Museum's Winchester Collection To Sell At Auction

The entire Winchester collection of the Arrowhead Bluffs Museum will be sold at unreserved public auction April 18-19, 2008, at Kull & Supica Firearms Auction in Topeka Kansas. Over 1,000 antique, collectable & sporting firearms will sell Friday and Saturday in the 1,500 lot auction.

The Wabasha, MN, based museum is liquidating its extensive collection of Winchester firearms and memorabilia to free up exhibition space for a general firearms display. The collection includes at least one of every major model of rifle or shotgun made by the historic Winchester firm from the company's beginnings in the 1860's through the 1980's, illustrating the evolution of American firearms over the span of 120 years.

The oldest piece in the museum collection is a rare Henry rifle, a revolutionary lever action repeating rifle introduced during the Civil War. Pre-sale estimate is $10,000 to $20,000. The Henry was followed by a series of lever-action rifles starting with the Model 1866, nicknamed "The Yellowboy" for its brass frame, and the Model 1873, popularly known as the "Gun that Won the West."

The Winchester line did not end with firearms. During the late 19 th through mid 20 th Centuries, Winchester produced a wide range of products including sporting goods, carpenter and mechanic tools, household appliances, and flashlights. Over 200 such Winchester products are included in the sale, with rare pieces including a Winchester leather football helmet, and a child's Winchester wagon.

Winchester and related firms Western and Olin also were major ammunition manufacturers. A centerpiece of the sale will be a rare 1889 Winchester cartridge display board, estimated to sell in the low five figures.

A number of military arms from the Civil War, WWI, and WWII are included in the auction. However, possibly the most rare is a British flintlock "Brown Bess" musket, documented to the Revolutionary War, when it was captured and presented to Colonial General John Sullivan.

A major Colt collection is also featured in the auction, with over 200 Colt handguns, most in excellent to as new condition.

Auctioneer Dan Kull stated, "Since we're authorized to sell all the lots in this auction with no reserves and no minimum bids, there will doubtless be a number of pieces that go at bargain prices, while others will surprise you with how high they go."

Firearms specialist Jim Supica added, "It's unusual for this many fine Colts and Winchesters to come on the market at one time. It represents a unique opportunity for a buyer considering a classic Old West style Colt Single Action Army revolver, or 1911 military pattern pistol, or, the Cadillac of the Colt line, a Python revolver."

All auction firearms are pictured and described at Kull & Supica's www.ArmsBid.com Kull & Supica conduct three live firearms auctions each year. About half of the lots sell to absentee bidders from all states and several foreign countries. All sales are made only in compliance with all state, local, and national firearms regulations.

The live auction is conducted at Kull Auction Pavilion, 201 SE 59 th St., Topeka Kansas, beginning at noon on Friday April 18, and continuing beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday April 19. The guns will be available for previewing Thursday afternoon, and each day before the sale.

For the first time at a K&S auction, real-time live online bidding will be available at www.ArmsBid.com As with past K&S firearms sales, hundreds of bidders are expected to participate by attending the sale live, bidding by phone, or placing absentee mail or fax bids.

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