Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.
If you have questions please email firearms@jamesdjulia.com.
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1158
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$920.00 |
U.S. SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1888 ROD BAYONET RIFLE.SN 503721. Cal. 45-70. 32″ bbl, Blue and case color finish, Straight grain American walnut stock, Buffington rear sight. Bbl shows “V. P.” and eagle-head proof at breech. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 90% blue drifting slightly to a plum patina, some slight scratches about 3″ from muzzle on top of bbl and some slight muzzle wear. Bore is bright with strong rifling. Bayonet catch shows 90% blue. Rod bayonet shows 50% blue with some rust stains. Bbl bands show 60% blue with slight plumming. Rear sight is very good. Receiver shows 60% dull gray finish. Tang shows vivid case color. Breechblock shows vivid case color in protected areas with some staining on top. Breech is marked “US Model 1884”. Lock and hammer show muted gray case hardening. Eagle is very fine on lock. Trigger guard shows 90% blue with some thinning and high point wear. Stock has been lightly sanded and varnished. 1890 cartouche is still visible on left side, and circle P is visible behind trigger guard. Buttplate shows 50% dull gray with high point wear and stains on heel and toe. A nice honest Trapdoor Springfield. The last of the US Single Shot big caliber black powder long arms. 49527-11 TEP C&R (750-1,250) – Lot 1158 |
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2459
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$21,275.00 |
RARE FORT GRIFFIN TEXAS SHIPPED SHARPS MODEL 1874 HEAVY BUFFALO RIFLE IDENTIFIED TO R C GUIRE, DEPUTY AND VIGILANTE.SN 160306. Cal. 45. True “Camp Gun” buffalo rifle with 30″ heavy oct bbl, orig Sharps front sight and Lawrence patent ladder rear sight. Top flat of bbl has the “Old Reliable” cartouche and Bridgeport address. Cal marking is over the chamber area. Rifle has Sharps double set triggers. Mounted with straight grain American walnut including a standard smooth Sharps forearm and straight stock with coarse checkered Sharps steel buttplate. Accompanied by Sharps factory record letter. They identify this rifle as being listed in order book No.4 as a Model 1874 sporting rifle invoiced at Bridgeport on July 9, 1877 to Frank Conrad, merchant and outfitter of Fort Griffin, Texas. It was shipped with 30″ oct bbl in Cal. 45 2-7/8 with double triggers, open sights and oil finished stocks. Weight is listed as 15-3/4 lbs in a ten gun shipment. This is an early gun shipped to the heart of buffalo hunting territory identified to Robert Carter Guire where few exist today, camp guns took a serious beating in the old days. The Guire family are noted in historical records of the west. RC Guire was 21 years old when this gun was shipped to Fort Griffin. Consignor who found this gun along with a few glass shards and a couple of pieces of sheet metal (which accompany lot) found near the foundation of Conrad’s store at Ft Griffin located on land near Buena Vista, Colorado has done considerable research and correspondence concerning Guire. Guire was a deputy county sheriff in Trinidad Colorado…a high town of the old west… a copy of his commission is recorded at the county office in Trinidad with a copy in the files with the gun .Guire lived there when Bat Masterson was city marshal….Many important westerners spent time in Trinidad….. (his very large file of notes, photographs and correspondence are included in this lot) There is a you-tube video link on web showing facial recognition between Deputy Guire and possibly Guire holding this very gun. Our consignor who is quite an artist built this wonderful display to show gun, including a contemporary vintage saddle representative of the time, indiscernible maker’s mark, facsimile photographs, reader boards, 2 cartridges and accoutrements. This display won an award at the Colorado Gun Collectors Association annual show in 2014. Guire was involved in several land wars and the one consignor sites in Colorado where Guire killed the wrong man and was indicted caused he and his family a hasty departure back East to Arkansas. Guire lived until 1904 when found dead in a well digging project with unanswered circumstances to this day. According to letters from consignor, there is a model 1885 highwall Winchester with Guire’s name applied on bbl in same style as subject Sharps though stolen from the family several years ago. Consignor’s notes and correspondence paint an interesting portrait of life in the “Wild West”. Guire had a lifetime of adventure and experience as a hunter, surveyor, rancher, Deputy Marshall and vigilante. Guire lived a short 48 years though filled with adventure PROVENANCE: R C Guire, Ft. Griffin, Texas. CONDITION: Bbl, frame, breechblock, latch, lever, triggers, hammer and front sight all orig with mottled pitting from wear in the fire. Bbl markings including address, Cal., and Guire’s name are all discernible. SN on frame weak but discernible. Stocks and buttplate are restorations, as are several screws. The rear sight is pitted but markings are partially discernible, including Lawrence’s patent and elevation marks, the small crossbar on blade is replaced. This is a wonderful, historic restored relic that displays beautifully with accompanying saddle, other small items excavated with gun, display and accoutrements. The reata accompanying this group was hand-made by Navaho for the consignor for the vintage display. 49155-1 JS (15,000-30,000) – Lot 2459 Click here to view provenance |
