Sadly, my collection is now at auction and is…going…going…
Sadly, I would like to announce the sale of most of my WW2 collection. Although I held off on selling it, Gunrunner is currently auctioning off my wonderful collection and you won’t ever find finer ones. If anyone is interested in adding some wonderful and historic firearms to their collection please visit the provided link at the bottom of my descriptions. The photos on the auction site don’t do justice, they are much nicer than they appear on the website! The photos below are my photos and may show items not included with the auction, the ones on the auction site are the auction photos. As I post this, Gunrunner is still adding pieces to the auction that is due to start on Monday November the 7th and end on or about the 14th.
The auction items and a brief description of each are as follows:
1. 1941 Johnson Rifle with documented WW2 history: Serial no. 1589 (no letter prefix) making this rifle one of the earliest Johnson Rifles manufactured. One of the first customers of Johnson was the Netherlands Purchasing Company and Johnson factory records show this Johnson Rifle #1589 was transferred to the NPC on 11/10/1941. Johnson production logs recorded the barrel number as 1507A, that is the only component of the rifle that was recorded.
Per page 124 of the wonderful 1941 Johnson Rifle Book by Bruce Canfield & Robert L Lamoreaux, a partial shipment of 2,599 of a 10,200 rifle order for Johnson Rifles HAD ALREADY REACHED the Netherlands East Indies (Java) prior to the Japanese invading the NEI at the start of WW2. This rifle is documented to have been transferred and shipped to NPC! It was one of the 2,599 already there, fighting Japs in WW2! Simply making this Johnson Rifle the Holy Grail of Johnson Collectors.
Noted author Robert L. Lamoreaux, the co-author of the 1941 Johnson Rifle book stated on the CSP (Jouster) Johnson Rifle Forum on December 2nd, 2002, that Johnson Rifle #1589 “probably SAW ACTION in NEI”!!!! Then he went on to state that it most likely was returned back to America after the war by Interarms (Interarmco) through Australia. The print out of his post was given to Gunrunner along with the copy of the Johnson Rifle Book he and Bruce Canfield authored but I don’t see them in the auction photos. You may need to email and ask about them prior to any bidding.
The rifle was restocked long ago with the rest of the rifle being original Johnson parts. The rotary magazine in like new and has the original Johnson finish and even has the black of the spot welds still showing. The original barrel is also included with the rifle and although the exterior of the barrel is in like new to excellent condition, the bore is in fair to poor condition (corrosive primers & the salt air of Java??).
Real WW2 history of fighting the Japs on Java and documented historic heritage to boot! What more can one ask for in a highly sought after and collectable firearm? Kilroy may have been there but this Johnson was too!
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2. FP-45 “Liberator” in VVVGC! Known as the Woolworth gun or the gun to get another gun with, the Liberator was manufactured by Inland Mfg. co for the OSS and dropped behind enemy lines from aircraft returning from bombing missions. The resistance would then gather up the fallen bounty and distribute them to their shadow forces fighting the Nazi menace.
Included with the Liberator is the famed “bubble gum” directions, wooden dowel and ten original manufacture 41 WCC 45ACP rounds.
History, OSS spy network, resistance fighters and dark of night attacks! This is what books are written about!
PS, I also gave Gunrunner a full set of reproduction Inland Manufacturing “blueprints” although I don’t see them in the auction photos, you may need to email and ask for them prior to bidding.
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3. M1A1 “High Wood” Carbine in VGC. This Para Carbine is a “first run” carbine and every first run carbine was shipped to the European Theatre and used from the D-Day invasion thru the end of the war.
In the fantastic book, the Complete Guide to the M1 Garand & M1 Carbine by Bruce Canfield, on page 243, it states there were only 71,000 first run carbines made and the “first run” M1A1 Carbines had a serial number range primarily from 50,000 to 950,000. This “High Wood, First Run” Paratrooper carbine is serial number 786,894! It comes with an original 1943 Atlas Awning paratrooper scabbard and original WW2 sling. All are in VGC.
