Historic Firearms and Early Militaria

Henry Bowers’s engraved New York map powder horn with some highlights in red, 16" long, 2" crack at the bottom, very light scratches, $23,000.

Pattern 1872 enlisted cavalry dress helmet, black wool body, brass planchet, plume holder with yellow horsehair plume, original white braided cords, wool surfaces heavily worn, $10,925.

First Model Henry rifle, .44 rimfire caliber, 24" octagonal barrel, missing sights, no cleaning rod, some nicks and dings, $22,425.

Cowan's, Cincinnati, Ohio

by Don Johnson

Photos courtesy Cowan's

On the strength of two strong collections of cavalry items, Cowan's sale of historic firearms and early militaria held April 28 and 29 in Cincinnati, Ohio, grossed more than $1 million for 1265 lots.

The collections were those of Thomas F. Adlon of Visalia, California, who specialized in 19th- and early 20th-century U.S. Cavalry firearms, uniforms, and accoutrements, and Richard Ross Lea of Fort Collins, Colorado, who focused on cavalry accoutrements. Both men died in 2009.

"The great sales results we had were the result of bringing together two really important collections of Indian Wars material," said Wes Cowan, president and principal auctioneer of the auction house. What had traditionally been a neglected period of 19th-century memorabilia is now highly regarded by buyers.

Jack Lewis, director of firearms and militaria for Cowan's, echoed the sentiment that the Indian Wars items are enjoying a strong surge in the marketplace. "It impressed me because I collect it myself," he said.

The two collections complemented each other in quantity and quality, according to Lewis. "It is unprecedented to see such a cavalry collection come to auction. The catalog is going to be a reference book for a long time." The objects offered during the April auction ranged from firearms to uniforms and from edged weapons to curry combs. The material performed solidly throughout the sale, regardless of price level. On-line buying helped.

"The Internet bidding was going along at a straight line. When we hit Indian Wars, it went through the roof," said Lewis. "What that tells me is there are a lot of collectors out there who will not waste the time and money to go to gun shows anymore. A guy can sit at home and buy the things he's looking for."

A U.S. Army marked Colt single-action revolver, described in the catalog as "one of the better known Ainsworth-inspected single-action Army revolvers," sold for $17,825 (includes buyer's premium).

The gun is popular because the same model was used by George Armstrong Custer's troops. "The Ainsworth single-actions are highly desirable because of Little Bighorn," said Lewis. "That was not a Little Bighorn gun." He noted that a Colt single-action revolver in the same condition but with provenance to the Battle of Little Bighorn would bring $75,000 to $100,000.

Firearms weren't the only draw. A selection of Indian Wars uniforms and headgear saw some of the most competitive bidding. A pattern 1876 campaign hat sold for $10,925. "Every time one of those has come up for sale, they brought a minimum of ten grand, and I have sold one for twelve," said Lewis. "They hold their ground." Likewise, a pattern 1872 enlisted cavalry dress helmet realized $10,925. "That's a very rare helmet. The officers' helmets are more desirable, but the enlisted is rare," he said.

Among the uniforms, a pattern 1872 cavalry enlisted dress coat (est. $2000/3000) sold for $8050; two U.S. Army fatigue shirts (est. $500/700), one with Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot markings, sold for $5462.50; a pattern 1883 sergeant's cavalry coat and trousers made $3105; and a pattern 1885 cavalry pair of heavy wool pants with suspenders brought $2760.

Adding to the intrigue were hard-to-find items that weren't necessarily big-ticket items, such as a cavalry officer's valise that sold for $1150. "If you're wanting to dress a saddle up, these are items you just can't find," said Lewis.

Also high among the cavalry items was a 2nd U.S. Cavalry regimental colors, circa 1884, that sold for $18,400. "It was an outstanding flag," said Lewis. "It could have done thirty-five thousand [dollars]. It didn't have the bidders, and I don't know why. That's a very popular item…That's an item that on a real good day could have done fifty [thousand dollars]."

The top lot of the auction was Henry Bowers's engraved New York map powder horn that sold for $23,000. Engraved on the horn were place names (as written): New York, Chinakety, E. Hvnier, F. Henrik, F. Harkiman, F. Sciler, F. Stainwix, Wood Creek, Royal Blok Hoys, F. Edward, Niagara, Lake Ontario, Saratoga, Stilwater, Half Moon, Albany, and Canada Creek, as well as ships, buildings, rivers, forts, a man shooting a deer with a dog nearby, trees, and a windmill. Some of the rivers, human figures, and animals were highlighted in red. The condition of the horn played a significant role in the interest it drew, particularly "the fact that the polychrome was still intact on it," said Lewis.

Among the better firearms was a First Model Henry rifle that realized $22,425. "Everybody loves Henrys," explained Lewis. "Henry is the most popular rifle of all time."

World War II firearms also did well, including a Japanese Type 4 rifle, Japan's attempt to copy the M1 Garand, that sold for $20,700.

Considerable attention was fo-cused on a collection of Springfield Armory target rifles. The catalog noted, "From 1919 until the mid 1930's, the Springfield Armory presided over the development of testing, manufacture and distribution of the heavy barreled 1903 Target Rifles."

Examples can be scarce and expensive. A Springfield Model 1922 experimental heavy barrel rifle, .22 caliber, one of eight rifles tested at Springfield in March 1924, sold for $16,675. Selling for $11,500 each were a Springfield Model 1903 international match rifle, .30-06 caliber, made for the 1925 Olympics, and a Springfield Model 1903 single-shot international match rifle, .30-06 caliber, made for the U.S. Marine Corps, one of 11 with a Springfield single-shot receiver.

Items related to the Rough Riders also drew second looks from bidders. The uniform and medals of Rough Rider George H. Sharland sold for $13,800.

There were also a number of hard-to-find lots that didn't bring high prices. Cowan's uses the adjective "rare" sparingly, yet some of the lots associated with that superlative brought amounts that many military and firearms collectors can easily afford, from a 12-pound naval bar shot, dating from between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, at $1840 to an experimental Mills cartridge belt at $258.75 to a German World War II cavalry panzer side cap at $920.

While not considered rare, one lot that drew Lewis's attention was a complete cavalry uniform, circa 1911, that sold for $2300. Even though it sold above the $1000/1500 estimate, he considered it a good deal. "If you went through a gun show and tried to buy all the items that were pictured on that mannequin, you'd have five thousand dollars [invested]," Lewis said.

Cowan was pleased with the sale. "I continue to be amazed at the depth of interest in antique and modern firearms. The interest that we have dwarfs every other category that we sell. It speaks to America's love for firearms," he said.

"The thing I have learned in selling antique firearms is that the people who collect antique firearms are not gun nuts, they're nuts for guns, the history and the beauty of these firearms. A really great rifle or pistol or sword is an incredibly beautiful thing. Many of them are handmade. Many that are hand-tooled or engraved are of the highest form of art. As examples of ingenuity and technological achievements, they are amazing things," Cowan said. "The guys that collect these, and it's almost strictly a man's world, they recognize the history and beauty of these, and it's something I've come to appreciate."

Cowan's next gun-related auction is on October 27. For more information, phone Cowan's at (513) 871-1670 or visit (www.cowanauctions.com).

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