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3256
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$31,050.00 |
RARE AND HISTORIC BOW OF FAMOUS LAKOTA SIOUX CHIEF GALL.This wonderful decorated Sioux Bow, 41″ tip to tip and may be the bow that Chief Gall is seen holding including a famous photograph made of him by David F. Barry about 1881. An old worn typed label reads “Sioux Buffalo Bow / Gift from Chief Pezi” (Gall) / Standing Rock Res / Donated by J McLaughlin”. James McLaughlin author of My Friend The Indian, was long time Indian agent, present at Standing Rock Reservation from 1881 – 1890. McLaughlin knew Gall very well and writes prominently about his close personal friend, though not specifically stating this gift, but we are told other McLaughlin Indian objects are noted with similar typed tags. Though Gall is not as well known in the Custer massacre as Sitting Bull or Crazy Horse, Gall was indeed among the fiercest warriors. In the first volley, Gall’s two wives and three daughters were killed. An excellent biography on Gall by Robert Larson, Gall, Lakota War Chief, “A particularly bitter factor in the deaths of most of Gall’s family in 1876 was the involvement of Gall’s old nemesis Bloody Knife. Little Sioux, one of the Arikara warrior scouts who preceded Reno’s crossing of the Greasy Grass, claimed in a later interview that he and three other Arikara scouts saw three women and two children running as fast as they could toward the river. He fired twice at them, and then he and his comrades rode through the timber toward the river, where they killed all of them. Whether or not any of these victims were members of the Gall family cannot be proven with certainty, but Bloody Knife’s involvement in this phase of the battle seems unquestionable. As Custer’s chief Indian scout, he was probably at the head of this scouting party, searching for ponies and not being averse to killing Lakota families in the process. Obviously Gall was grief stricken when he saw the dead bodies of these family members. the Little Bighorn would mean glory for many of his comrades, but it would be an almost unbearable personal tragedy for him. He no doubt pondered the irony of this tragic development. He was one of the fiercest of the Lakota warriors, and yet he could not protect his own family. Of particular surprise to him was the fact that Reno’s troopers, as well as those hated Arikara scouts, got close enough to kill the most defenseless members of the Hunkpapa camp. Had the distraught war leader made this discovery upon his first return to camp, he would have vigorously pursued Reno’s troopers to their final defensive position on the hilltop east of the Little Bighorn. Revenge would have been his overwhelming emotion. When he finally did recover from his crippling anguish, startled by the sound of increasing gunfire to the north, his mood was dominated by a thirst for vengeance. “It made my heart bad,” he later remarked. “After that I killed all my enemies with the hatchet.”” This particular title also shows good 1881 D.F. Barry facsimile photograph on p. 139, owned by Historical Society of North Dakota, showing Gall with quite possibly this bow. Rarely do historical bow’s or other objects directly relating to prominent Indians from the Battle of The Little Big Horn ever come to market. CONDITION: Very good to fine overall. Bow retains good red, black and yellow decoration with wear where held sinew wrapped decoration is intact and bow string is present though knot loose on one end. Accompanying pasted tag is soiled but still discernible. It is interesting to note that the decorations there are 9 light stripes on one internal edge near center and 7 light stripes on other side of middle and that Gall wore 9 white stripes on his right forearm which I have not noted on other American Indians as decorations. Accompanying custom stand is very good as is. Accompanying copy of Larson’s biography. 49129-1 JS (20,000-40,000) – Lot 3256 Click here to view provenance |
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3260
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$31,050.00 |
