In terms of giving collectors an opportunity to own a true treasure of American history, James D. Aficionados also bought Old West-era weapons that were impressive more for their craftsmanship than ownership, with the highest prices hammering down at Rock Island Auction.
The revolver is like the rifle sold at Brian Lebel’s, in that it has a strong connection to the battlefield, if not the battle.Ĭuster fans weren’t the only happy firearms collectors in 2017. Kopec reported the gun was issued to Company H, part of John Gibbon’s “Montana Column” that relieved the 7th Cavalry at the Big Horn battle. Julia auction block: a Model 1873 Colt Single Action Army revolver, serial 6045. In October, a collector snagged another Custer-era firearm off the James D. The disposition and whereabouts of serial 5743 is unknown, while serial 6659 was repaired to include part s from other Single Action Army Colts. The other two Colts have drawbacks that the Benteen Colt sold at auction did not. So many first- and second-issue 7th Cavalry Single Action Armies (even if known) are not Little Big Horn Single Action Armies,” Noyes says. “Less than 600 enlisted men participated in the Battle of the Little Big Horn on June 25-26, 1876. Benteen reported unserviceable after the 1876 battle, the Model 1873 Colt Single Action Army revolver, serial 5773 is seenĪs pure because the “serial numbers (on the back strap, barrel, cylinder, frame, trigger guard) match, and the piece has not been significantly altered, if altered at all,” Noyes says. One of three that 7th Cavalry, Company H Capt. Customs officer and former editor of the Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association quarterly newsletter. Julia came through with a revolver that had “pure Little Big Horn pedigree,” says C. The 1874 Sharps (serial C54586) hammered down at Brian Lebel’s Old West Auction for $225,000. Forensic science proved only that it had been used at the battle site. It could have been fired after the June 1876 battle, since access to the battlefield was unrestricted.
Ballistic comparisons of two Martin-primed cartridge cases provided near-certain proof that the 1874 Sharps sold at the auction was fired on Custer’s battlefield. The Sharps 1874 rifle, serial C54586, was shipped in 1875 and found on the battlefield in 1883 by rancher Willis Spear. The “first firearm forensically proven to have been used” at the Little Bighorn battlefield hammered down for nearly a quarter of a million dollars on January 27. The excitement began at Brian Lebel’s Old West Auction in Mesa, Arizona. The year 2017 turned out to be an excellent year to collect firearms tied to a storied icon, George Custer, and his most famous (and fateful) military fight, the Battle of the Little Bighorn.Īuthentic Little Bighorn guns are rare, and in 2017, collectors got the chance to own one with pure pedigree and a couple tied to the battlefield, if not the battle. Benteen wrote of the pistol: “…rendered unserviceable in action against the hostile Indians at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, N.T. Julia for $400,000, this 1873 Colt (serial 5773) has been positively proven to be used by Custer’s men at the famous Battle of the Little Big Horn.