Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Massive military estate sale/Johnny's Auction

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    davidmyoung66's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Last On
    04-30-2019 @ 10:54 PM
    Location
    Fircrest WA
    Posts
    6
    Real Name
    David Youngquist
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:38 AM

    Massive military estate sale/Johnny's Auction

    Hi all. I just got onto these boards, so I hope I'm not breaking protocol. I've been helping out with an estate sale for the last couple months. This is a massive undertaking, and I have honestly never seen anything like it in my life. I have seen handled and identified guns I have literally never seen outside of museums. The gentleman who owned this collection was a Vietnam Vet, and had been collecting for over 40 years. His widow and children do not want to carry on with the firearms, so we've been cataloging and selling items through the auction house. We estimate there are over 1200 rifles alone in the collection. That's not counting bayonets, flags, uniforms, helmets, and other military items from the mid 1800's to the end of the Second World War. Here's the link. Look at the videos. The first two auctions are done. We estimate at least three to four more, all with 200 plus rifles in them. Enjoy.

    Johnny's Auction
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:53 PM
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    5,075
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:38 PM
    In some ways it seems sad that one man's collection is being broken up and sold off, but on the other hand, hopefully, all the lots will find new owners that will appreciate them and look after them for future generations.

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    davidmyoung66's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Last On
    04-30-2019 @ 10:54 PM
    Location
    Fircrest WA
    Posts
    6
    Real Name
    David Youngquist
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:38 AM
    Thread Starter
    I agree, it is. The man collected for over 40 years. I know museums that have less items, and less quality items than a number of museums. At the same time, his widow and the kids really don't want the entire collection. They took a few things they wanted to remember him with, but decided to share this rare collection with other folks.

  6. #4
    Legacy Member ArizonaBeagle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Last On
    04-06-2023 @ 10:33 PM
    Location
    Paradise Valley Arizona
    Posts
    140
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:38 AM

    Thumbs up

    That was an impressive collection.

    I watched the three videos and the discovery video as the collection was found was overwhelming.

    I can't imagine stacking the rifles like cord wood. The only time I've
    seen that was captured rifle piles. The rafter collection was interesting as well.

    The memorabilia collection was even more impressive.

    Looking at the selling prices +18% fee still some reasonable prices.
    As in all auctions some things went for way more than they should especially
    some of the ammo.

    Thanks for the heads up. Nice post.

    AZB

  7. #5
    Legacy Member bros's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 04:03 AM
    Location
    yukon
    Posts
    272
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:38 AM
    Mind boggling to say the least!!!
    Even though the majority was collected over the last 40 yrs.....sometimes I wonder how a fellow can afford to accumulate so much stuff. I guess he must have had deep pockets....but then I ask myself, why in the world would he have not built a proper facility to house his collection like maybe a bigger garage especially if he had the funds to accumulate the treasure trove in the first place. It looks like items were purchased and just thrown on top, beside or under everything else. I've come to realize that all the dings and gouges in woodwork are not all from hard training or actual battle use......it's too bad but a lot of "battle scars" come from collectors as well. I remember going down into a fellows basement that housed a substantial Enfield and Ross Rifle collection....and I'm not talking run of the mill stuff here boys, there were some very, very rare and valuable pieces, the humidity was so high that some of the stocks were starting to form spots of mold, you could just about drink the air....unbelievable....I almost offered to buy him a de-humidifier.
    My thoughts are we only "temporarily borrow these beauties", we all know someday they are going to belong to someone else so take care of them and preserve them as they are meant to be!!!!!

  8. #6
    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    Today @ 10:04 AM
    Location
    Victoria BC
    Posts
    29,838
    Real Name
    Jim
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:38 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by bros View Post
    why in the world would he have not built a proper facility to house his collection
    He was a compulsive hoarder...they don't look at things the same way we do. We look at things in an orderly fashion and they see needing "MORE!"...
    Regards, Jim

  9. #7
    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:53 PM
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    5,075
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:38 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by bros View Post
    .sometimes I wonder how a fellow can afford to accumulate so much stuff. I guess he must have had deep pockets
    But we don't know what he may have gone without to be able to afford his collecting. For example, he may, perhaps, have gone without holidays, new clothes, the latest phone/laptop and only consumed very basic food so that he could afford his collecting?

    Provided an individual is acting within the law, it is up to them how they spend their money.

    Personally, I am careful on how much I pay for an item but I never buy anything to resell; I only buy items that it is legal to own in the UKicon. I'll buy an item if it looks interesting and other than the conditions that I have just mentioned, I'll buy almost any item provided that it looks interesting to me. I tend to prefer the 20th century time frame and specifically WW1, WW2 and the Cold War period.

  10. #8
    Contributing Member Promo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last On
    @
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    1,842
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    03:38 PM
    The two auction listings both contained only a very small amount of guns and consisted mainly of nearly everything else. Will there be gun only auctions later since the few guns you had listed so far were only of little interest to me.

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Crazy find at estate sale
    By mmppres in forum Edged Weapons Forum
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 02-22-2015, 05:02 PM
  2. Military Estate Auction-Something for Everyone
    By Denny779 in forum M1/M2 Carbine
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 03-20-2011, 07:43 PM
  3. Went To An Estate Auction Yesterday
    By conductor in forum M1 Garand/M14/M1A Rifles
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-31-2009, 07:34 PM
  4. Darnell Estate Bayonet Auction
    By Badger in forum Edged Weapons Forum
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 03-13-2008, 12:59 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts