Annie Oakley and Col. LeMat Perform Well at Julia’s
Fairfield, ME – Every year in October, two separate firearms auction companies conduct a firearms auction back to back in Fairfield, Maine. Each time these combined auctions occur, the results generate the largest offering and largest sale gross for firearms auction event anywhere in the world. October 1, 2 & 3 began this spectacular event with a large offering of collectable and shooting firearms presented by the Poulin Auction Company. Their sale generated approximately $3.4 million in total. Immediately after, from October 4 to October 7, the James D. Julia Auction generated approximately $15 million in sales; 372 lots brought $10,000 or more, 173 lots brought $20,000 or more, 33 lots brought in an excess of $50,000 and 8 lots topped out at over $100,000.

The Julia auction was divided into 4 sessions. The first two days, October 4 & 5, comprised Julia’s Sporting & Collector sessions which featured moderately priced collectable and shooting firearms. October 6 & 7 made up their Extraordinary sessions featuring rare and high end firearms.
Once again, Julia’s auction included numerous outstanding collections. Day One included a rare cased Browning Pointer grade Superposed two bbl. set from the renowned Estate Collection of William Larkin Moore estimated at $7,000-12,500 which went out at $13,800. Tuesday’s sale was Session One of the Friedrich-Wilhelm Dauphin Collection from Germany. An extraordinary Mauser C96 Transitional 1930 Commercial with matching stock estimated at $4,500-6,500 went out at $10,350.

Wednesday, October 5, the second day of the Sporting & Collector auction started off with the Allen Hallock Collection of extraordinary Schuetzen rifles. Without question, this was the finest of its type to ever come to auction. The very first lot up was the ultimate Schuetzen rifle, a magnificent ivory inlaid and gold highlighted masterpiece given as a shooting prize in the late 1800s. It carried a presale estimate of $30,000-40,000 and generated $37,375. This sale also included the final session of Estate of Dr. Robert G. Cox. This collection focused on small frame Colt pistols. One lot of three Colt 3rd Model Derringers estimated at $2,500-4,000 generated $8,625.

Thursday, October 6 and Friday, October 7 comprised the Extraordinary section of the Julia Firearms Auction.

First up was Class-3. Since 2008, Julia’s has sold more Class-3 weapons than all their auction competitors in North America combined. This sale was extremely strong with a number of healthy prices. An early “Square Slot” Colt 1921A Thompson Machine Gun estimated at $30,000-50,000 finally sold for $57,500. But the real surprise was the fantastic Vietnam War trophy Chinese type 56 machine gun estimated at $20,000-40,000, but generated $132,250.
A Singer 1911A1, est. $40,000-60,000, sold for $57,500. From the Dauphin Collection was a superb Mauser Conehammer Carbine SN 12 with period scope. It was estimated at $40,000-75,000 and generated $51,750.

Another area in which the Julia’s has established a leadership role is that of Sporting Arms. No other auction house in the world sells more high end, rare and valuable sporting arms than Julia’s and the results of this sale consistently bore that out. A massive 4-bore Holland & Holland double rifle estimated at $45,000-75,000, realized $103,500. Annie Oakley’s personal 12 ga. William Cashmore Boxlock game gun, presale estimate $125,000-175,000, topped out at $207,000. A Purdey O/U with many special features carried est. $60,000-90,000, brought $94,875.

A superb small bore Fabbri pinless Sidelock O/U est. at $40,000-60,000, sold for $109,250. A superb Piotti “Boss” 20 ga. O/U from the famous William Larkin Moore Estate Collection was estimated at $35,000-55,000 and topped out well over high estimate at $69,000.

A Winchester cartridge board with Inverted V 1888 est. at $15,000-25,000 was hotly competed for until it finally realized $37,375. An extraordinarily rare Deluxe Conrad Ulrich engraved exhibition quality Marlin Model 1893 with gold and platinum inlays was estimated that $50,000-100,000, this magnificent treasure went out just a little over low estimate at $57,500.

A number of quality antique percussion Colts were offered. The high price realized was for a rare cased Ehlers Baby Paterson which came on to the auction block with an est. of $110,000-160,000 and went out at $115,000. A rare Colt 1883 U.S. Navy Gatling gun on its original bronze tripod was estimated at $175,000-250,000, generated $175,000. A number of quality Colt SA included a minty engraved SAA by Cuno Helfricht was estimated at $30,000-50,000 and sold at $57,500. One truly spectacular work of art was the magnificent Royal Wheelock sporting rifle by Samuel Kluge in Landshut. The gun was made for either King Charles XI of Sweden or King Christian V of Denmark. The gun was at one time the property of the Rothschild family and sold for $115,000. It is believed to be one of the highest priced Wheelocks sold in many years.

Other areas that Julia’s has performed exceedingly well with for many years is with rare Civil War and Confederate items. Julia’s consultant and firearms expert, John Sexton is one of the leading authorities on Confederate arms in the world today, helping to account for Julia’s great success. A rare and historic pair of fluted Armies of Lt. John Low, CSN, used on the CSS Alabama came to the block with a $25,000-50,000 estimate and flew to $51,750 because of the Confederate association. The most exciting Confederate lot of the day however was a Krider LeMat Revolver SN 2 believed to be the personal firearms of Col. LeMat himself. It came to the auction with a presale estimate of $60,000-80,000. Here it soared to $120,750.
“We were overall very pleased with the auction outcome. It was strong and continues to reflect the tremendous prowess of the auction process. Interaction from players throughout North America and all over the world continue to reflect the strong demand for quality firearms. We are pleased with the outcome and are also looking forward to our Spring 2017 auction which already includes a spectacular array of quality goods,” commented President, James D. Julia.