There is a small armory patch in the forearm section of the wooden stock. The patch looks as if it is a repair for a bullet graze fired from below! The stock was sanded very little during that repair. It’s a wonderful M1A1 and quite a historic piece that will add to any collection.
Like a scenes from the “Band of Brothers”, with bullets flying and flack bursting all around them, our best and bravest young men leapt from their bullet raked aircraft to take back the fallen Europe and begin the fight to save the world! Listen closely and you just might hear the drone of the DC-3 engines, the Nazi ack-ack and someone standing by the open aircraft door screaming Go… Go…Go… This Carbine was there folks… such history and collectability.
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4. Union Switch & Signal 1911A1 #1094475. 99+++% Original finish. This US&S is perfect and the finest one I have ever seen.
With only 50,000 US&S 1911A1 pistols made, only the 1911A1 Singer is more sought after than this 1911A1 US&S. This is the finest example you will ever see. Buy it or you will always regret missing out on this one! The cardboard box that it comes in includes the pistols serial number but is a reproduction. That is the only detraction.
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5. Ithaca 1911A1 #2078810. 99+++% Original finish. This Ithaca is perfect with very minor scuffing on the finish. The reproduction cardboard box that it comes in also includes the pistols serial number. That is the only detraction.
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6. Remington Rand 1911A1 #2238980! New in the Original Box! 99+++% Original finish. New in the box! Perfect condition! As good as it gets! Did I mention NEW IN THE BOX!?
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7. Nazi Marked Browning High Power #90847a This one is fantastic! In VG condition and retaining about 80% of its original finish.
Slave labor was forced to produce these pistols when the Germans captured the factory during WW2. This historic firearm was produced very shortly after the Germans began their reign of terror. Condition, History and Rarity, this pistol is the trifecta of the collectability market and is sure to grow in value.
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8. byf 42 P08 “Black Widow” Nazi SS Luger with a 3 DIGIT SERIAL NUMBER!! #361 mint condition with an fxo magazine. In like new condition with only a very minor holster rash at the muzzle tip. This Luger is one of the nicest condition Black Widow Lugers out there. This would have been owned and worn with pride by a very high ranking Nazi SS officer.
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9. 1897 Winchester Military Trench Gun #E692347 in VGC. Manufactured in 1918, this is a wonderful example of a WW1 Trench gun that was re-drafted and Parkerized for use in WW2. From the heat shield to the Walnut Stock, this shotgun is all Winchester! Nothing has the sound of that racking slide or the outright history of the famed 97 Trench gun! From the trenches of WW1 to the trenches of urban dangers, this shotgun is in fantastic condition and good to go for another 100 years!
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10. Japanese Nambu T94 #13059 & Holster combo in VGC, manufactured in 1941 A very nice example of the Japanese answer to the 1911A1. These are hard to find in this nice condition and is sure to grow in collectability as the Asian market expands.
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11. Japanese Nambu T-26 Revolver #1496 & Holster combo in near mint condition, manufactured in 1898 and used throughout WW1 & WW2, this workhorse was the Japanese equivalent of the 1917 Colt Revolver.
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12. Japanese Nambu T-14 #52240 & Holster combo in VGC. Standard sidearm of the Japanese military and loaded with history. The T-14 was first introduced in 1914 and used throughout WW1 and WW2.
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13. Remington 03A3 Rifle #3377136 with 4 flute barrel in original mint condition. The workhorse of the American Army, this one was manufactured in 1943 and is as fine an example as you are likely to find. This really is one fine 03A3!
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14. 1917 Colt Revolver #34418, manufactured in 1918 in VGC. This Colt Revolver would have been used in WW1 and WW2. Still looking GREAT and ready to serve again!
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15. German P-38 pistol cyq #2432d in GC with original holster and extra magazine. No import stamps mar this beauty so more than likely, it was brought back to the US as a war trophy. A really nice example of a German side arm used throughout the European Theatre.
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I would appreciate any interest in my collection, they are very nice pieces. Kindly, Bob
The Gunrunner Auction Site
