Weapons from Europe were in high demand for both days of Cowan’s Historic Firearms and Early Militaria Auction held May 3 and 4 in the auction house’s Cincinnati, Ohio, salesroom. The auction featured some of the rarest of the rare in European weaponry, spanning multiple eras from the 16th century through World War II.
“We made our name selling some of finest Civil War pieces to ever hit the market, but after this sale there should be no doubt left in anyone’s mind that we can sell European pieces with the best of them,” said Jack Lewis, Cowan’s director of Firearms and Militaria. “This is just the tip of the iceberg for us. You can expect more of the same in coming sales.”
The auction got off to a good start with an exceptional collection of blunderbusses that provoked spirited bidding on the floor, on the phones, and on the internet, which pushed many sale prices over their estimates. The top lot of the group was an early British brass barrel flintlock blunderbuss by Blanckley that sold for $11,750.
Other highlights from the blunderbusses included a pair of British brass barreled blunderbusses by E. Newton that sold for $8,812.50, a flintlock blunderbuss by Armstrong for $6,462.50, a dragon blunderbuss made for the Chinese market for $5,750, an Irish brass blunderbuss by Rigby for $4,700, and a British brass barrel blunderbuss with folding bayonet by Styan for $4,406.25.
The sale featured possibly the greatest grouping of European swords auctioned in the United States since the collection of William Goodwin Renwick was offered by Sotheby's in the early 1970s. So, it was no surprise that the European edged weapons saw considerable action from bidders on both sides of the Atlantic. The most sought after was a classic 16th century Saxon arming sword that sold for $6,462.50 after a lengthy bidding war between two phone bidders.
Other top edged weapons from Europe included a 17th-century English pillow sword, which sold for $5,581.25; a 17th-century clam shell Northern Form Tessak, $4,993.75; a 17th-century German sword with basket hilt, $4,112.50; an early 17th-century North European swept hilt rapier, $4,112.50. A chained SS dagger brought $3,407.50.
The top two lots of the day were also produced in Europe despite being synonymous with the Confederacy. A Belgian-made Brevet Model 1859 Prototype Lemat percussion revolver was the top lot of the auction, selling for $36,425, while a marked version of the standard Model 1859 Lemat sold for $35,250.
As would be expected of a Cowan’s Historic Firearms and Militaria auction, the bulk of the sale featured exceptional lots from 19th century America. The top lot from this pivotal period of American history was a very rare original Tucker Sherrod flask that sold for $25,850.
The sale also featured a collection of long guns from this era, highlighted by an early Sharps sporting rifle shipped to Carlos Gove that sold for $10,575. A Civil War Confederate Fayetteville rifle went for $9,400, a Sharps model 1874 sporting rifle for $8,812.50, and a Pope barreled Marlin #6 Ballard rifle with Pope reloading tools sold for $7,050.
Pistols and revolvers from the 19th century were also in high demand both days. Highlights included a Colt SA Sheriffs Model that sold for $9,400. A cased Colt Volcanic pistol went for $8,625, an engraved blackpowder Colt single action Army revolver for $6,462.50, and a factory engraved presentation cased 1849 Colt pocket revolver presented to Hon. Arthur B. Calef sold for $5,875.
Not to be outdone by their European counterparts, American edged weapons performed quite well during both days, with a Model 1840/60 sword presented to Lt. Col. Porter S. Cox selling for $14,950, which was the highest price paid for any edged weapon in the auction.
Other American edged weapon highlights included a Confederate “D” Guard Bowie knife, which sold for $6,756.25; a Civil War Clauberg presentation sword to Gallant U.S. Regular Artilleryman Lt. Francis S. French, which brought $5,462.50; and a Civil War sword presented to Capt. Charles E. Chapman, 37th NYSM, which sold for $5,100.
Miscellaneous highlights from the sale included a rare French and Indian War engraved powder horn dated 1758 that sold for $17,625, a pair of French flintlock pocket pistols by Nicholas Boutet for $17,625, a Scottish all metal flintlock pistol by T. Murdoch for $6,600, an M-10 machine gun for $6,325, a Little Big Horn battlefield map by Russell White Bear for $5,875, and a pair of miniature Dutch ivory stock pistols for $5,700.
To learn more, visit www.cowanauctions.com.