1 of 1000's sold at auction.

[Josie Wales]

Hey guys, I was online a while back and saw that this past weekend the Rock Island Auction company had two 1 of 1000's up for bid.  One was a brilliant case colored deluxe model 76 that was expected to bring between $300,000 and $500,000.  The other one was a model 73 engraved by John Ulrich as a showpiece for the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876.  This one was expected to bring between $200,000 and $400,000.  I was just wondering if anybody knew how much these fantastic pieces of American history went for.  I got on the Rock Island website tonight and saw they were indeed sold but it didn't give a realized price.  Not that I can afford anything that salty anyway, but I was just curious what they brought.

Josie 

[w44wcf]

Josie,
THe '76 went for $402,500
The '73 brought $276,000

w44wcf

[Josie Wales]

Thanks w44wcf.  That's some really hefty prices!   It looked like there were a lot of other nice rifles up for auction as well but those two were definitely the main attraction.  It's always interesting to find out what some of these old rifles bring.  The prices sometimes are just staggering.  Anyway, thanks again for the info.

Josie 

[Grizzly Adams]

Josie,
THe '76 went for $402,500
The '73 brought $276,000

w44wcf

Wow!  That's some serious folding money!

[Josie Wales]

While were on this topic, does anyone know what the highest price ever realized for a gun at auction was?  I know Winchester has some extremely historic firearms but do they hold the record?  I have the book Winchester an American Legend and there are some great rifles in there from the presentation Henry rifles that went to Gideon Welles and Lincoln, to the Henry Brown model 73 that he used to rob a bank in Kansas, to the Model 76 presented to General Phil Sheridan and also some of the great 1 of 100's and 1 of 1000's that are in existence but there is no mention of value on any of these guns.  Again, this is just me being curious more than anything.  There is no way I could even afford the rear sight off of one of these rifles let alone the whole gun!   Anyway, if anyone out there has any info on this subject I'd like to hear about it. 

Josie

[w44wcf]

Josie,
I am aware of one 1876 that brought close to $600,000 about 10 years ago. I never saw the gun or pics of the gun. I was told the story by a Winchester collector that had the opportunity to buy the rifle in the late 1970's for $75,000 but did not have the money to do so at the time. He said that someone did buy the rifle and sold it a few years later for around $100,000. THe rifle changed hands several times after that, and each time the price increased by $25,000 to $50,000.

The rifle was ordered from Winchester by Queen Victoria (Queen of England) back in the late 1800's. It had some gold inlays and was highly engraved. I was likely a 1 of 1000 rifle.

That's all I know about that rifle. I would love to see a picture of it.

w44wcf

[Josie Wales]

Thanks for the info w44wcf.  I got on the Rock Island Auction website yesterday and was looking at some of their past auctions.  In September of 2008 they sold a Model 76 1 of 1000 with gold trim for $494,500.  I couldn't find a picture of it on there but in the Winchester an American Legend book on page 339 there is a 1 of 1000 76 with rare gold trim that belonged to Sen. William Clark of Montana.  I wonder if this is the same rifle? 

Also in that book on page 69 there is a Model 76 that was a gift to a Colonel Gzowski who was an aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria.  It doesn't say if this rifle was given to him by the queen or not.  It is elaborately engraved and in unfired condition though.  I don't know if this is the rifle that you are thinking of or not.  You mentioned about gold inlays though and there is no gold embellishments on this rifle.  Also, it isn't a 1 of 1000 so it probably isn't the same gun.  It's still worth a look though if you have access to that book you may want to check it out.

Josie

[w44wcf]

Josie,
You are most welcome. I do have the book WInchester An American Legend and looked at the '76 on page 69.  I will have to try to contact the fellow that gave me the info to see if that could be the rifle. Perhaps I was mistaken about the gold inlay.

I don't know about the William Clark rifle but perhaps it could be it.

w44wcf   

[w44wcf]

While were on this topic, does anyone know what the highest price ever realized for a gun at auction was? ........ 
Josie

THe highest price I ever heard of paid for a gun was $1,000,000 for the prototype 45 Colt Luger pistol made for the US Army trials prior to WWI.   

The second highest I ever heard of was $750,000 for a Colt revolver serial #2.

w44wcf

[Short Knife Johnson]

THe highest price I ever heard of paid for a gun was $1,000,000 for the prototype 45 Colt Luger pistol made for the US Army trials prior to WWI.   

When did that pistol change hands?  I read an old Garry James article in Guns & Ammo way back when about it (whne I still wasted my money on G&A).  They took it out and shot it at the owner's behest.  After a through inspection and ammo loaded to original spec by Black Hills.  That was in about 1995 or so, and back then he turned down the million dollar offer.

