WILLOUGHBY, OHIO.- Superlatives flow easily when perusing the fantastic array of antique and vintage productions in Milestone’s March 21-22, 2026 Premier Firearms Auction. The 1,158-lot sale is loaded with top-shelf guns from the most highly regarded American, European and Japanese arms manufacturers. But over and above their scarcity, the firearms chosen for the auction lineup carry historical significance from having been used by war heroes, lawmen, and intelligence agents over a timeline of 140+ years. The live gallery event, with all forms of remote bidding available, spans all of the most popular collecting categories, including World War II, BATF-NFA, Nazi, Civil War, Old West, sporting, and more.

An extraordinary weapon that saw hazardous duty in World War II is the Union Switch & Signal 1911A1 .45 ACP pistol that was issued to, and carried by, Texas-born US Navy ace fighter pilot Commander Ed “Wendy” Wendorf (1922-2013). Manufactured in 1943, the gun comes with its original duty holster bearing Wendorf’s name and unit number, a 1976 dated letter from Wendorf to the former owner, and two autographed original photographs that comes with the letter. It is also accompanied by a signed and Beckett-certified picture of Wendorf in his Hellcat (Grumman F6F) showing the wound he sustained over his eye, and a detailed signature card which is PSA/DNA certified. Wendorf had six confirmed aerial victories during WWII: four Japanese “Zeros,” one Betty Bomber and one unidentified bomber. After a heroic December 4, 1943 mission (extensively detailed in Milestone’s auction catalog), more than 220 bullet holes were reportedly found in Wendorf’s Hellcat #13. The plane was later used as an exhibit during war bond drives. Offered with unimpeachable provenance, this unique museum-quality archive is estimated at $15,000-$25,000.

From the pre-WWI era, an ultra-rare Savage Model 1907 (manufactured in 1907) 45 ACP Trials Pistol is of a type produced to compete against the Colt M1911 in the US military pistol test trials. One of only 288 produced, the gun was sent back to Savage after they lost out on the contract, and its design was reworked for commercial sales. During that process, the original Savage markings on the slide rib were removed. The auction example is one of only six known that retain their original slide markings. It comes with a correct reproduction holster as seen in the trials. The metal is 90%, with light thinning from age. The bore is very lightly frosted with strong rifling, and the grips and holster are excellent. It operates normally. Auction estimate: $15,000-$20,000



A 1st Generation Colt .45 Single Action Army was manufactured in 1928. It has a 5½-inch barrel, the original nickel finish, and factory ivory grips. “This gun displays a highly sought-after configuration and is in exceptional condition. You can bet it won’t be overlooked by Colt collectors,” said Miles King, co-owner of Milestone Auctions. The coveted revolver retains nearly all of the original untouched and mellow nickel finish, with only the slightest bit of loss on the left side of the muzzle, one tiny bubble on the right side of the hammer, and a small flake on one cylinder flute. The bore is near-mint, the cylinder chambers are perfect, and the mechanical working order appears flawless. Aesthetically, it’s beautiful, with no chips, cracks or repairs. A truly special and untouched original-nickel Single Action Army, it could easily set the high-water mark in any collection. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000



German craftsmanship and exquisite artistry join forces to impress antique gun aficionados in the form of a fine, engraved blue steel C Giessel (Wessenberg, Germany) Double Rifle manufactured in 1885 in 11.4 x 51 caliber (lead bullets only). It features elegant wildlife engravings on its receiver following all the way back to the butt plate, with a European coin finish and tinted background. The deluxe walnut stock meets fine line checkering, and an ever-watchful lion’s head on the pistol grip seems to gaze back with a yellow eye. Light gold leaf enhancements highlight a checkered rib design on the barrels, and a U-notch rear meets a silver bead front sight to provide an excellent sight picture in the field. A custom horn side lever is mounted under the forearm. The metal on this gun is 90%, with bright bores. The barrels were rechambered at some point to 45/70 government. The rifle operates normally and bears Serial Number N S N. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000



An impressive participant in Utah law-enforcement during the World War II period, a Smith & Wesson .357 Registered Magnum with a 6½-inch barrel was manufactured in 1937 and was one of only nine shipped on August 26,1938 to the Utah Highway Patrol. It retains its original bright blue finish and has numbers-matching checkered walnut silver-medallion magna grips. In addition to having been in the one-of-nine shipment, this gun was presented to Utah Attorney General Grover A Giles when he took office in 1942. Documentation is included from the family of AG Giles detailing its interesting Utah-specific history. In excellent all-original condition, it retains about 95% of the original bright blue finish. The bore and cylinder chambers are excellent, and the gun’s mechanical working order is flawless. It is housed in a Smith & Wesson Type I blue picture box together with a “caution” flyer, tissue wrap and cleaning brush. Estimate: $7,500-$9,500



Another great Smith & Wesson .357 Registered Magnum, this one having a 6-inch barrel, was manufactured in 1935 and is accompanied by a factory letter confirming the configuration and detailing its original shipment on October 23, 1935 to the Union Hardware & Metal Company in Los Angeles, California. It retains 97% its original bright blue finish, and has checkered walnut silver-medallion service grips with a grip adapter and Partridge front sight blade. The bore and cylinder chambers are mint, and its mechanical working order is flawless. Housed in a medium Smith & Wesson Type II blue picture box with tissue wrap and a twisted wire cleaning brush, its estimate is $6,500-$8,500.



Manufactured in 1955, a rare Colt pre-Model 26 Smith & Wesson is one of only 200 of this model ever to be chambered in .45 Colt. A copy of the original sales invoice is included and confirms that this gun was part of a special-order shipment on September 8, 1954 to Rex Firearms in New York City. A fantastic and highly sought-after 1950 Model 45 Target equipped with a 6½-inch barrel, it retains its original satin blue finish and has numbers-matching checkered walnut diamond magna grips. This gun is in absolutely mint condition in its original maroon two-piece box with a “Helpful Hints” brochure and unused tool kit. Estimate: $6,000-$8,000



Another incredible investment-grade firearm worthy of special mention is the only known surviving example in private hands from a group of 10 Browning Hi-Power 9mm test samples built for the Israeli military in 1968. A stock/holster combination, it retains its original blue finish and tangent sight. The slide and holster both display an Israeli cartouche of the Star of David and a Hebrew inscription. This fantastic weapon was previously owned and brought to the United States by a former Mossad Agent whose identity can be shared with the winning bidder. There are no import marks. A unique Hi-Power with superb original stock, mint bore and supple leather, it is in flawless mechanical working order. Estimate: $5,000-$7,000

Milestone’s March 21-22, 2026 Premier Firearms Auction will be held live 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, Invaluable or AuctionZip. For additional information on any item in the auction, call 440-527-8060 or email info@milestoneauctions.com. Online: www.milestoneauctions.com