Pook & Pook Inc.'s next firearms auction will take place on Saturday, May 21, at 9:00 a.m. May's sale solidifies the company's commitment to bi-annual gun and militaria sales. The upcoming auction also includes sporting and Native American art, and with slightly over 200 lots, focuses more on item quality than quantity.
Drawing from several strong collections, the auction progresses from long guns to handguns and finishes with militaria, sporting art, and Native American items. The long guns are led by an exquisite Parker AAH grade, 12 gauge shotgun with fine floral engraving and gold-plated accents.
One of Pook & Pook Inc.'s firearms sales would not be complete without Pennsylvania rifles, and this sale will not disappoint. The auction opens with several long rifles by noted Pennsylvania makers such as Jacob Dickert, John Derr, and Abraham Gibbs. Lot 23 is a particularly strong piece made by one of Lancaster County's premier gunsmiths, Melchoir Fordney. The gun displays all of the representative characteristics of Fordney's work and would be a strong addition to any long rifle collection. Other long gun highlights include a rare Pennsylvania militia contract Derringer rifle, number 55 of 200 made, an 18th-century ornate French fusil de chasse bearing marks for St. Etienne makers, three Philadelphia P. S. Justice rifles, and an American made, tiger maple, French and Indian War era flintlock musket, in the British Long Land pattern.
Mixed in with the long guns and scattered throughout the sale are a rare collection of well-documented underhammer guns that appear in several leading publications. An Anton Spellerberg "1" numbered rifle and a steel-bodied William Briggs shotgun are highlights within a collection that also features several impressive underhammer pistols. Additionally, collections of P-08 Luger and 1911 pistols, including a Colt 1911 A1 U.S. Army National Match pistol with a National Match numbered barrel, slide, and barrel bushing, will be sold.
Returning to older firearms, the May 21 auction will feature a fine pair of John Lambert Queen Anne pistols, with intricate silver wire inlays, relief carving, and engraved details. Other handgun highlights include a Remington model 1875 Army revolver, several pepperbox pistols, and a presentation Colt model 1849 pocket revolver with an associated carte-de-visite of the gun's owner as well as his epaulette.
Several interesting historic pieces will also cross the auction block toward the end of the sale, such as a group of carved powder horns and an impressive collection of Lenape traditional items. The collection includes a wedding coat, a parade hat, knives, and jewelry items that descended through the original owner's family.
Bidders interested in the sale are encouraged to contact Pook & Pook Inc. at info@pookandpook.com or by calling 610- 269-4040 with questions regarding condition reports, in-house, phone, or absentee bidder registration, or to purchase a catalog.
Catalogs can also be viewed online at www.pookandpook.com or www.bidsquare.com, where online bidding is also available. A gallery exhibition is scheduled for Saturday, May 14, from noon to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, May 18 through Friday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bidders may also preview items on auction day, Saturday, May 21, from 8 to 9 a.m.