of the original patina on the board and its affixed shells. Estimate: $40,000-$60,000
Milestone’s March 22-23, 2025 Premier Firearms Auction will be held at Milestone’s gallery located at 38198 Willoughby Parkway, Willoughby (suburban Cleveland), OH 44094. Start time: 10 a.m. ET on both days. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through
Milestone’s own bidding platform, LiveAuctioneers, Proxibid, or Invaluable. For additional information on any item in the auction, call 440-527-8060 or email info@milestoneauctions.com. Online:
www.milestoneauctions.com
