Milestone’s Sept. 13-14 Fall Premier Firearms Sale offers top-tier selection of fully transferable BATF-NFA firearms, WWII, Civil War and Old West rarities

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Milestone’s September 13-14 Premier Firearms Auction is loaded with rare and historically-important antique, vintage and contemporary productions from the most highly-regarded American, European and Japanese arms manufacturers. The live gallery event, with all forms of remote bidding available, features 1,206 hand-selected lots that span all of the most popular collecting categories, including World War II, BATF-NFA, Nazi, Civil War, Old West, sporting, and more.

A special highlight of the opening session is an extremely rare British World War I-era 3½-inch field howitzer and cannon, complete with caisson and limber. It has two seats for the gun crew and a seat/sight for the gunner. Manufactured by Royal Gun Factory in 1895, its grooved, rifled barrel is stamped RGF 1895 on top. The unit probably saw use during the First World War and has been restored to impeccable, museum-quality condition. The limber and caisson are excellent, and the wheels are near-perfect. “This is a real statement piece, and it’s 100% ready for display,” said Miles King, co-owner of Milestone Auction. Memo to potential bidders: No Federal Firearms License is required, as this superior example of antique artillery is not Class 3.

Moving into the red-hot category of BATF-NFA firearms, three fantastic World War II arms lead the lineup. All are fully transferable in accordance with BATF regulations. The first is a US M3 “Grease Gun” submachine gun made sometime between 1943 and 1945 by General Motors’ Guide Lamp Division in Anderson, Indiana, the exclusive WWII manufacturer of the M3 and M3A1. The gun retains 95% metal, has a bright bore, and operates normally. It comes with an amazing selection of like-new support items in their original packaging: 12 mil-spec magazines, a complete parts kit, 29 rubber magazine covers, an oiler and sling kit, a 3-cell mag pouch, canvas weapon cover, and two technical manuals.

Next up is a rare and fully transferable BATF-NFA German Bergmann MP-35/I select-fire machine gun, SS-marked and manufactured between 1933 and 1943. It fires semi-auto with a single pull of the trigger or automatic with its pull-and-hold feature. The design also incorporates an easily removable barrel for expeditious cleaning and maintenance. Made from sturdy German milled steel, this highly-prized model was supplied primarily to security forces and SS formations. The auction example retains 75% of its original finish, has a bright bore and displays very strong rifling. It will convey to its new owner with a canvas sling and eight original 32-round magazines.

The spotlight trio is rounded out by a fully transferable BATF-NFA Nazi-proof WWII Steyr-Solothurn MP-34 submachine gun package. The very fine 9mm gun is from a 1934-1940 production run and was based on a design for the MP-19 by the Rheinmetall company of Dusseldorf, Germany. “The MP-34 was manufactured from the very best materials available and finished to the highest possible standard, so much so that it earned the nickname ‘the Rolls-Royce of submachine guns,’” said Miles King. The auction package accompanying the top-notch submachine gun includes: a parts kit, 9mm barrels, a top cover, trigger guard, bolts with charging handles, a WWII wooden ammo box for magazines, a 3-cell magazine pouch with magazines, a leather case cling kit with tools, and a bag with trigger group parts. The gun retains 95% of its original finish with a bright bore and strong rifling. The stock is serialized to the receiver and Nazi proofed.

Collectors of Civil War-era firearms won’t want to miss an 1857-1865 Whitworth percussion rifle entered in the sale. It is of a type that was used by Confederate sharpshooters and preferred by many because of its great accuracy as far away as 1800 yards or more. The auction example has an adjustable blade front sight, notch and ladder rear sight, and the barrel shows Birmingham proofs, a 52 bore marking, and the serial number B353. It is also marked Whitworth Patent on top of the barrel and has a crowned W trademark and Whitworth markings on the lock, which has a half-cock safety. The stock is military style and is checkered at the wrist. Its wood case has a contemporary Whitworth Rifle Co label, plus a leather sling, bullet mold and other accoutrements. In Fine condition, it has 70% of its period-refurbished blue finish, its legends are crisp, and its action works well, as does the half-cock safety.

Many outstanding Colts will be offered, including a 44-40 Single Action Army Revolver manufactured in 1884 and acid-etched COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER on the left side of the frame. It is blue-finished with excellent one-piece walnut grips that retain most of their original varnish. The rare black-powder frame is of a type that was generally set aside for use in building Cavalry Revolvers. It was government-inspected by David Clark, as evidenced by the D.F.C. mark on the bottom of the frame. The barrel displays the correct single-line Colt address, and the bottom breech of the barrel is marked .44. In Fine condition with 60-75% of its original blue on the barrel and cylinder, this gun shows little wear, has a Fine bore and tight action.

A pair of Colt .357 Magnum Single Action Army Revolvers, manufactured in 1899 and 1939, respectively, are attributed to San Bernardino County (Calif.) Sheriff Emmett L. Shay, who served from 1934-1946. Both guns are stamped ES, and the left-front strap on each gun is stamped R.F. ENEWOLD, a marking associated with an old-time Reno, Nevada retailer and collector. The lot includes a pair of North & Judd “horsehead” spurs with straps, both stamped ES and with anchors; a tooled leather gunbelt with matching holsters, H&R Arms handcuffs stamped SHAY, Emmett Shay's sheriff's badge marked AUG-39 on the back along with a partial mark for a Los Angeles retailer, plus several .357 Magnum casings and a modern hardwood case fitted for both revolvers.

Manufactured in 1902, a Colt Model 1900 .38 ACP rimless pistol is a prime example of the first of a long line of John Browning-designed semi-automatic pistols that were both licensed and manufactured by Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut. Some collectors refer to the Model 1900 as the “Colt Paterson of semi-automatic pistols.” The auction example retains 90% of its metal finish, has a bright bore and very strong rifling. The grips are excellent, and the magazine is original.

Strong competition is expected for a circa-1987 Winchester 16-gauge reproduction DHE two-barrel side-by-side shotgun set from the incomparable Parker Reproductions series. In as-new condition with mechanics identical to the original Parkers, its chokes are Q2 (left) and Q1 (right). Its rib barrels were made in Japan by Olin-Kodensha and imported under Winchester's import license, with the appropriate mark shown on the barrels. The set includes a full complement of desirable accessories: two 16-gauge Parker Reproductions nickel-finished snap caps four 16-gauge unbranded nickel finished snap caps, a Parker Reproductions nickel-finished oil container, 20- and 16-gauge swabs, a brush, cleaning rod and keys. It also comes with a manual and various factory literature and correspondence.

http://www.milestoneauctions.comMilestone’s Sept. 13-14 Fall Premier Firearms Auction will be held at Milestone’s gallery located at 38198 Willoughby Parkway, Willoughby (suburban Cleveland), OH 44094. Start time: 10 a.m. ET on both days. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through Milestone’s own bidding platform, LiveAuctioneers, Proxibid, Invaluable or AuctionZip. For additional information on any item in the auction, call 440-527-8060 or email info@milestoneauctions.com. Online: www.milestoneauctions.com