Morphy’s celebrates Revolutionary War’s 250th anniversary during May 12-14 auction of exceptional and historically important firearms & militaria

DENVER, Pa. – Antique and collectible firearms of superior quality and historical significance will be on full display at Morphy’s three-day Firearms & Militaria auction, which features a special selection honoring the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War. Slated for May 12-14, the 400-lot sale features the lifetime collections of David Grunberg and Gary Schlottstein.

David Grunberg was born in Argentina and clearly recalls from his youth the day a police officer let him hold his Colt .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. In particular, he never forgot the heft of the weapon. Years later, after his family had emigrated to the United States, he served in the US Army, where he was issued a Colt .45. That began a lifelong fascination for fine firearms and inspired what would become an exemplary collection. To this day, David remains passionately interested in second- and third-generation engraved firearms.

Gary Schlosstein was born in 1928 and was stationed in Europe during the final months of World War II. He started his collection at age 10, when he bought a Civil War musket at a secondhand store in Wisconsin for just $3. That ignited a lifelong passion for collecting historical memorabilia that continues to this day. Gary is the founder of Castlerock Museum in Alma, Wisconsin. It houses ancient and medieval arms and armor and more than 100 period firearms.

Lot #1284 is a custom set of Colt Single Action Army pistols, so-named the East-West guns because they were ordered from Colt to pay homage to the Transcontinental Railroad, which joined the East and West Coasts. Each gun was dedicated to one of the iconic engines and their respective companies with the Jupiter representing the Central Pacific and the Engine 119 representing the Union Pacific. They were built as black powder frame guns and shipped “in-the-white” to noted engraver Leonardo Francolini, who worked his magic and made these Colts true masterpieces.

Lot #1179 is the first-ever DWM 1900 Swiss Luger semi-automatic pistol, made by DWM in May 1901 with serial number 1. While many military handguns are specific to their respective nations, the Luger is the "World's Pistol" and has been called the most identified and prized collectible pistol known. The pistol has a prestigious pedigree and was in the collections of both Hank Vissner and Geoff Sturgess. It represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Lot #1187 is an outstanding Singer Model 1911A1 .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol, manufactured by the Singer Sewing Machine Co. (Elizabeth, NJ) in 1940. It is well known as the most desirable pistol among .45 automatic collectors worldwide. This example, one of just 500 produced from an original contract, was only recently discovered and has never before been offered for public sale. It is in pristine condition, retaining more than 97 percent of its original dark DuLite finish.

Lot #1228 is a historically important Colt 1851 Navy pistol presented to Brigadier General J R Anderson, a Confederate Civil War officer and owner of the famous Tredegar Iron Works, a supplier of vital munitions to the Rebels. This weapon, well cut throughout with crisp engraving throughout, reflects Colt's predilection for soliciting multiple sides in conflicts, and his tendency to present elaborate arms as a way of currying favor for business.

Lot #1370 is an exquisite circa-1994 Purdey .410 SLE shotgun with case. The svelte "ribless" over/under barrels are fitted with a bead front sight on a small 1¼-inch island with smooth ramp and matte textured rib. The shotgun is engraved J Purdey & Sons London in Gothic script. The weapon retains its factory finishes throughout and is mechanically fine. This is an outstanding small-bore shotgun from one of the best makers.

Lot #1371 is a magnificent custom-crafted Hartmann & Weiss (Hamburg, Germany) bolt-action takedown sporting rifle, with the two barrels engraved “CAL. .300 JARRETT” and “CAL. .416 RIGBY.” In excellent condition, retaining virtually all of the factory-applied blue is retained on both sets of barrels, and the bores are fine and bright with crisp, well-defined rifling. This is an outstanding and versatile rifle of the finest quality for the discerning sportsman and gentleman collector.

Lot #1010 is a fantastic Browning automatic rifle, accompanied by a signed letter from Sydney Stembridge stating the gun was used onscreen for the films For Whom the Bell Tolls starring Gary Cooper and The Sand Pebbles starring Steve McQueen. The Marlin Rockwell manufactured BAR model 1918 rifle includes a correct WWI-era flash hider. It’s in the original World War I configuration, fully refurbished and refinished to top condition.

Lot #1005 is a World War II German Nazi-proofed Waffenwerke Brunn ZB-26 machine gun, a fantastic specimen of one of the best light-to-medium machine guns of WWII. It boasts a deep, lustrous blue finish on the metal surfaces, with a stunning finish on the barrel cooling rings. Its Nazi proofs only add to its desirability in the American market. It’s hard to imagine a finer specimen will ever surface for private ownership in the States.

Lot #2091 is an important, circa-1754 musket with regimental provenance traced to Virginia militia soldier William Field. It is quite likely the only major material survivor of General George Washington’s 1754 Ohio Valley campaign against the French. The extraordinary small-caliber longarm weapon, made by Richard Wilson of London, has historical ties to the land speculation firm “The Ohio Company of Virginia.” It has a nice brown patina.

Lot #1309 is a Hizen Tadahiro katana attributed to General Yoda Shiro, a major general in the Imperial Japanese Army in the interwar period of the first half of the 20th century. Signed “Hizen Kuni Ju Omi no Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro” for the second generation, the 71.2cm-long sword is accompanied by NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers attesting to the authenticity of the signature and quality of the blade. Its identification to an infamous general who carried it throughout his career makes it an important historical collectible.

Morphy’s May 12-14 Firearms & Militaria Auction featuring a special selection that celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War, will be held at the company’s Denver, Pennsylvania gallery, starting all three days at 9am EDT. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through Morphy Live. Questions: call 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. Online: www.morphyauctions.com.

We know you love military history and vehicles, but do you collect anything else? Ever wonder about the baseball cards in a box in the basement or Grandma’s old coins in a jar?  Do you love old cars or spin vinyl? Head on over to Collect.com and see what you are missing. Collect.com is the who, what, when and where of the collecting world! https://www.collect.com/