Traditional Muzzleloading Association
The Center of Camp => People of the Times => Topic started by: Uncle Russ on April 29, 2019, 03:59:03 PM
-
(https://i.imgur.com/IpDeUXo.jpg)
Want to own a piece of history and make history at the same time? On Friday, you can. (If you have a couple million bucks lying around).
The bidding for a legendary Colt Dragoon could reach $2,000,000 at Rock Island Auction’s Premium Auction beginning May 3, breaking the previous $1,840,000 record held by a Colt Civilian Walker Revolver.
Known as the “Millikin Dragoon,†noted Colt historian R.L. Wilson called the firearm “one of the classics of Colt collecting,†and Rock Island bills it as a “one-gun tour de force which transcends fine arms collecting.â€
Historical pedigree, ownership pedigree, artistic merit and condition combine to make the Millikin Dragoon the crown jewel of whoever wins the long-anticipated auction.
Manufactured in 1857, the revolver is best known for Gustave Young’s elaborate floral scrollwork engraving. The size of the revolver gave Young a huge canvas on which to work, and he showcased his talent by etching an eagle, dog, and wolf head among the scrolls. He also included a Ranger and Indian scene on the cylinder, and the inscription reads “Colonel P.M. Milliken.â€
The revolver originally belonged to a Union Army officer named Col. John Minor Millikin, who was cited for gallantry by General Rosecrans after his regiment refused to surrender to Confederate cavalry. The fight devolved into hand-to-hand combat and Millikin was shot through the neck by a rebel private.
His friend and New York Times editor Whitlaw Reid wrote of Millikin, “In the fire of our great struggle his true character shone out; and in the halo from Stone River that now surrounds the name, none, even of his enemies, fail to do tender justice to his worth, or to cherish as a sacred possession the memory of Minor Millikin.â€
Minor passed down his revolver to his son, Paul Minor, who also had a distinguished military career serving in the Spanish American War and World War I.
In the years since, the firearm has been owned and preserved by many noted collectors, including Al Cali, John S. DuMont, and Larry Shrerin.
** Personal Note
Up to this point, I thought the $1,800, 000.00 paid for a Walker Colt was indeed the highest amount ever paid for any handgun. I thought it could NOT possibly go any higher.....but I guess we will have to wait until Friday, 3 May 2019 to see if this actually happen....I will follow-up on this, of course, as soon as the Auction is published.
-
Will they take a credit card? :Doh!
-
I ain't buyin' just one,.... I either want a pair of'em, or nuthin'. :hairy
-
I'm gonna have to pass. I'm on a fixed income.... Always wanted to say that.... :lol sign
-
Hey guys, I betcha brother Two Steps has enough plunder stashed away to buy this little old gun, wouldn't ya think?
I mean World Class Marksman, Bass Catcher, Crappie chasing feller like Al has gotta have a big cache hidden out, wouldn't ya think?..... lol
-
Well Russ...it's a good thing I don't care much for handguns...I'd hate to have to cash one of my Savings Bonds! I'll just let Hank and Rondo 'rassle this one out. :bl th up
-
My policy is never buy a firearm you can't shoot daily, if you want. Getting that out of the bank vault, hiring a security guard to accompany me to the range just isn't worth it. I'll stick with my 40 year old replica. Sorry, Rock Island, I won't be bidding on this one.
:laffing :laffing :laffing
-
My policy is never buy a firearm you can't shoot daily, if you want. Getting that out of the bank vault, hiring a security guard to accompany me to the range just isn't worth it. I'll stick with my 40 year old replica. Sorry, Rock Island, I won't be bidding on this one.
:laffing :laffing :laffing
Sound policy, IMHO, especially for po-folk like myself.
My imagination won't even stretch so far as ownership of such a gun.
Still yet, I do enjoy eye candy when it comes to any gun and although I thought the price bordered on sure ignorance, I felt others may want to see this "Crown Jewel" of Firearm Auctions.
If I had not been told the expected bid on this piece of history, I would have expected something more in line of $5,000 maybe even $10,000 for those really well off, but at Rock Island's price I'm wondering just who in the heck is going to bid, and just how many people can afford to bid?????
Such sagas still make for interesting reading, IMHO
-
Wow, that's some firearm. I've always wanted a Colt Dragoon. It was one of the first black-powder firearms I shot some 25 or 30 years ago. Had a hankerin' for it ever since.
I've always remembered the owner's description of how they were used by civil war cavalry. He explained how a cavalryman would have 4 of these hanging from his saddle - two in the front and two in the back. That would give him 24 shots as he rode down on some poor infantryman holding a single shot rifle. Don't know how historically accurate that is as I've never come across anything since to either confirm or discredit it.
-
Well Nessmuck, you could save the cost of hiring a security guard and just shoot it in the bank vault. Plus it saves a drive to the range. ::)
My policy is never buy a firearm you can't shoot daily, if you want. Getting that out of the bank vault, hiring a security guard to accompany me to the range just isn't worth it. I'll stick with my 40 year old replica. Sorry, Rock Island, I won't be bidding on this one.
:laffing :laffing :laffing
-
Well Nessmuck, you could save the cost of hiring a security guard and just shoot it in the bank vault. Plus it saves a drive to the range. ::)
That'd make it pretty handy to salvage your lead for castin' shiny new balls too. :bl th up :laffing :toast
-
Well Nessmuck, you could save the cost of hiring a security guard and just shoot it in the bank vault. Plus it saves a drive to the range. ::)
That'd make it pretty handy to salvage your lead for castin' shiny new balls too. :bl th up :laffing :toast
:wave I can save you all that trouble. Once acquired, send it on to me and I'll deal with security, the drive to the range, and all the shooting. And I promise to send pictures back for you to enjoy. :bl th up :laffing :applaud
-
You guys have made my day. Just following the comments to the post has put me in a better frame of mine. Thanks! And it is a fine looking piece of hardware. If I get a quick buyer for my ol' Brown Bess I might have to bid...lol