Both the crowd and the prices were strong at Briggs Auction's Estate Firearms and Military Auction on Sept. 18. More than 500 bidders contested the more than 600 discovery and cataloged lots of estate firearms, edged weaponry, and militaria, resulting in consistently strong prices from start to finish.
An extensive single-owner estate collection comprised the majority of the auction and included an impressive assortment of WWII-era German and U.S. knives, swords, firearms, and military collectibles, many of which saw impressive results. Top lots from the auction included a German WWII chained SS dagger belonging to Hans Ketterl, a Colonel stationed at Dachau. The guard is etched with his name and SS number. Copies of Hans Ketterl paperwork accompanied the knife, which sold for $17,250. All prices include a 15 percent buyer's premium. A German WWII wire-wrapped military helmet with leather liner sold for $8,050, while a WWII Winchester Model M1 Garand brought $2,070. A German Imperial hunting cutlass with sheath and companion knife sold for $1,955; a U.S. M1A1 Paratrooper carbine, $1,955; and an antique Chinese knife with bamboo-wrapped handle and etched blade, $1,955.
The cataloged portion of the auction began with a collection of edged weaponry, including U.S. and German WWII ceremonial and fighting knives, U.S. Civil War swords, and Japanese katanas. Highlights included a German WWII SS chained-type dagger with scabbard, with documentation showing the dagger reportedly belonging to Friedrich Stetter. The lot included historical copies of Friedrich Stetter paperwork and sold for $1,495.
A U.S. Springfield Armory Model 1910 Bolo knife with a Rock Island Arsenal leather sheath sold for $977.50; a Japanese Samurai sword with floral-decorated tsuba and scabbard, $977.50; a German WWII DLV dagger with scabbard with blue leather-wrapped handle and scabbard, with dagger hanger, $862.50; and a German WWII Luftwaffe dagger with wire-wrapped handle and scabbard, $833.75.
A German Imperial hunting cutlass with bone handle inset with tiger's-eye gemstone with sheath and companion knife brought $805, and a U.S. medical staff presentation sword with etched blade sold for $805. Ten lots of U.S. Civil War era Naval, Cavalry, and Staff and Field Presentation swords realized a combined $3,139,50.
Firearms finished the collection and included an excellent selection of antique and modern hand guns, U.S. and German WWII era pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns. Top lots included a WWII U.S. Springfield Model 1903 rifle selling for $1,782.50; a U.S. Remington-Rand Model 1911 A-1 semi-automatic pistol with black-leather holster, $1,495; an unusual German WWI "Red 9" Mauser with wooden holster stock, leather holster and two clips, $1,495; a Browning superposed lightning over/under 12-gauge shotgun, circa 1973, $1,380; and a Colt Gold Cup National Match semi-automatic target pistol, MKIV/Series '70, $1,265.
A Frank Wesson two-trigger sporting rifle sold for $1,265; a Perazzi TMX Trap 12-gauge shotgun with checkered walnut stock and vented rib, with case, $1,150; a walnut two-piece U.S. M1A1 Paratrooper carbine stock, $1,092.50; and an Eli Whitney Model 1816 musket with Civil War-era conversion to percussion, $1,035. Other firearms sold were a Smith & Wesson 27-2 .357 Magnum six-shot revolver with nickel finish in a fitted wooden presentation box, $920, and a pair of English dueling percussion pistols with finely-engraved brass locks, in a fitted wood box, $805.
"It was well-attended from the beginning with the discovery lots through the catalog. Even with no online bidding, we saw bidders from across the country, with strong prices from start to finish,” said John Turner, president of Briggs Auction Inc., who was extremely pleased with the auction.
"This was an impressive collection, painstakingly built over a lifetime by an extremely discerning collector, and our bidders responded with enthusiasm," said Stephen Turner, who worked on the catalog.
Briggs Auction Inc. is a three-generation, family-owned and operated auction house in Garnet Valley, Pa. The company’s next catalog antiques and fine art auction is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20.
To learn more on either sale, visit www.briggsauction.com.