[Josie Wales]

That's incredible w44wcf.  A million dollars is a pretty hefty sum to shell out for a gun!  Also, keep me posted if the gun on page 69 of that book is the same rifle that your friend told you about.  I like hearing the stories behind some of these historic firearms.  Does anyone know of any good websites or books that tells some of the stories of these old guns and the people that owned them?  The Winchester book I have has a lot of great pictures of rare presentation firearms but doesn't give a lot of info with regards to why the presentations were made and things like that.  Any info would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Josie

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Josie;  This is the Colonel Gzowski you mentioned;

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0003512

In Canada Sir Casimir GZOWSKI holds a similar role in our military past as Gen. von Steuben does in America.  There is a Militia unit proficiency award in his name awarded every year.  His great-great-great grandson, Peter Gzowski, was a long-time radio personality on CBC.

He was President of the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association (DCRA) from 1869 to 1883. One of the awards for the "aggregate"  is in his name. He was one of the two instigators of the horse racing event, The Queen's Plate.  He is a noted patriot in the Polish community in Canada.

[Josie Wales]

Thanks for the link and the info Sir Charles.  It definitely sounds like he was an important person in Canadian History.  Thanks again.

Josie

[john boy]

Greg Martin Auction Jan 2009
Lot 51 – $862,500: The most famous firearm in the Buck Stevens Collection is the Serial No. 1 Colt Single Action Army "Peacemaker" revolver. Celebrated since its discovery in 1925, only five collector owners have possessed this national treasure Colt handgun. As the first in the unique production run of Single Action Army revolvers – and its copies – No. 1 is an American icon, and among the most revered firearms ever manufactured. A gold-tooled and inscribed leather case was custom made by Arno Werner Bookbinders to showcase the rarity and significance of this important and historic Colt. The price realized for this firearm represents a new world-record price for a Colt single action sold at auction.

[john boy]

I read somewhere years ago, that a '73 One of a Thousand was found.  Someone had made it into a lamp stand!

Originally offered in 1875 for the Model 1873 and then the Model 1876, it did not take Winchester long to realize that having a "best" grade rifle was counter productive to sales.  By 1877, Winchester had dropped the 1 of 1000 from there catalog.

[Josie Wales]

From everything I've read so far Winchester tested their barrels and the ones that were found to be most accurate were dubbed 1 of 1000.  These rifles were given fancy grade stocks, set triggers, and a myriad of other special features.  The next grade lower were called 1 of 100 and were not as fancy.  It stands to reason then that the best of the best would be the most rare.  It's always puzzled me why the reverse is true.  There are only seven model 76 1 of 100's and 8 model 73's as opposed to 51 model 76 1 of 1000's and 133 model 73's.  Does anyone know why comparatively speaking there were much fewer 1 of 100's made than 1 of 1000's?

Josie

[Short Knife Johnson]

I'd have to say it was a marketing ploy that didn't prove out.  The high grade rifles would have likely gone to the Eastern market where they were purchased for the cache of having one and most likely never to be fired.  Middle-of-the-road one of one hundreds while more affordable, but Eastern money probably wanted the "best" anyway, and would select the one of one thousand, totally playing into Winchester's scheme.   Primary market was for working guns.  Why would a blue collar individual shell out money for a fancy gun?

That's my theory on why the 1 of 100's are outnumbered by the 1 of 1000's.  My bets would be on these barrels were never tested for "accuracy" rather selected on the basis they were in arms reach when an order for a 1000 came down the pipe.


...Can I interest you in some extended warranty on that new television box? 

[w44wcf]

Josie,
Just found out that the Model 76 that was a gift to Colonel Gzowski pictured on page 69 is the rifle that the Winchester collector I know was referencing. I questioned him about the price and it was closer to $400,000 than the $600,000 that I thought it was. As far as he knows it was last purchased at auction in the 1990's.

Short Knife Johnson,
I don't recall the source but I do remember the $1,000,000 price.

Sir Charles,
Thank you for the link. Interesting.  

John Boy,
THank you for the reference. That is a princely sum!

w44wcf

[Josie Wales]

Thanks for the update w44wcf.  That's very interesting.  The $400,000 price tag is still a very hefty sum.  Thanks again.

Josie

[vintagearms]

From everything I've read so far Winchester tested their barrels and the ones that were found to be most accurate were dubbed 1 of 1000.  These rifles were given fancy grade stocks, set triggers, and a myriad of other special features.  The next grade lower were called 1 of 100 and were not as fancy.  It stands to reason then that the best of the best would be the most rare.  It's always puzzled me why the reverse is true.  There are only seven model 76 1 of 100's and 8 model 73's as opposed to 51 model 76 1 of 1000's and 133 model 73's.  Does anyone know why comparatively speaking there were much fewer 1 of 100's made than 1 of 1000's?

Josie

ester
Early in the production of the 73 and i believe the 76 the guns were tested for accuracy with the results recorded in the factory ledger (this is why a couple of 73's are suspected of being fakes as 4" groups were not acceptable see Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 by Lewis)

As to the East coast West coast comment, Most all went West.  The 1 0f 100 was a listed item for a shorter period of time. Common belief is that most people upgrading went all the way and skipped the mid grade lesser known 1 of 100.  The .45 Luger was tested in the early 1900's along with the 1911 and Savage submissions you probably know who won /