Substantial Auction of 70 years of family arms collection

[Richardwv]

My father-in-law's Alzheimer and associated physical decline has progressed to the point where we had to move him to a home for 24/7 care, which financially necessitates liquidating part of his collection that constituted a large part of a local museum close by Antietam Battlefield. The first auction will contain some 350+ items, mostly firearms dating from the US Revolution through modern times, with a heavy concentration on the US Civil War era. This covers close to 70 years of collecting on his part. While I hate to see them go, bills must be paid. Auction is 3 June 2017. Preliminary catalog posted here

Information

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[browningautorifle]

#196 appears to be a Bannerman rifle. You don't see those too often. M1917 bolt, 1903 receiver and Krag sights... #197 Bannerman also, a really early receiver too. #240 is a snub nose Enfield or Webley service revolver. Haven't seen too many of those. Lots of interesting stuff there.

[Richardwv]

Thank you and future respondents for comments. I spent 3 very full days this past week expanding and correcting descriptions in their draft catalog.....but the corrections haven't made it on to the web yet. There are actually two Bannerman specials in the auction (my father-in-law loved any and all Bannerman Frankenstein creations). There are also about 50 items missing that just haven't been photographed yet. I never really gave much thought to the work that goes behind these auctions and now have a better appreciation for why commissions are what they are. Now that the collection is spread out, it fills their main auction auditorium, which is bigger than a typical high school gym. I'm just praying for a decent auction since the medical/care bills and the cost of shutting down his various failing business interests are eating my wife and I alive.

Cheers!

[Eaglelord17]

Some of the ones that caught my eye were the 1889/10 Danish Krag, a Thai converted Dutch Mannlicher (i.e. a .303 turnbolt Mannlicher), and the 1898 American Krag.

Definitely a collection to have been proud of.

[browningautorifle]

my father-in-law loved any and all Bannerman Frankenstein creations)

I find them interesting for exactly the same reason I think he did. He'd be a guy that would like to see some of the Khyber pass guns we've looked at.

the 1898 American Krag.

I saw that one too, looked at everything...

I'm just praying for a decent auction

I think you'll do fine, relatively speaking. There's LOTS of stuff and most of it should sell decently. I wouldn't worry too much about descriptions, after all when the guys go to buy, they aren't buying blind. They look at the item and know what it is instantly, so they bid. Don't get too worked up on that point. Professional auction houses have got it wrong before and things still move.

[mmppres]

Wish you all the luck you need for this to be a success