Where's D.B.Wesson's RM?

[handejector]

Ed,

Should Reg. Mag. #1 come out of hiding and go up for auction, I firmly believe it would sell for a LOT more than those opinions on this forum might indicate. Trust me on this one!

Ray

Absolutely correct, Ray. Closet collectors and anonymous bidders would look like Army Ants going into the building. $85-100,000, easily, in my opin.

Would you consider Reg. Mag. No. 1 the "Holy Grail" of S&W collecting? If not, what S&W would be the Ultimate Gun?

Ed,
Tough Question. Like trying to eat ONE potato chip.

Reg #1 would certainly be neat.
Or Sharpe's #2
Or Doug's #0373, or even #0372
Or, I wish I could have afforded to keep Ed McGivern's Reg Mag!

Ed's record gun would be a fabulous treasure to own.

Elmer's 44 mag, or ANY Elmer gun, for that matter.

The Silver/Engraved Triple Lock David had- Just flat fabulous.

The Alvin White 44 Mag, or ANY Alvin White full-blown job.

The First Mod 1899.

The First Triple Lock.

I could probably think of others........

 

[geoff40]

I think a significant amount of caution should be used when discussing what highly collectible guns are in the collections of others without their blessing. If someone wants to volunteer that they own one of D.B. Wesson's RMs, fine, but I am not sure someone else ought to be stating it for them. Please be respectful of others.

 

[opoefc]

Geoff, I don't think any of the above information has revealed the location of any rare S&Ws that was not already common knowledge in the Gun Fraternity, either because the owner has already discussed his collection items in prior threads or was the high bidder at a public auction of said rare S&W, however I agree that you can't be too carefull sometimes in such revelations. -- Now, what's Reg. No. 1 going to bring when it comes up for auction? my prediction is that it will exceed $100K. Would I pay that for it? Yes & No. It would depend on who else was competing. I would if that was the only way to keep the gun in a genuine S&W collection and not an investment trust. All this may be wishfull thinking, of course, as I understand there maybe a dispute as to legal ownership of Reg. No. 1, which is yet to be resolved. However, I will tell Santa the gun is on my wish list for Xmas! Ed.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by mikepriwer:
...What we are really talking about here is the gun presented to Hoover. Indeed, I would agree with you - it would sell for more than my estimate ! Lee's estimate of $85,000 to $100,000 is certainly possible, although there is some question in my mind as to the real value of the Hoover association. For example, I would much rather have George Pattons guns ! But - thats just me.Regards, Mike Priwer

Mike et al; In my mind it would be a real toss up as to which would be of greater value. And, I wouldn't want to have to make that choice! I'd simply 'find' a way to purchase both IF the occasion ever arose!!!

A friend, who works at the Kesselring Gun Shop recently had the chance to handle one of John Brownings personal guns and he stated that when he found out just what it was his hand began sweating uncontrollably!!! And, he set it back in the velvet lined case very quickly!!! As he said to me "I made a memory that day."

Same thing would hold true for either the Patton or the Hoover guns for me. Just the chance to see them, let alone hold a piece of History like that would be wonderful.

By the way, the Lady showing him the gun was looking for ammo so she could take it out and shoot it. Her statement was "Well, that's what it was made for!"

MAK

 

[rburg]

Sometimes people over value guns, too.

A while back the guy that owns King gunshop in Atlanta was at the tables next to us at a gun show. He had on his table Win M70 #2, along with all the books. Those books featured that specific gun. I was allowed to handle that gun. King priced it at about $33,000, give or take. Early this year he was wandering the aisles and I asked him about the gun. He said it finally sold for about $21,000.

At that price, I'd have been sorely tempted. And Winny's have a much higher priced reputation and following than RMs. That should translate into a bigger market.

I'm not doubting anyones estimates. I just lack a basis to make estimates on these guns.

Oh, I agree that Gen Pattons gun has a better background!

 

[SW28]

As far as Registered Magnums,i would want the
one that was a special order in .22 cal/long rifle,this is a one only gun in this caliber,
if this gun surfaced at auction-$$$$$$$$$

 

[vintagesmith]

Originally posted by mikepriwer:
Ray

I need to clarify something. Earlier in the thread, I made the following comment:

"Now - having said that, if serial 1 is the J Edgar Hoover gun, then I'd probably pay a lot for it !"

In my commments about the potential value of serial one, I was assuming that it was one of the two guns that Rex
Applegate owned, and were sold in that Devine auction. I realize now that it was not. Apparently one of those
two was 0372 ? And what was the other gun - I don't have that Devine catalog page, but maybe it was the one that
went to Phil Sharpe, registration #2 ?

What we are really talking about here is the gun presented to Hoover. Indeed, I would agree with you - it would
sell for more than my estimate ! Lee's estimate of $85,000 to $100,000 is certainly possible, although there is
some question in my mind as to the real value of the Hoover association. For example, I would much rather have
George Pattons guns ! But - thats just me.

Regards, Mike Priwer

Mike,

The two Douglas Wesson Prewar Magnums sold at the Applegate Divine auction were SN 0373 and 0387. They sold on Sept. 26, 1999 in Lot #49 for $35,650 plus the purchaser(s) paid a 10% buyers fee for a total of $38,750. SN 0387 was a later gun given to Doug in 1939. Phil Sharpe's registration #2 or Hoover's registration #1 were not in this auction. SN 0372, the other magnum that went on the "western hunt" was later found in New York state.

As an additional point of clarification, your reference to the purchase price of one of these guns being "very murky, so much so as to not be of any use in this discussion" is also incorrect. It was an outright cash purchase with an informed seller naming the price. Not being privy to the details of the transaction does not make it "murky".

Ray

 

[mikepriwer]

I believe the hammer price on lot 49 was 31,000 , and the commission was 15%. On the
four guns I bought, the commission was 15%.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[vintagesmith]

Originally posted by mikepriwer:
I believe the hammer price on lot 49 was 31,000 , and the commission was 15%. On the
four guns I bought, the commission was 15%.

Later, Mike Priwer

Mike--

You are correct on the hammer price of $31,000 and the commission of 15% ($4,650). However, the buyers also paid a buyer's fee (not to be confused with the commission) of 10% of the gavel price ($3,100), for a total of $38,750.

Ray

 

[merlindrb]

I know that Ray and I have discussed Hoover's gun #1 on several occasions. I used to think circa $60k, but I've since revised my estimate to more than $100k - maybe a lot more.

I also know that a few non gun-collecting groups would like to have it because of the Hoover connection. They might be prepared to pay even more than us S&W guys! Scary thought huh?

 

[Guest]

A Nickel K-22 just brought 7K at auction and so 100K plus for the Hoover gun isn't unlikely. MAK