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Thread: three digit gas trap on Julia Auction

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    Legacy Member Calif-Steve's Avatar
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    Benicia Depot Gas Trap

    They had a Gas Trap at Benicia Army Depot had hung in the Small Arms Branch. It was there for years. When they shut down the Depot it disappeared. I know a local Bay Area collector has/had it and it was a real, true Gas Trap. It has not been seen here in years. I wonder where it went.
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    Contributing Member Bob Seijas's Avatar
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    Benicia

    I'm guessing that was the very late one that showed up with Bill Ziegler at San Francisco Gun Exchange. It solved the mystery of the late -1 gas trap cylinder. Before that we were all convinced that parts numbering was completely regular, with dashes first, then no dash and a space, then no space, then no number. The -1 cylinder was a puzzle because there didn't seem to be room for it between numbered cylinders in the low 20,000 range and no numbers in the 23,000 range unless only a very few were produced. Then this one turned up with a -1 cylinder and it hit me like a ton of bricks: the -1 was later and came after the others! I remember writing a breathless letter to the other collectors that the mystery was solved!
    Real men measure once and cut.

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    When is this gun slated to sell? I'd love to find out the tail end of this...
    Regards, Jim

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    Contributing Member Mark in Rochester's Avatar
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    listed as "Rare and Spectacular Springfield Garandicon Gas Trap SN 338, Believed To Be the Finest in Existence"
    He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose
    There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet.

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    Legacy Member Calif-Steve's Avatar
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    Benicia Depot shutdown in 1964(?). So the rifle disappears about that timeframe. I think the owner held on to it for many years and in/around the early 1990's conversation started up on it. If I recall it correctly, the buyer paid $1500.00 to get ahold of it. I do know a collector had bought it and it went into his private collection. That is where I lose track of it. Lots of funny stuff occurred when the Depot shutdown. They had a huge sale of parts, M1917, M1903, and all other stuff. What they didn't sell went off to the Base Dump. True.

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    Contributing Member Bob Seijas's Avatar
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    Finest?

    I don't think so... just from the three pix RCS provided the gas cylinder looks refinished, front sight is wrong, I don't see any numbers on the handguards or a stock cartouche. I haven't looked it up on Julia for better pix.
    Real men measure once and cut.

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    Contributing Member Bob Seijas's Avatar
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    Benicia

    The Ziegler gun turned up in the late 1970s... serial was 46195, by far the latest Gas Trap known at the time.
    Real men measure once and cut.

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    Contributing Member Mark in Rochester's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Seijasicon View Post
    Finest?









    I don't think so... just from the three pix RCS provided the gas cylinder looks refinished, front sight is wrong, I don't see any numbers on the handguards or a stock cartouche. I haven't looked it up on Julia for better pix.
    well they believe it to be - remember when they had the Wardor Garand that belonged to David Carradine - I was surprised that they were not up to speed on M1icon's - they have a mint Singer 1911 in the March auction cant wait to see what that one goes for
    He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose
    There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet.

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    Contributing Member Bob Seijas's Avatar
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    Finest

    I would enter my 1684 in the competition. The serial is ground off for presentation as a retirement gift, and the stock has no cartouche because it was not delivered, but the rest is mint and all original to the first production contract, including the welded seam rod. Also in the contest would be 19059 that was sold out of the Burt Kellerstedt collection, totally original and near mint. Both were featured in the GCAicon Journal in the past.
    Real men measure once and cut.

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    Legacy Member RCS's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    I noticed that serial number 338 is going to start at $35,000 on auction

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