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.
Topic: Wanna buy a Dragoon? Got lots of Money? (Read 136 times)