Posted on 05/14/2016 2:17:33 PM PDT by jazusamo
It has a fine walnut stock, a blue finish and a very simple inscription that reads “Albee to Lawton.” But this 19th-century rifle has become the most expensive single firearm ever sold at auction according to the Rock Island Auction Company, which recently sent the historic piece to a new destiny with an undisclosed buyer. The price: $1,265,000.
“Other guns have sold higher as a pair, but no other single firearm surpasses this new world record. It was an honor to be entrusted with an American treasure,” said Kevin Hogan, president of the Illinois-based company.
The rifle itself was a gift from one Congressional Medal of Honor winner to another. U.S. Army Captain Henry Ware Lawton and Lieutenant George E. Albee had been brothers-in-arms during the Civil War. The former continued his military career and saw combat in the Indian Wars, the Spanish American War and the Philippine American War. The latter went to work as a designer for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
After Lawton led a grueling but successful expedition which resulted in the capture and surrender of Apache leader Geronimo is 1886, his old friend was inspired to find a suitable recognition for the deed. His choice? The “Winchester Model 1886 Sporting Rifle (serial number 1)” which he obtained by virtue of his standing in the company. The gun survived in excellent condition.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I just spent an hour and half on your link about the ‘32 Askins Super. Epic thread. Thanks.
I had one of the rarest of the original production 1886 Winchesters in my collection. It was one of only about 100 made: an 1886 Winchester Saddle Ring Carbine. The one I had was one of the few that was made in .45-70, probably less than 25 produced. It had most of the original bluing on the barrel and hardware, and still bright case hardening on the frame.
The State of California brought it into Simms' Hardware when I worked there when they had confiscated it from the estate of someone who had been committed to the State Hospital. They literally brought a whole bunch of long guns into the store in a shopping cart and I spotted it. I normally would have done the appraisal and purchase but I wanted that gun so I had the store owner do the purchase so I would have an arms length involvement. I bought it for my store discount at $175 after he bought it. I would have paid a heck of a lot more for it back then! The store owner OK'ed my purchase.
I sold it several years later for around $5,000. I wish I still had it. It would probably be worth around $75,000 today.
One of the other guns I had in my collection was another saddle ring carbine, and very rare just as a gun. It was a Winchester 1876 saddle ring carbine.
I had been at a gun show at an elementary school off of Cottage Lane in Sacramento in the mid-seventies and a fellow there said he had an old Winchester 1873 rifle he'd inherited from his uncle he wanted to sell that was just like one I had on my table. I said let me look at it. He said he didn't have it with him but he was at his house down in Bakersfield. I asked him what he wanted for it. He said $35. I said "Sold! Ship it to me." I pulled two twenties out of my pocket, gave him my address, shook his hand, and he walked away. My dad said "You're insane! He just walked off with $40 of your money and you'll never hear from him again!"
I said, "You're probably right, dad. I don't know what came over me."
Two weeks later, a long package arrived from UPS. . . In it was a Winchester, but it wasn't an 1873, nor was it a rifle. It was the 1876 saddle ring carbine, one of the rarest and most desirable collector guns for a Winchester collector. . . And one of the hardest to ever find. My dad said, "Damn, I don''t believe it!"
It was in pretty good shape, with a good amount of original bluing, the top cover still there and some case hardening still showing. I gave it to my dad to look over and he was inspecting it and he suddenly WHISTLED LOUD! "Would you Look at that!" and handed it back to me and pointed at the serial number. It was serial number 76!
My grandfather on my mother’s side served in the P.I. during the Insurrection and named his son after General Lawton.
It’s a great thread, wanders a bit but very good.
Before the internet, I liked going to Gun Shows, many displays of very rare one of a kind fire arms that I could see up close.
Restoration, unless done by someone like Flynn or Doug Turnbull usually decreases the value of a collectible gun. In this case, it’s a plain jane Superposed that has a history which makes it desirable. That’s an intangible.
Kyle’s American GUN,
Rereading it as I type this response,
Excellent book!
ping
“... True, the .45 so called “Long Colt” is easier to reload but blowback into the action causing powder fouling when using black powder is a real problem. The original 44-40 bottle neck black powder round doesn’t have that problem.”
The 45 Colt revolver cartridge as originally configured had almost no rim: unimportant for functioning, as it was chambered only in rod-ejector revolvers.
Its spare rim and straight walls made for poor functioning in repeating rifles like Winchester’s M1873. The 44-40, 38-40, and 32-20 all sport generous rims, tapered walls, and very slight bottlenecks: created more reliable extraction especially when rifle chambers got dirty (a quick occurrence in rifles firing cartridges charged with black powder).
When the US War Dept adopted Colt’s New Service revolver as the M1909, the 45 Colt round had to have its rim enlarged, to allow the ejector star to catch. It was found the rims of the new case interfered with each other in the smaller diameter cylinder of the M1873 Single Action Army revolver (still in armory storage after being declared obsolete in 1892): reduced the arm to a three-shooter, as only every other chamber could be loaded.
Reloading 44-40, 38-40, and 32-20 is an exercise in frustration. Paper-thin necks, spare shoulders, and wall taper demand the lightest touch. Even then, many cases crumple at one stage or another.
Pretty good review of the Uberti.
http://www.ammoland.com/2015/02/uberti-3-guns-44-40-rifle-and-revolvers-review/#axzz48mnhNoi4
For long term value I would think the Winchester would be the better choice, but even the Winchester is not made in America anymore.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_uberti_win_1873_rifles.htm
I read your post in full - it was your derision of all NY’ers that I was commenting on
As I remember, I was responding to someone calling himself "TexasFreeper" who said that he wouldn't pay $10 for an 1886 Winchester (which is idiotic for an alleged Texan), hence my comment suggesting that he wasn't from Texas - more than likely New York which is not exactly a haven for western rifles - or much else, given the governments you folks keep electing. SAFE Act, anyone?
In future, suggest that you make your counterposts clearer; i.e.: "How dare you insult the Glorious State of New York, Sir!!" and further recommend that you avoid "get stuffed" towards people like me who, you in your wildest dreams would avoid trying that to. That, and I hate homosexual allusions, capiche?
On top of that you seem to cast aspersion, not only regarding New Yorkers affinity for lever guns, but Texasfreepers sensibilities for not caring for "western" rifles....BFD to each his own
next time have the texas beans to ping the guy you are talking about
I’ll be sure to ping you each and every time.
that would be great, noob
“My brother has his old side-by-side Damascus barrel with the exposed hammers. Some English name on it.”
Have that one appraised and insured. It may well be quite valuable.
L
“Noob”? Obnoxious little character, aren’t you?
Hope they don’t add you to Tourism in New York brochure any time soon.
P.S.; If you’re going to use quasi-homosexual terms like “pound sand”, expect a reaction. Also, recommend that you change your handle from a Bible verse - inappropriate if you’re going to have a potty mouth. Gives a bad example.
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