Rare Parker Brothers A1 Special Shotgun Sells for $70,200 at Auction
OutdoorHub 11.19.12
The 330-lot Antique Arms & Armor and Sporting Guns auction at Bonhams, November 12, brought a successful $634,280, led by the $70,200 sale of a rare Parker Brothers A1 Special shotgun two barrel set, whose pre-sale estimate was $60,000-80,000.
Leading lots of the auction continued with a fine cased Gustave Young engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver, sold for $35,100 (est. $30,000-40,000). Factory engraved Colt Model percussion revolvers sold well in the sale, exampled by a cased 1860 Army revolver, sold for $12,870 (est. $10,000-15,000); an 1861 Navy revolver, sold for $9,360 (est. $3,000-5,000); an 1851 Navy revolver, sold for $7,605 (est. $4,000-6,000); and an 1860 Army revolver, sold for $5,616 (est. $3,000-5,000).
Of particular interest in the auction was an important, previously undocumented, American full stock flintlock rifle by Frederick Sell, circa 1810-1820, sold for $25,740. Frederick Sell (1781-1869) of Littlestown, Pa., is widely regarded as one of the finest and most important of Pennsylvania rifle makers.
Strong hammer prices continued for a cased pair of 12 gage self-opening sidelock ejector guns by James Purdey & Sons, circa 1906, sold for $23,400 (est. $20,000-30,000).
Edged weapon sales of note included a rare coffin hilt bowie knife by Gravely & Wreaks, sold for $25,740 (est. $10,000-15,000); an Indian katar of the 18th century, sold for $4,446 (est. $600-1,000); a silver-mounted Ottoman shamshir of the 18th or early 19th century, sold for $3,744 (est. $1,500-2,500); a Civil War officer’s presentation saber with a very rare telescopic scabbard, sold for $3,510 (est. $3,000-5,000); a scarce Irish flank officer’s lion pommel short saber, sold for $2,574 (est. $2,000-3,000); and a fine American Eagle pommel naval officer’s sword, sold for $2,340 (est. $2,000-3,000).
Armor, too, sold well in the auction, exampled by the sales of black and white three-quarter armor from the second half of the 16th century, sold for $23,400 (est. $18,000-22,000) and a fine, 19th century full suit of armor in early 16th century style, sold for $21,060 (est. $20,000-30,000).
Rounding out the sale was a US Remington Model 1865 Navy rolling block pistol, sold for $7,605 (est. $2,000-3,000); a Model 1842 Palmetto Armory percussion musket with Confederate linen sling, sold for $5,850 (est. $2,000-4,000); and a a 16 gage DHE Grade Parker Brothers boxlock ejector shotgun, sold for $5,616 (est. $3,000-5,000).
