Lot 2006: Rare Documented, Winchester 1873 "One of One Thousand" 1st Model

James Stewart was no longer the young actor who played light parts. He was drafted in 1940 and became a pilot and saw many combat missions. After the war he did the westerns we all know. I do not think he could have done them without being exposed to the hardships of the war.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stewart

I have no reason not to trust RIA, and Ian from Forgotten Weapons reviews a ton of their offerings, but the story of how it was acquired doesn't seem to line up with it's condition. But I'm probably wrong. Again. As usual.

I was in the gun business for years and I saw lots of WWII souvenirs that were in similar condition as this. . . especially ones that were issued to pilots and/or staff officers. The pilots who were not shot down never had much opportunity to shoot their weapons. . . nor did staff officers. After the war, I'd say 90% of those returning soldiers were not interested in becoming serious hobby shooters and put their war souvenirs away and did not touch them for years, if ever.

Many of the handguns that were in that category I saw come in were almost like new. A few were so clean they looked unfired. The combat guns weren't beat to hell either, but were just typically used but well cared for.

I don't doubt the provenance of this one at all. I once sold a Singer .45 ACP on consignment back in the early 1970s, and it was pretty damn close to this condition, not as good, but close. The only wear it had was some holster wear. My best recollection is that it went for about $1800 back then, or about five to six times what an excellent condition 1911 was going for at that time .

By the way, there is more provenance documentation on the auction site as well.

That being said, I have written to Rock Island as well as a couple of other gun auctions, and corrected their descriptions of some of the guns they have up for auction when I found something amiss.

Many years ago when I was managing the Old Sacramento Armoury and Simms Hardware's Gun Department, I was qualified by the California Courts as an expert witness for identifying and evaluating and putting values on antique and collectible firearms. I've told the RIA several times that what they have is not what they are describing and they need to look at X because what they have is actually much rarer than what they think and much more valuable if described properly (one, when they identified it properly added over $15K to the estimated and final realized price when the did the research I suggested they do!). . . or alternately, I've twice told them that what they have had been altered from the original and was likely a fake. . . and gave them reasons why I thought so,.

Most times I see the descriptions change and I get a thank you email.

Since I can’t afford any, I would rather have the rifle. But I have to admire the .36 pistol, what amazing workmanship! (yeah, the .45 is amazing).

This is one of my engraved 1849 Colt .31 Caliber Pocket Revolvers:

The trigger guard and back strap are gold plated.

That is simply beautiful. It wouldn’t fit in my pocket though...

the ghost busters show did a session at her mansion-