EXTRAORDINARY SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1875 TYPE III OFFICER’S SPORTING RIFLE.SN NSN. Cal. 45-70 Outstanding Type III rifle with 26″ rnd bbl, gold-washed Beach’s configuration front sight, 1200-yd, ski-jump rifle rear right and tang sight with 3-1/2″ staff inletted into the top of the wrist. Bottom of bbl has a single iron guide containing an orig brass-tipped hickory ramrod. Mounted in a nicely figured, straight grain American walnut half stock with checkered forestock & wrist with an orig Model 1873 buttplate without trap. Left side of wrist is marked with the rectangular “SWP / 1885” cartouche. It has 2-pc trigger guard with serrated single set trigger. Bottom of wrist has an attached checkered rnd knob grip adapter/finger rest. Tip of the forestock is inletted with an engraved foliate shaped pewter nosecap. Breechblock has 1873 markings and bbl standard Springfield inspector markings. Lockplate is marked “U S / SPRINGFIELD” and a small eagle. Interior parts are unmarked except for one small “H” on the gun hammer tumbler and a small “8” on the sear. Bottom of bbl is stamped “25” with a small serpentine mark and a tiny hammer-shaped mark. Bottom of receiver is marked with a small “B”. Inside trigger bow is stamped with a “1” and another indecipherable mark. Lockplate, hammer shank, breechblock, top front of receiver, top tang, trigger bow & buttplate tang are all very nicely engraved in foliate arabesque patterns without background shading. According to various publications there were about 477 of these scarce rifles produced 1875 to 1885 at the Springfield Arsenal in 3 variations. There were about 100 Type III rifles produced in 1885. These rifles were intended for purchase by military officers but were not overly enthusiastically received and by 1885 sales were lagging with many going unsold. In the late 1880’s the remaining stocks were used as prizes for shooting contests or gifts to high ranking officials. Regardless of their popularity, they remain a rare item to be found today with the majority showing heavy wear and little orig finish. CONDITION: Extremely fine+. Overall retains 98-99% crisp orig finish with strong bright blue on bbl, brilliant case colors on lockplate, hammer, breechblock, top tang & trigger guard. Trigger bow is moderately faded. Buttplate retains about 80% orig blue and the forend cap about all of its bright orig polish. Tang sight retains most of its orig fire blue. Wiping rod is crisp and near new. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant shiny bore appears to be new and unfired. Museum quality specimen! 49403-7 JR (27,500-37,500) – Lot 3260 |
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3261
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$20,125.00 |
RARE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1875 TYPE III OFFICER’S MODEL TRAPDOOR RIFLE.SN NSN. Cal. 45-70 Rare rifle with 26″ rnd bbl, gold washed combination front sight 1200 yard ski jump rifle rear sight and type III tang sight inlet into top of wrist. Bore has Metford-style rifling. Bottom of bbl has a single guide containing an orig brass-tipped, hickory cleaning rod. Mounted in a one-piece half stock of nicely figured straight grain American walnut with checkered forearm and wrist. Bottom tang is mounted with an attachable, checkered grip adapter finger rest. Left side of stock has an “SWP / 1885” cartouche and forend cap is engraved pewter Christmas tree-style. Buttplate is 1873 style without trap. Lockplate, hammer, breechblock, top of receiver ring, breechblock latch, trigger bow, bbl band, and buttplate tang are very nicely engraved in foliate arabesque patterns with light shading and no background. Breechblock has standard markings with the date “1873” and lockplate is simply marked “U.S. Springfield” with a small eagle. There was a total of 477 of these rifles produced about 1875 to 1885 in three variations, this being the third type. Of the total, only about 100 type III rifles were produced. These rifles were intended to be sold to Army officers for personal sporting use, primarily in the American West. Apparently, they were not strong sellers, and the last batch was used as prizes for shooting contests and presentation to high government officials. Given their extreme rarity, having been produced over 130 years ago, they are seldom encountered on the open market. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 96-98% strong orig blue with a few scattered spots of surface rust and slight muzzle edge wear. Breechblock retains most of its orig case colors, bright in sheltered areas, fading elsewhere. Lockplate and hammer retain colors in sheltered areas having turned mostly to silver. Trigger guard is a gray patina. Buttplate retains about 80% strong orig blue with wear on the heel and toe. Stock is sound with a few scattered bruises with light nicks and dings and retains about 95% strong orig varnish. There is a chip in front of the trigger plate tang. Cleaning rod is extremely fine. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant shiny bore. 49496-1 JR (16,000-26,000) – Lot 3261 |
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3262
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$6,325.00 |
