Prime heaps: factory-engraved Colt 1911A1, $102K; authentic Thompson Ramo Woodridge (TRW) M1-14 machine gun, $88,560; WWII German MG42 machine gun, $84K; 1628 cannon, $61,660
DENVER, Pa. – At Morphy’s September Sep 11, 2025 Firearms & Militaria Public sale, a number of the most interesting and most essential firearms ever to look for public sale flew previous their excessive estimates to land within the fingers of elated new homeowners. The 1,285-lot collection of vintage and trendy rifles, shotguns, handguns, and Absolutely Transferable NFA-registered machine weapons and equipment surpassed all expectations to gross greater than $7.5 million, inclusive of purchaser’s premium.
Uncommon Firearm Legacy offered at Morphy’s Firearms Public sale
The highest lot of the sale was a fresh-to-the-market factory-engraved Colt 1911A1 .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol accompanied by a Colt Archives letter. It was initially shipped to Tritch {Hardware} of Denver, Colorado, on October 16, 1925 as a cargo of 1. Its options included a half-moon entrance sight, U-notch flat-top rear sight, checkered spurred hammer, lengthy A1 grip security, arched mainspring housing with lanyard loop, and easy ivory grips that have been replacements from barely after the interval. These grips have been signed on the inside: F L Belmay / 1948. The engraving and patterns appeared according to signed examples from William Gough or his workshop. In Wonderful situation, the pistol commanded $102,000 in opposition to an estimate of $40,000-$60,000.
The marketplace for NFA firearms has proven no indicators of cooling down, and entries in Morphy’s September occasion validated that pattern. One of many high performers was an especially scarce authentic Thompson Ramo Woodridge (TRW) M1-14 select-fire machine gun in distinctive situation with an authentic TRW-marked bolt. Its receiver was stamped U.S. RIFLE/ 7.65MM M14 over a TRW triangular emblem above the serial quantity 612891, and it was geared up with extremely fascinating walnut USGI E2 inventory, with a pistol grip, bipod, authentic sling, sling loop, muzzle brake, and one journal. It conveyed with an extra commonplace USGI authentic buttstock with the correct Division of Protection eagle-and-stars marking. Estimated at $35,000-$50,000, it soared to $88,560.
Following intently behind was an all-original Absolutely Transferable Maget World Battle II German MG42 full-auto-only machine gun dated 1943. Its bolt head was marked dfb however didn’t present a serial quantity. Likewise, the barrel was not serial-numbered however bore its authentic cra mark. The highest cowl was Nazi-marked cof with Nazi Eagle proofs. The buttstock was clearly marked hvg 43 however didn’t have retrofitted reinforcement wire, suggesting the gun was captured in fight earlier than this retrofit was absolutely carried out. A nice specimen, it offered for $84,000 in opposition to an estimate of $50,000-$70,000.
An impressive set of 5 circa-1980 small-bore Francotte (Belgium) side-by-side ejector recreation shotguns with nominal 28-inch chopper lump barrels got here full with particular person maroon canvas circumstances, every bearing the maker’s label. Every of the weapons had an engraved skeleton butt plate, checkered wooden, a mechanical single set off on a sideplated boxlock motion with sideclips, and Belgian proof marks. Additionally, every was gold-inlaid SAFE forward of a small button-style security catch. The barrels have been marked AUG FRANCOTTE BREVETE A LIEGE and MADE IN BELGIUM FOR BINGHAM LTD ATLANTA GEORGIA USA, with the serial quantity engraved on the underside strap. This very enticing set offered for $78,000 in opposition to a $40,000-$60,000 estimate.
The earliest of all public sale highlights, by far, was a 1628-dated Dutch West India Firm bronze cannon measuring 88 inches from muzzle to cascabel. Its 5-inch bore opened up towards the muzzle, indicating it was a “drake” – a light-weight tapered-chamber design that was favored by the British Navy. The cannon’s bronze building additional validated that it was seemingly a naval gun. Embossed with ornamental moldings all through and, importantly, embossed with the monogram of the West India Firm and the letters G and O for Groningen and Ommelanden over the chamber, it additionally had a secondary band forward of the cascabel marked SICKMANS, for producer Nicolaes Sickmans. Found outdoors of UK waters, its marked date helps the chance that it might have come from a ship used for what was basically authorized piracy. At public sale, it sailed to $61,660 in opposition to an estimate of $12,000-$18,000.
A historic treasure of the American Outdated West, a silver-plated Colt .45 Single Motion Military Revolver was offered to Territorial Mounted Policeman Apolonio A Sena in 1911 by residents of Las Vegas, New Mexico, in gratitude for his function in capturing kidnappers of two-year-old boy. It was shipped on Might 25, 1911 to Simmons {Hardware} Co., St. Louis, Missouri, for the Gross-Kelly Firm in Las Vegas, who commissioned the gun. Its inscription learn: PRESENTED TO A A SENA BY CITZENS OF LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO. The gun was accompanied by a briefcase containing manufacturing facility letters, copies of related newspaper articles, books, and different literature. Its line of provenance included Charles Schriner and the gathering of the Y O Ranch, in Kerrville, Texas. It offered inside its estimate vary for $56,580.
A Japanese (Edo Interval, 1603-1867) three-barrel, swivel-breech .40 smoothbore palanquin matchlock pistol, equal to a Western coach gun, was almost similar to 2 examples proven in Stone’s Glossary which have been donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork in New York. Morphy’s firearms knowledgeable famous within the catalog description that he’s conscious of fewer than 5 different weapons of this kind over and above these depicted in Stone’s Glossary. Such weapons are just about unknown outdoors of establishments. The public sale instance, in mechanically nice situation, offered for $26,400 in opposition to an estimate of $10,000-$20,000.
All collectors of outdoorsmen’s edged weapons know the identify Invoice Scagel (1873-1963). Scagel was a Michigan bladesmith and knifemaker whose fashion had a profound influence on the cutlery commerce, influencing it for greater than a century. At their September public sale, Morphy’s supplied a scarce handcrafted Invoice Scagel hatchet or camp axe that displayed the maker’s famend Kris stamps and W SCAGEL / HANDMADE in small lettering on the reverse cheek. The 12 7/8-inch hatchet had a big, distinctive pommel that was created from a shaved antler. The piece had been obtained at Scagel’s property by John Gordon Breland, a retired Muskegon, Michigan policeman who did carpentry jobs for Scagel, together with the growth of his house/workshop. A lifelong hunter, Breland acquired the hatchet from accessible inventory at Scagel’s premises. Along with its leather-based scabbard, it offered for $20,400 in opposition to an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.
The firearms promoting class was led by a fascinating Winchester Repeating Arms Co., Double-W cartridge board. Of a sort that Winchester distributed to sellers round 1897, it was numbered 245 on verso. The show itself included 200 shells, 13 bullets and 9 primer tins in a pretty association. It handily exceeded its $20,000-$30,000 estimate to settle at $41,820.
To debate consigning a set or a person merchandise to a future Firearms & Militaria Public sale at Morphy’s, please name Dan Morphy personally at 877-968-8880 or e mail [email protected]. All discussions are stored strictly confidential and there may be by no means an obligation to consign. On-line: www.morphyauctions.com.
All photos courtesy of Morphy Auctions
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