A stellar arsenal of rare and historically important weaponry and sporting arms awaits bidders at Milestones Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 18 and 19, Fall Premier Firearms Auction. The high-caliber selection of U.S., British, German, French and other European productions, more than 1,300 in all, includes fresh consignments from long-held collections. Woven throughout the 1,452-lot selection are distinguished firearms and other property with links to Old West and contemporary legends. The unquestionable star of the two-day lineup is a rare and documented Colt 1847 Martial Walker D Company .44 caliber percussion revolver bearing the serial number 218. The hefty 4 lb. 9 oz. gun was developed through a collaboration between Samuel Colt and Texas Ranger Capt. Samuel H. Walker, a national hero of the Texas-Mexico Wars. Hence, it became known as the Walker. A total of 1,100 Walkers were made, but today fewer than 100 are thought to exist. Milestones Walker comes to auction with an extensive line of provenance that includes a whos who of early Colt collectors. Milestone Auctions co-owner Miles King describes the gun as the crme de la crme of Colt revolvers. Its pre-auction estimate is $75,000-$150,000. Another historic Colt is a .45 Single Action Army Revolver manufactured in 1874 with ownership attributed to Bob Ford, who assassinated outlaw Jesse James on April 3, 1882. The gun bears Serial No. 12267 and an early 2-line patent address. The right side of the revolvers frame is stamped JESSE, while the left side is stamped JAMES. It is the actual book example that appears in Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia Vol. II (by K. Cochran). For many years pundits have debated whether or not the weapon was the same one that ended James criminal career, with some experts, including the late James Aplan, saying they believe it is. The gun has remained in the Aplan family collection for 41 years and has been consigned to Milestone by James Aplans wife, Peggy. Its estimate is $10,000-$15,000. Just as Colt has its own diehard fan base, so does Winchester, another Connecticut brand that launched in the decade before the Civil War. Milestone is proud to present to Winchester enthusiasts a 1st Model 1873 .44-caliber cartridge rifle that was manufactured in 1875. It is accompanied by an archival letter dated April 7, 1989 and signed by Gael Oswalt, curatorial secretary of the Winchester Arms Museum, confirming the rifle was shipped from Winchesters warehouse on October 13, 1875. It further states that it exhibits all of the unique characteristics of an early 1st Model 1873 Winchester rifle. Its the finest example of its type that our experts have seen in more than 30 years, according to King. It is estimated $25,000-$40,000. Valued even higher than the extraordinary 1st Model 1873 is an 1897 Winchester advertising cartridge board, which would be well known to any serious Winchester collector. Adorned with A. B. Frost vignettes and gold-overlay borders, it is known as the double W board because the display includes (all-original) pistol and rifle cartridges arranged in the form of two Ws. In original condition with no apparent cleaning, this advertising gem is a recent discovery that will make its auction debut at Milestone with a pre-sale estimate of $40,000-$70,000. A special auction entry is directly associated with CIA agent and pilot Richard C. Spicer, an American hero of the modern era whose death after only four months with the agency remains shrouded in mystery. A scrupulously detailed description of Spicers activities prior to his officially-reported death in a plane crash is shown in the auction catalog alongside images of the cased set of CIA Non-Portable Awards given posthumously to his family. The awards include the Intelligence Star and Exceptional Service Medallion for death resulting from service in area of hazard. The medal is named on verso to Richard C Spicer and dated 1985, with its edge engraved MACO-NY FINE SILVER .999. The lot also includes a Remembrance of Service letter signed by Ronald Reagan, adding even more historical value to an archive that is in a league of its own. Milestones Fall Premier Firearms Auction will be held at Milestones gallery located at 38198 Willoughby Parkway, Willoughby (suburban Cleveland), Ohio. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through Milestones own bidding platform, LiveAuctioneers, Proxibid, or Invaluable. For additional information on any item in the auction, call 440-527-8060 or email info@milestoneauctions.com. All images courtesy of Milestone Auctions.