RARE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1881 LONG RANGE TRAPDOOR RIFLE.SN 162359. Cal. 45-80. Rare, orig long range trapdoor rifle with 32-1/2″ bbl that has Bull’s modified 1879 rear sight with windage screw in the right side. The bore has 6 narrow lands and wide grooves and top of the bbl has special inspector initials over the chamber area. This one is marked “HGR”. All other markings are standard for this model. Breechblock is 2nd type 1873 with flat 1879 lockplate. This rifle is mounted in a special service-style stock with Hotchkiss butt which consists of a little wider buttplate that is unmarked and without trap. The wood underneath the buttplate is not inletted for cleaning rod or tool. Almost immediately these rifles were deemed inappropriate because it would imply that the service rifle was inferior to the ones used by the shooting teams. It was ordered that the 150 rifles be distributed to division commanders to make such distribution as they deemed appropriate. This rifle is identified by SN in a chart on p. 224 of The .45-70 SPRINGFIELD Book II 1865-1893, Frasca, as being one of those special “Long Range Rifles”. This chart shows that this rifle left Springfield Arsenal as found today with a Bull’s long range rear sight and in a Hotchkiss stock that bore the “SWP / 1881” cartouche. It had 6 lands & grooves with “HGR” initials on the bbl and a smooth trigger. This rifle retains its original 32-1/2″ bbl with 6 lands & grooves with the “HGR” inspector initials and its orig smooth trigger. Bottom of the forestock has a slot containing a button head ramrod. It has standard square base front sight/bayonet lug covered by type 3 snap-on sheet metal sight hood that is pinned in place. It retains its smooth walnut detachable grip adapter. Although the reference publication lists the cartouche as “SWP/1881” this is undoubtedly an error as there is no doubt that this stock is orig to this rifle. The order to produce these rifles was dated in Dec, 1880 and completed in Mar, 1881. PROVENANCE: Jonathan Peck Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 95-96% crisp original blue with only light muzzle end wear and some light dulling over the chamber area. Breechblock retains virtually all of its original bright case colors, brilliant in sheltered areas. Lock plate and hammer retain virtually all of their orig arsenal finish. Stock is sound with light handling and storage marks and shows a light hand worn patina. Mechanics are crisp. Very bright shiny bore. 49617-1 JR (5,000-8,000) – Lot 3262 |
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3337
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$0.00 |
EXTREMELY RARE ANCIENT & HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY OF BOSTON OFFICER’S SWORD, CIRCA 1800.We only know of one other example of this exquisite sword and that is in the AHAC museum at Faneuil Hall which was original built in 1742. The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts is the oldest chartered military organization in the western hemisphere. Its charter was granted in March 1638, and signed by then Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor John Winthrop. This organization which is approaching its 400th anniversary has a rich military history, including 4 Presidents who have served as members (James Monroe, Chester Arthur, Calvin Coolidge, John F. Kennedy). This organization has also had 7 Medal of Honor winners from the Civil War through Viet Nam. At time of manufacture of this sword there were few officers in this unit and this sword could have been easily been carried before and during the War of 1812. Sword closely mimics that of earlier American Revolutionary War patterns with slotted guard swords carried by officers. Pommel of sword is decorated with 6 pointed star surrounded by “Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company”, backstrap has a similar 6 pointed hunters star and other engraved decoration, top mount of scabbard has wreath encompassing “Incorporated 1638”. PROVENANCE: Interview with curator and consignor’s inspection of both swords together at museum. Special Note: This item contains or is made of ivory. Do not bid on this lot unless you have read and agreed to our "Ivory Position Statement" and the "Waiver of Legal and Financial Risk to James D. Julia in regards to your Purchase of an Ivory Object." This information is located in the front section of our catalog. CONDITION: Very good to fine overall. Matching brass scabbard mounts, hilt, backstrap and pommel retain much of their gold finish with remainder polished brass patina. 31″ double fullered blade still retains light decorations including panoply of arms on blued background though most blue has faded with scattered areas of staining and pitting. Carved, fluted, “certifiable antique elephant ivory” grip is fine overall, well fit with slight shrinkage against backstrap and pommel. 49359-1 JS IVORY (7,000-8,000) – Lot 3337 Click here to view provenance |
