Milestone’s $1.6M Spring Premier Firearms Auction hit the bullseye

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Milestone’s Spring 2026 Premier Firearms Auction in suburban Cleveland chalked up $1.6 million on March 21-22 with a widely varied selection of weapons that encompassed rare and historically-important antique, vintage and contemporary productions from American, European and Japanese arms manufacturers. The sale’s 1,206 hand-selected lots represented many of the most popular collector categories, including sporting shotguns and rifles, engraved and historical American handguns, and military weapons, with examples dating from the Revolutionary War through the Vietnam era.

The auction’s top-10 list was led by a magnificent 1st Generation Colt Single Action Army .357 Magnum Revolver with a 7½-inch barrel and build date of May 2, 1939. Complete and in flawless mechanical working order, it boasted a mint bore and cylinder chambers, and retained approximately 98% of its original blue finish. The desirable pre-World War I firearm was secured in its original numbers-matching box with accessories that included a Shooting Suggestions leaflet, a cleaning brush in paper wrapping, and a matching test target with E P Kiely's inspector stamp. This investment-grade Colt landed within its pre-sale estimate range, selling for $22,140.

An ultra-rare Savage Model 1907 45 ACP Trials Pistol was of a type created to compete against the Colt M1911 in the US military pistol test trials. Manufactured in 1907 and one of only 288 produced, the gun was returned to Savage after they lost out on the government contract, after which its design was reworked for commercial sales. During that process, the original Savage markings on the slide rib were removed. The auction example is one of only six known that retain the original slide markings. The metal was assessed at 90%, the bore was very lightly frosted with strong rifling, and the grips and holster were graded excellent. With a correct reproduction holster as seen in the trials, it sold above its high estimate for $20,400.

Several Smith & Wesson guns reached the upper echelon of prices realized. A .357 Registered Magnum RI Police Revolver with a 6-inch barrel, manufactured in 1935, was accompanied by a factory letter confirming its configuration and showing its original shipment date as October 23, 1935. The recipient was the Union Hardware & Metal Company in Los Angeles, California. This handsome gun in perfect working order retained 97% of its original bright blue finish with a mint bore and cylinder chambers. Its other attributes included checkered walnut silver-medallion service grips with a grip adapter and a Patridge front sight blade. Against an estimate of $6,500-$8,500, it achieved $10,800.

Steeped in Utah history, a 1937 Smith & Wesson .357 Registered Magnum with a 6½-inch barrel was one of nine shipped on August 26,1938 to the Utah Highway Patrol. It was further distinguished as an important memento of service to the Beehive State when it was presented to Utah Attorney General Grover A Giles as he took office in 1942. Eighty-eight years after it left Smith & Wesson’s Massachusetts headquarters, it continued to impress observers with 95% of its original bright blue finish and numbers-matching checkered walnut silver medallion magna grips. In excellent all-original condition and in flawless mechanical working order, the firearm was offered by Milestone with Giles family documentation and sold near the top of its estimate range for $9,300.

Smith & Wesson highlights continued with an extremely rare .44 Hand Ejector, First Model, Special Triple Lock Target Gun equipped with a rarely-seen 7½-inch barrel and target sights. It came with a Smith & Wesson factory letter confirming it was a special-order gun originally shipped on October 7, 1908 to legendary target shooter Charles R Eckler. In wonderfully crisp condition, it was housed in a period case with ammunition, as previously furnished by Mr Eckler. It surpassed its high estimate to reach a final price of $9,300.

Rounding out the formidable array of Smith & Wessons, a stunning Pre-Model 29 .44 Magnum, ANIB (As New In Box), was manufactured in 1956 and confirmed to be one of the first 100 of its type ever made. With its original bright blue finish and checkered Concalo Alves diamond target stocks (a k a ‘Cokes’), it was offered in an equally-mint matching-numbers pebble-grain presentation case with all its correct original cleaning tools. Literally impossible to upgrade, this impeccable gun exceeded its high estimate, reaching $6,300.

A rare Swiss Arms/SAN AG Blue Star Edition semiautomatic rifle manufactured in 2018 was one of only 20 such rifles exported to the USA. This reliable 5.56x45mm gas-operated assault rifle with a 20 5/8-inch barrel is known in Swiss service as the “Stgw 90.” Its features include a long-stroke piston, adjustable gas system, rotating bolt, hooded front post sight and diopter adjustable rear sight; folding stock, polymer furniture and an integral bipod. Accompanied by a 20-round magazine, cleaning kit, factory hard case, manual and COA, it was bid to $8,700 against an estimate of $3,000-$4,000.

An 1890s curiosity, a .32 caliber Protector Palm Pistol serial-numbered 4603 was made by the Chicago Firearms Company. The extra-short rimfire weapon with a 1¾-inch barrel and 7-shot vertical cylinder was one of only 1,000 with a blue finish of the 12,800 pistols produced between serial numbers 3700 and 5400. It displayed matching numbers on the cylinder and side plate, and gutta percha panels and rear pad. With an excellent bore and in working order, this crowd-pleasing novelty garnered $4,920 against an estimate of $1,500-$2,000.

All prices in this report are inclusive of buyer’s premium. View the catalog and prices realized for the Milestone’s March 21-22, 2026 Premier Firearms Auction online through Milestone’s website. To discuss consigning to a future Milestone auction featuring firearms, edged weapons or militaria, whether it’s a single item or an entire collection, please call Miles King at 440-527-8060 or email info@milestoneauctions.com. All enquiries are kept strictly confidential and there is never an obligation to consign. Online: https://www.milestoneauctions.com.

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